Lemongrass essential oil incorporated into alginate-based edible coating for shelf-life extension and quality retention of fresh-cut pineapple

• Edible coatings were used for fresh-cut pineapple during low temperature storage.
• Alginate-based coating incorporated with 0.3% lemongrass was the best formulation.
• This formulation has potential to extend the shelf life and maintain the quality.
• Lemongrass (0.5%) had negative effect on taste and firmness of coated samples.

The effects of different concentrations (0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5%, w/v) of lemongrass essential oil incorporated into an alginate-based [sodium alginate 1.29% (w/v), glycerol 1.16% (w/v) and sunflower oil 0.025% (w/v)] edible coating on the respiration rate, physico-chemical properties, and microbiological and sensory quality of fresh-cut pineapple during 16 days of storage (10 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 10% RH) were evaluated. Coated fresh-cut pineapple without lemongrass and uncoated fresh-cut pineapple were stored under the same conditions and served as the controls. The results show that yeast and mould counts and total plate counts of coated samples containing 0.3 and 0.5% (w/v) lemongrass were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than other samples. However, the incorporation of 0.5% (w/v) lemongrass in coating formulation significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the firmness and sensory scores (taste, texture and overall acceptability) of fresh-cut pineapples. Therefore, the results indicate that an alginate-based edible coating formulation incorporated with 0.3% (w/v) lemongrass has potential to extend the shelf-life and maintain quality of fresh-cut pineapple.