Nano-ZnO/carboxymethyl cellulose-based active coating impact on ready-to-use pomegranate during cold storage

•Ready-to-use or minimally processed pomegranate undergo rapid deterioration.•Nano-ZnO treatment reduce microbial load and growth on aril surface.•Coatings reduce weight loss and maintain the overall quality of pomegranate arils.

Minimally processed pomegranate rapidly loses its overall quality because of high water loss and microbial contamination. Nano-ZnO in combination with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) coating was used on pomegranate arils. Arils were dipped for 4 min in distilled water (control), 0.1 or 0.2% (w/v) nano-ZnO suspension and then ZnO treated arils were coated with 0.5% (w/v) CMC and stored for 12 days at 4 °C. Coatings decreased total yeast + mold during 12 days of storage while total mesophilic bacteria was decreased during 6 days of storage. Coatings decreased weight loss and also the greatest juice percent was in coated arils. Soluble solids content decreased during storage with no significant difference between treatments. CMC + 0.2% nano-ZnO suppressed total phenol changes. Total anthocyanin, vitamin C, and antioxidant capacity were higher in coated arils. These findings suggest that nano-ZnO + CMC coating has the potential to extend minimally processed pomegranate storage life.