Changes of Physicochemical Properties during the Preparation of Persimmon Pickles and its Optimal Preparation Conditions

Changes of physicochemical properties during the preparation of persimmon pickles and its optimal preparing conditions including salt concentration, soaking temperature, soaking time, amount of fermented soy paste, and ripeness of fresh pesimmon were investigated. The salinity and pH of soaking solution were rapidly dropped during 40 days of soaking, while their changes were negligible after 40 days of soaking. When the fermented soy paste was added to the soaking solution with the pH dropped more slowly. Salt content in persimmon pickles was gradually increased during soaking and soluble tannin content was rapidly decreased during the first 10 days of soaking. L value of persimmon pickles was gradually decreased, but a/b value was slightly increased. The hardness of persimmon pickles was slightly increased up to the 20th day of soaking and then decreased. Most acceptable persimmon pickles were prepared when the less ripened fresh persimmons were soaked in 10% salt solution at for 40 days, and the suitable amount of soy paste added to the soaking solution for preparing persimmon pickles was 20%.