Effect of Argon as Filling Gas of the Storage Atmosphere on the Shelf-Life of Sourdough Bread-Case Study on PDO Tuscan Bread.

The short shelf-life of PDO Tuscan bread limits its distribution to markets close to the production area, affecting its commercial success and the economic return by supply chain operators. While the application of MAP to store bread is widely accepted, the suitability of this technique to extend the shelf life of the PDO Tuscan bread is still to be explored. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge no data are available in the literature about the use of argon as filling gas neither in pure atmosphere nor in combination with CO 2 . In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different modified packaging atmospheres on the shelf-life of sourdough bread. Slices of bread were stored individually in plastic bags at 23 °C in five different atmospheres (Ar (100%), N 2 (100%), CO 2 (100%), Mix CO 2 /N 2 (70% CO 2 , 30% N 2 ), Mix CO 2 /Ar (70% CO 2 , 30% Ar)), and Air was selected as a control. To select the best storage conditions, both chemical-physical, rheological, and organoleptic features were evaluated. Results showed that pure gases (CO 2 , N 2 , Ar) displayed good qualities as storage atmospheres compared to Air. In contrast, both Mix CO 2 /N 2 and Mix CO 2 /Ar were the best in slowing down the staling process, thus doubling the shelf-life of bread, compared to other atmospheres. In conclusion, argon, as a preservation atmosphere, seems to be the best solution to extend the shelf-life of PDO Tuscan bread.