Shelf stable intermediate moisture pineapple (Ananas comosus) slices using hurdle technology

A process has been developed to prepare shelf stable ready-to-eat (RTE) intermediate moisture pineapple (Ananas comosus) slices using hurdle technology. The combination of hurdles including osmotic dehydration, infrared drying, and gamma radiation dose of 1 kGy successfully reduced the microbial load to below detectable limit. The shelf life of the intermediate moisture pineapple slices was found to be 40 days at ambient temperature (26 ± 2 °C). The untreated control samples spoiled within 6 days. The RTE intermediate moisture pineapple slices were found to have good texture, colour and sensory acceptability during this 40 days storage.