Effect of frozen storage on nutritional composition of baby corn

Abstract

Purpose

Baby corn (Zea mays) is young, finger‐like, unfertilized cobs of maize with one to three centimeters of emerged silk, preferably harvested within 24 hours of silk emergence depending upon the growing season. It is a very perishable vegetable and hence the purpose of this present study is to standardize the freezing method for extending the shelf life of baby corn and to study the effect of frozen storage of 90 days on its nutritional composition.

Design/methodology/approach

Frozen baby corn was analysed for various nutritional parameters, namely proximate composition, minerals, in vitro starch and protein digestibility and vitamin, at regular intervals of 30 days for nine months.

Findings

Moisture, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre content of baby corn showed no significant change during 90 days of frozen storage. A significant reduction was observed in calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron content of frozen baby corn. In vitro starch and protein digestibility showed a non‐significant change during frozen storage. Ascorbic acid and beta‐carotene content of frozen baby corn decreased significantly by 11.60 and 10.75 percent, respectively, by the end of 90 days of storage.

Originality/value

The present study indicates that freezing is an effective processing technology to enhance the storage life of baby corn.

Citation

Hooda, S. and Kawatra, A. (2012), "Effect of frozen storage on nutritional composition of baby corn", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 42 No. 1, pp. 5-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346651211196474