Shelf Life Prediction of Minimal Processing for Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) using ASLT (Accelerated Shelf Life Test) Method with Arrhenius Model

The determination of the shelf life of a product plays a crucial role as a parameter for consumer safety and quality. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) minimally processed, as one of the food products undergoing minimal heating, requires a specialized approach in estimating its shelf life. The aim of this research is to determine the shelf life of minimally processed eggplant using the Accelerated Shelf Life Test (ASLT) with the Arrhenius model and to assess the quality changes occurring during storage of minimally processed eggplant. The research method involved the Accelerated Shelf Life Test (ASLT) with the Arrhenius model in estimating the shelf life of minimally processed eggplant. The estimated shelf life used minimally processed eggplant packaged in plastic wrapping, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), and PP (Polypropylene), then stored at temperatures of 10°C and 30°C for 9 days. Observations were made by weighing samples every day to measure weight loss. The results showed that at 10°C, plastic wrapping experienced higher weight loss compared to HDPE and PP packaging. Meanwhile, at 30°C, HDPE packaging had higher weight loss compared to PP and wrapping packaging. The estimated shelf life of minimally processed eggplant for 9 days at a storage temperature of 10°C was 25 days for plastic wrapping, 12 days for HDPE, and 7 days for PP. For a storage temperature of 30°C, the estimated shelf life was 11 days for plastic wrapping, 5 days for HDPE, and 4 days for PP. From the shelf life calculation using ASLT with the Arrhenius approach, minimally processed eggplant stored in plastic wrapping had a longer shelf life compared to HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and PP (Polypropylene) packaging. This research contributes to understanding the shelf life of minimally processed eggplant, integrating the ASLT method with the Arrhenius model as an effective tool for a rapid and accurate evaluation of quality changes in food products.