Abstract
This study analyzed the characteristics of single-harvested pepper flakes and investigated the effects of the addition of red and green pepper flakes on the quality of various dressings. Moisture contents of red and green pepper flakes were $14.57{\pm}0.13%\;and\;11.86{\pm}0.12%$, capsaicinoids contents on a dry-weight basis were $207.91{\pm}6.68\;mg/100\;g\;and\;172.32{\pm}5.94\;mg/100\;g$, and total free sugars were $21.63{\pm}1.81%\;and\;12.49{\pm}0.56%$, respectively. ASTA color of red pepper flakes was $150.93{\pm}4.56$. Viable cell numbers of red and green pepper flakes were $3.9X10^4\;CFU/g\;and\;5.2X10^5\;CFU/g$, respectively. The pH values in French dressing and Italian dressing, with added red and green pepper flakes, were slightly increased, but not in American Caesar dressing. Acidity and viscosity weren't statistically different in the 3 kinds of dressings by the addition of red and green pepper flakes. The color difference $({\Delta}E^*_{ab})$ for the storage periods was calculated in each dressing and that of American Caesar dressing with added red pepper flakes was extremely high. Viable cell number in each dressing was maintained at 2 log CFU/g during the storage periods. The sensory characteristics during the storage periods were assessed by members of a trained panel, and showed that the color and pungency of red and green flakes increased the overall preference in the Italian dressing and American Caesar dressing.
