Abstract:
Strawberries are very unique, Rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber, they offer
significant healthbenefits and are a low-calorie treat. They are grown all over the world,
have great economic significance, and are symbolic of love and purity in culture. Their
adaptability in the kitchen and use of sustainable farming methods increase their value
internationally. Therefore, this study is aimed to determine how aloe vera gel and edible
oil coating work together to increase the shelf life of harvested strawberry fruit that is
kept at room temperature. Two types of oil (Coconut oil and Corn oil) were selected for
this study and the experiments were done by changing the Aloe Vera addition as 5olo,
I}oh and 15o2, where not coated strawberries were kept outside as controlled sample
and maintained the room temperature Q20C) throughout the experiments. Cumulative
Weight Loss (CWL), pH, Brix value and Hardness were tested as the performance
parameters for every 1", 3d, 5th and 7tt' day, and also sensory evaluation of coated
strawberries carried out by using 7-point hedonic scale.
On the 7th day the weight loss is high for controlled sample (0.359) compared to all the
coated samples, in which 10o/o addrtion of Aloe Vera to coconut oil (0.269) and 5oh
addition of Aloe Vera to com oil (0.169) is resulted in considerable weight loss
compared to other coated samples. An abnrl,'t increase in the pH is observed for the
coated strawberries and negatively correlated (-0.74) with number of days, ranged
between 3.0 - 5.0 for almost all the coated strawberries. Even though it is ideal to eat,
flavor profile may vary. Strawberries coated with 5o/o of Aloe Vera with coconut oil
stand significant with high brix value compared with other coated samples, which is
preferable. It was noted that the hardness of the samples negatively (-0.86) correlated
with the brix value, therefore identifying an optirnum is inevitable. The strawberries
coated with corn oil resulted a high hardness compared to coconut oil coated samples,
where 5oh and 15% Aloe Vera added coconut oil coated strawberries are resulted
approximately same hardness as the controlled sample. Overall Coated using coconut
oil is more preferable in which addition of 5o/o Aloe Vera is appropriate in terms of all
the quality.
