Abstract
Although the demand of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as Kimbab is growing, large quantities and wide distribution of these foods is difficult due to their short shelf-life, exposed packaging with hygienic risk, and decreased quality at refrigerator temperatures. This study was undertaken to develop preservation and storage methods to extend the shelf-life of RTE rice products using microwave and packaging methods such as vacuum and modified atmosphere packages. RTE rice ball samples inoculated with Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus cereus were microwave treated for 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds. Populations of pathogens on the rice balls were significantly reduced with an increase in treatment time. There were more than 5 log reductions of all pathogens when the samples were microwave treated for 60 seconds. RTE rice balls inoculated with two pathogens (S. aureus and B. cereus) were packaged via air, vacuum, $N_2$ gas, and $CO_2$ gas following microwave treatment for 90 seconds. The initial S. aureus and B. cereus concentration before treatment was 7.60 and 6.59 log CFU/g, and these levels were reduced by 3.37 and 2.18 log CFU/g after microwave treatment. The levels of pathogens were significantly increased during storage time at room temperature. $CO_2$ packaging was the most effective at inhibiting microbial growth among the tested packaging methods. The levels of total mesophilic count, S. aureus and B. cereus after 5 days of storage were 7.7, 8.8 and 9.3 log CFU/g in air packaged samples and 2.4, 3.2 and 8.3 log CFU/g in $CO_2$ gas packaged samples, respectively. However, after 3 days of storage higher levels of B. cereus were observed in all samples, indicating that the samples were not safe to be consumed. Base on these results, microwave treatment and MAP packaging methods using $CO_2$ gas could be used as a potential method for extending the shelf-life of RTE foods.
