JPS6232906B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to an effective method for preserving raw rice cakes. Namagiri mochi is made by pounding mochi, solidifying it, then cutting it and wrapping it in plastic. Unlike retort mochi or vacuum sterilized (boiled water) mochi, no heat is applied to it, so it retains its original deliciousness. However, because it has not been heat sterilized, it does not last long, and mold grows quickly, so many methods are used to prevent mold. For example, vacuum packaging, carbon dioxide gas packaging, etc. However, vacuum packaging and carbon dioxide gas packaging have the disadvantage that they are complicated and inefficient, and that white mold-like spots occur, reducing the flavor and commercial value of the cut mochi. Therefore, the present inventors conducted various studies to overcome these drawbacks. When they tried packaging oxygen absorbers that were easy to operate, they discovered that even in oxygen absorber packaging, white mold-like spots would form if stored for a long period of time. After closely observing the white mold-like spots that appeared on the oxygen absorber packaged cut rice cakes, it was confirmed that they were yeast colonies. In addition, when the ecology of these yeast bacteria was investigated, it was confirmed that a small amount of carbon dioxide gas promotes the growth of yeast bacteria in the early stages of growth. The present invention is based on these findings, and unlike conventional CO ₂ packaging that utilizes the bacteriostatic effect of carbon dioxide gas, the present invention is based on a completely opposite idea to a method of suppressing yeast growth by removing carbon dioxide gas. It is.
That is, the present invention is a method for preserving raw rice cakes, which is characterized by storing raw rice cakes sealed together with an oxygen scavenger and a carbon dioxide absorbent in a substantially non-porous packaging material or an airtight container. Oxygen scavengers include iron-based agents such as iron, iron carbide, and ferric salts, other inorganic agents such as hydrosulfites, sulfites, and sulfides, polyphenols such as hydroquinone, catechol, and gallic acid, and glucose. All organic compounds such as sugars and hydroxyl compounds such as ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid can be used, but those without the possibility of generating carbon dioxide gas, especially those made of iron powder and electrolyte, are preferred. The carbon dioxide absorbent may be anything that can absorb carbon dioxide gas in a closed system, such as KOH, NaOH,
Examples include hydroxides of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals such as Ca(OH) ₂ and Mg(OH) ₂ , which can be used as they are, or as a concentrated solution, impregnated into a suitable filler, or coated on their surface. It is used by coating it with fine powder, filling it in a film with good air permeability, and sealing it. The carbon dioxide absorbent may be packed in the same pack as the oxygen absorber, or may be used in a separate bag together with the oxygen absorber. According to the present invention, the conventional storage and distribution form of raw cut mochi can be improved, and it can be stored for a long period of time. In other words, white colonies of yeast occur in the deoxidized packaged raw cut rice cakes, which necessitates limiting the number of distribution days or placing them in low-temperature distribution (below 15°C), but according to the present invention, colony generation can be suppressed. By doing so, it is possible to extend the distribution period and distribute the product at room temperature without the need for low-temperature distribution. Example 1 500 g of fresh cut mochi made by Company A was packaged with 7.2 g of iron-based oxygen absorber (manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, trade name: Ageless S-200), and 7.5 g of calcium hydroxide packaged with breathable packaging material.
It was sealed in a KOP/PE bag and stored at 25°C. The results are shown in Table 1 in comparison with the use of an oxygen absorber and calcium hydroxide alone, and a blank (simple air-containing packaging).

【table】

[Table] Example 2 1 kg of raw cut rice cakes made by Company B was mixed with KOP/PE along with 7.2 g of iron-based oxygen absorber (product name Ageless S-200) and 7.5 g of calcium hydroxide packaged in a breathable packaging material.
It was sealed in a bag and stored at 25°C. The results are shown in Table 2 in comparison with the case where the oxygen scavenger was used alone.

[Table] Occurrence status of yeast colonies -: None +: Several

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for preserving raw cut mochi, which comprises sealing and preserving raw cut rice cake together with an oxygen scavenger and a carbon dioxide absorbent in a substantially non-porous packaging material or an airtight container.