The invention relates to a method for prolonging the
shelf life of fresh-
cut fruits and vegetables by treatment of medium-pressure mixed
inert gases, and belongs to the technical field of refreshing and storage of
fruits and vegetables. Aiming at the characteristics of
moisture loss,
browning,
microbial contamination and difficulty in quality maintenance in the fresh-
cut fruits and vegetables, the invention provides a method for prolonging the
shelf life by pressurization of the mixed
inert gases. The fresh-
cut fruits and vegetables are pressurized by the mixed
inert gases (
argon,
nitrogen and
xenon) to reach the pressure of between 20 and 25 MPa and are processed for 30 to 60 minutes, and water molecules on fresh-cut surfaces form gas hydrates, so the activity of the water molecules in the fruits and vegetables and the activity of enzymes are inhibited, and 15 to 20 percent of
inert gas-containing micro air holes are formed in tissue to achieve the better subsequent refreshing effect. By the method, the metabolic loss and
microbial contamination during the storage of the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are reduced, the enzymatic
browning and tissue
softening of the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are inhibited, the
organoleptic quality and nutritive value of the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are better kept, the
shelf life of the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables is prolonged by 10 to 15 days under the condition of
cold storage, and the shelf storage life of the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables is prolonged by 7 to 8 days at
room temperature.