Why Do Apples Turn Brown When Exposed To Air?
By Puja Punia|April 9, 20180 Comment
The moment you cut an apple into pieces, it switches to a self destruction mode. And there begins a race against time with the apple turning into a flabby brown mess every second since then. Have you ever wondered what could be the possible reason behind it? Science has the answer. So, let’s unravel the mystery Of Why Do Apples Turn Brown When Exposed To Air?
Ever Thought Why Do Apples Turn Brown When Exposed To Air | Discoverfoodtech.com
Why Do Apples Turn Brown? | Why Do Apples Brown
This unpleasant phenomenon is due to a series of biochemical reactions known as enzymatic browning. When an apple is cut, the injured plant tissue gets exposed to oxygen. The presence of oxygen in the cells causes an enzyme polyphenol oxidase(PPO) in the chloroplasts to oxidize phenolic compounds present naturally in the apple’s flesh to o-quinones. These new chemicals react with amino acids to produce brown colored melanins. Different varieties of apple contain different levels of PPO activity and thus they brown at different rates.
How To Preserve Cut Apples | How To Keep Apples Fresh After Cutting
Refrigeration can slow the reaction and hence prevent browning in apples. Lemon or pineapple juices, which contain natural antioxidants that inhibit the reaction, can also be used to coat apple slices. Also, enzymatic browning is reduced by the acids in these juices which slow down the reaction. The lower pH and acidic nature of the fruit juices causes less activation of PPO enzymes. Blanching of apples by boiling in water for a short time (4-5 mins) can eliminate PPO activity. Oxygen diffusion can be reduced by coating with honey, caramel or sugar and thus prevent browning.
Why Do Apples Turn Brown
Nearly all plant tissues contain PPO, which is a mixture of monophenol oxidase and catechol oxidase. Browning is an unappetizing reaction; the familiar brown color of the beverages (tea, coffee and cocoa) consumed daily is developed by PPO enzymatic browning during processing of the product. Brown apples will someday be a thing of the past as the scientists are working to genetically engineer apples that do not produce the PPO enzyme.
Category: Food FactsVideosTags: 5 facts about food, amazing food facts, brown apple, crazy food facts, did you know facts about food, disgusting food facts, enzymatic browning, facts about eating fast food, famous food scientists, fast food facts, fast food facts bad, fast food industry, food a fact of life, food and nutrition research, Food Business, food chain, food chain facts, food company, food content, food department, food facts, food facts for kids, Food Industry, food information, food label facts, food manufacturing, food manufacturing companies, food nutrition facts, food processing business, food processing companies, food processing technology, Food Science, food science articles, food science definition, food science experiments, food science news, food science technology, Food startups, food web, foodtech, fruit browning, fun food facts, fun healthy food facts, healthy eating facts, healthy food facts, how to keep apples fresh after cutting, how to keep apples from browning, how to keep apples from turning brown, how to keep apples from turning brown science experiment, how to keep peeled apples from turning brown, how to preserve cut apples, how to prevent apples from turning brown, impossible foods, interesting facts about food, interesting facts about food and drink, interesting facts about food and nutrition, interesting healthy food facts, journal of food safety, journal of food science, keep apples from browning, manufacturing industries, nutrition facts, open food facts, oxidase enzyme, packaged food industry, polyphenol oxidase, process industry, science behind food, soylent green food, strange food facts, the food industry, unhealthy food facts, vegetable food, what is enzymatic browning, what is food science, what is processed food, why apples turn brown, why do apples brown, why do apples go brown, why do apples turn brown