Enhancement of shelf-life of coriander leaves through storage in a novel high humidity storage box

Abstract

A high humidity storage box was designed, fabricated and evaluated for freshness retention of coriander leaves. Coriander leaves in bunches were stored in storage box as well as in non-ventilated plastic crates covered with wet gunny cloth (control). Periodical observations on shelf-life, freshness and moisture loss were recorded. At the end of the storage period, the samples were analysed for quality. Coriander leaves stored in novel high humidity storage box had a shelf-life of 72 h under ambient conditions (Temp: 26-28°C, RH: 58%) as compared to 48 h in control. Samples stored in the acrylic boxes showed higher freshness retention compared to those stored in commercial practice. Moreover, coriander leaves stored in high humidity storage box had higher freshness, lesser physiological loss in weight (PLW%) (12%) and better retention of ascorbic acid (58.4%), iron (99%) and calcium (64%) compared to control. Therefore, this study showed that novel, custom designed high humidity storage box hold potential for storage and shelf-life extension of coriander leaves.