Shelf-Life of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida Eger and Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Slinger)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 1997-98 to evolve a simple and cheap storage technique for mushroom both der ambient and refrigerated conditions and to improve the quality of dehydration and storage for better colour retention, lesser shrinkage and faster reconstitution. Packaging of mushrooms in PP without ventilation and PP with air blown in was evolved as a simple and cheap technique to extend the shelf-life of fresh mushroom species Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus sajor-caju for 36 hours under ambient conditions and 10 days under refrigerated conditions with least deteriorative changes, the former having the same sensory attributes as that of fresh mushroom. Fresh mushroom will perish within a few hours of harvest under ambient conditions. ' The mushroom samples of Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus sajor-caju dehydrated after pro-treating with citric acid + salt solution + KMS showed better colour, lesser shrinkage and higher reconstitution and could be stored for six months without any deterioration, when packaged in polypropylene or poly ethylene bags.