Thermal processing of carrots: Lycopene stability and isomerisation with regard to antioxidant potential

The thermal stability of lycopene was evaluated in a carrot cultivar with a high lycopene content (Daucus carota var. Nutri Red) by (a) exposure of carrot homogenates (with/without the addition of oil) to temperatures ranging from 25 to 140 °C; (b) applying convection and microwave vacuum drying to carrot slices. Heating carrot homogenates at temperatures above 100 °C initiated isomerisation of all-trans-lycopene under non-oxidising conditions, as indicated by a significant increase in 9-cis-lycopene. Isomerisation was enhanced at short treatment times, when sunflower oil was added prior to thermal treatment. Independent from an oil supplement, all-trans-lycopene was degraded at temperatures above 70 °C. The ratio of all-trans- to total-cis-isomers changed from 90:10 to 40:60, indicating a higher lycopene bioavailability due to generated cis-isomers. In oil containing carrot homogenates antioxidant properties of the methanol-soluble components raised after heat treatment at 130 °C for 0.5 h. Lycopene remained stable in dried carrots.