The noun has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1:
coming to full development; becoming mature
Synonyms: maturation, maturement
Meaning #2:
acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
Synonyms: aging, ageing
Ripening
| WordNet: ripening |
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
| Wikipedia: Ripening |
Ripening is a process in fruits that causes them to become more edible. In general, a fruit becomes sweeter, less green, and softer as it ripens. However the acidity as well as sweetness rises during ripening, but the fruit still tastes sweeter regardless. The reason for this is the Brix-Acid Ratio.
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Ripening agents
Ripening agents speed up the ripening process.
They allow many fruits to be picked prior to full ripening, which is useful since ripened fruits do not ship well. For example, bananas are picked when green and artificially ripened after shipment by being gassed with ethylene. A similar method used in parts of Asia was to cover a bed of slightly green-harvested mango and a few small open containers of clumps of calcium carbide with a plastic covering. The moisture in the air reacted with the calcium carbide to release the gas acetylene, which apparently has the same effect as ethylene.
Calcium carbide is used for ripening the fruit artificially in some countries. Industrial-grade calcium carbide may contain traces of arsenic and phosphorus and thus use of this chemical for this purpose is illegal in most countries. Calcium carbide once dissolved in water produces acetylene[1] which acts as an artificial ripening agent. Acetylene is believed to affect the nervous system by reducing oxygen supply to brain, however in practice it is sufficiently reactive that this should not affect consumers[citation needed].
Covered fruit ripening bowls are commercially available to increase fruit ripening. [2] The manufacturers claim the bowls increase ethylene and carbon dioxide gasses around the fruit which promote ripening.
Climacteric fruits are able to continue ripening after being picked, a process accelerated by ethylene gas. Non-climacteric fruits can only ripen on the plant and thus typically suffer from short shelf-lives.
Ripening delaying
SmartFresh is a technology useful to maintain fresh-picked quality of whole fruits and vegetables. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP 0.14%) works with the ripening process to dramatically slow down ethylene production and prevent over-ripening and problems associated with ageing.
Ripening indicators
Iodine (I) can be used to check if the fruit is ripening or rotting by showing whether starch in the fruit has turned into sugar. For example, in an apple that has rotted (not bruised, just rotted) a drop of iodine on a slightly rotten part (not skin) will turn a dark blue ,or black color if there is starch there. If it stays yellow, then most of the starch did turn into sugar.
Ethylene Sensitivity Chart
source: www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ethylene-Gas.htm
N=None H=High L=Low M=Medium VH=Very High VL=Very Low Perishable Temperature Ethylene Ethylene Commodities C / F Production Sensitivity Fruits & Vegetables Apple (non-chilled) 1.1 / 30 VH H Apple (chilled) 4.4 / 40 VH H Apricot -0.5 / 31 H H Artichoke 0 / 32 VL L Asian Pear 1.1 / 34 H H Asparagus 2.2 / 36 VL M (Toughness) Avocado (California) 3.3 / 38 H H Avocado (Tropical) 10.0 / 50 H H Banana 14.4 / 58 M H Beans (Lima) 0 / 32 L M Beans (Snap/Green) 7.2 / 45 L M Belgian Endive 2.2 / 36 VL M Berries (Blackberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Blueberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Cranberry) 2.2 / 36 L L (Mold) Berries (Currants) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Dewberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Elderberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Gooseberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Loganberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Raspberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Berries (Strawberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold) Breadfruit 13.3 / 56 M M Broccoli 0 / 32 VL H (Yellowing) Brussel Sprouts 0 / 32 VL H Cabbage 0 / 32 VL H Cantalope 4.4 / 40 H M Cape Gooseberry 12.2 / 54 L L Carrots (Topped) 0 / 32 VL L (Bitterness) Casaba Melon 10.0 / 50 L L Cauliflower 0 / 32 VL H Celery 0 / 32 VL M Chard 0 / 32 VL H Cherimoya 12.8 / 55 VH H Cherry (Sour) -0.5 / 31 VL L (Softening) Cherry (Sweet) -1.1 / 30 VL L (Softening) Chicory 0 / 32 VL H Chinese Gooseberry 0 / 32 L H Collards 0 / 32 VL M Crenshaw Melon 10.0 / 50 M H Cucumbers 10.0 / 50 L H (Yellowing) Eggplant 10.0 / 50 L L Endive (Escarole) 0 / 32 VL M Feijoa 5.0 / 41 M L Figs 0 / 32 M L Garlic 0 / 32 VL L (Odor) Ginger 13.3 / 56 VL L Grapefruit (AZ,CA,FL,TX) 13.3 / 56 VL M (Mold) Grapes -1.1 / 30 VL L (Mold) Greens (Leafy) 0 / 32 VL H (Russet Spotting) Guava 10 / 50 L M Honeydew 10 / 50 M H Horseradish 0 / 32 VL L Jack Fruit 13.3 / 56 M M Kale 0 / 32 VL M Kiwi Fruit 0 / 32 L H Kohlrabi 0 / 32 VL L Leeks 0 / 32 VL M Lemons 12.2 / 54 VL M (Mold) Lettuce (Butterhead) 0 / 32 L M (Russet Spotting) Lettuce (Head/Iceberg) 0 / 32 VL H (Russet Spotting) Lime 12.2 / 54 VL M (Mold Degreen) Lychee 1.7 /35 M M Mandarine 7.2 / 45 VL M Mango 13.3 / 56 M H Mangosteen 13.3 / 56 M H Mineola 3.3 / 38 L L Mushrooms 0 / 32 L M Nectarine -0.5 / 31 H H Okra 10.0 / 50 L M Olive 7.2 / 45 L M Onions (Dry) 0 / 32 VL L (Odor) Onions (Green) 0 / 32 VL M Orange (CA,AZ) 7.2 / 45 VL M Orange (FL,TX) 2.2 / 36 VL M Papaya 12.2 / 54 H H Paprika 10.0 / 50 L L Parsnip 0 / 32 VL L Parsley 0 / 32 VL H Passion Fruit 12.2 / 54 VH H Peach -0.5 / 31 H H Pear (Anjou,Bartlett/Bosc) 1.1 / 30 H H Pear (Prickley) 5.0 / 41 N L Peas 0 / 32 VL M Pepper (Bell) 10.0 / 50 L L Pepper (Chile) 10.0 / 50 L L Persian Melon 10.0 / 50 M H Persimmon (Fuyu) 10.0 / 50 L H Persimmon (Hachiya) 0.5 / 41 L H Pineapple 10.0 / 50 L L Pineapple (Guava) 5.0 / 41 M L Plantain 14.4 / 58 L H Plum/Prune -0.5 / 31 M H Pomegranate 5.0 / 41 L L Potato (Processing) 10.0 / 50 VL M (Sprouting) Potato (Seed) 4.4 / 40 VL M Potato (Table) 7.2 / 45 VL M Pumpkin 12.2 / 54 L L Quince -0.5 / 31 L H Radishes 0 / 32 VL L Red Beet 2.8 / 37 VL L Rambutan 12.2 / 54 H H Rhubard 0 / 32 VL L Rutabaga 0 / 32 VL L Sapota 12.2 / 54 VH H Spinach 0 / 32 VL H Squash (Hard Skin) 12.2 / 54 L L Squash (Soft Skin) 10.0 / 50 L M Squash (Summer) 7.2 / 45 L M Squash (Zucchini) 7.2 / 45 N N Star Fruit 8.9 / 48 L L Swede (Rhutabaga) 0 / 32 VL L Sweet Corn 0 / 32 VL L Sweet Potato 13.3 / 56 VL L Tamarillo 0 / 32 L M Tangerine 7.2 / 45 VL M Taro Root 7.2 / 45 N N Tomato (Mature/Green) 13.3 / 56 VL H Tomato (Brkr/Lt Pink) 10.0 / 50 M H Tree-Tomato 3.9 / 39 H M Turnip (Roots) 0 / 32 VL L Turnip (Greens) 0 / 32 VL H Watercress 0 / 32 VL H Watermelon 10,0 / 50 L H Yam 13.3 / 56 VL L Live Plants Cut Flowers (Carnations) 0 / 32 VL H (Sleepiness) Cut Flowers (Chrysanthemums) 0 / 32 VL H Cut Flowers (Gladioli) 2.2 / 36 VL H Cut Flowers (Roses) 0 / 32 VL H (Open Sooner) Potted Plants -2.8-18.3 / 27-65 VL H Nursery Stock -1.1-4.4 / 30-40 VL H (Slower Start) Christmas Trees 0 / 32 N N Flowers Bulbs (Bulbs/ 7.2-15 / 45-59 VL H Corms/Rhizomes/Tubers)
References
Notes
- ^ Adel A. Kader (2002). Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. University of California. p. 157. ISBN 1879906515. http://books.google.com/books?id=mDC6ogQT18EC&pg=RA1-PA57&dq=calcium+carbide+ripening&sig=ACfU3U1jjyarRoDPviuHL_nhb2zxPCtZmw.
- ^ http://www.fantes.com/fruit-ripener.html
Bibliography
External links
- http://plantphys.info/plants_human/fruitgrowripe.html
- http://www.actahort.org/books/398/398_17.htm
- Burg SP, Burg EA (March 1962). "Role of Ethylene in Fruit Ripening". Plant Physiol. 37 (2): 179–89. PMID 16655629.
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Mentioned in
- Penicillium
- decayed
- amphicarpic (botany)
- gas storage (food engineering)
- pericarp (botany)
- Northern Spy (late-ripening apple)
- acetoin
- gammelost
- decay
- amphicarpic
- fructescence
- ectogony (botany)
- little peach disease (plant pathology)
- Pierce's disease (plant pathology)
