Pectin methylesterase activity and other factors affecting pH and titratable acidity in processing tomatoes

► PME activity in cold break tomato juice produced methanol and increased the TA. ► Cold break tomato juice contained over 400 μg g−1 methanol after 30 min. ► Hot break juice pH 0.21 U higher than cold break juice pH. ► High pectin, high consistency cultivars had more methanol in cold break juice.