High hydrostatic pressure treatment for manufacturing of garlic powder with improved microbial safety and antioxidant activity

The traditional method of manufacturing garlic powder (GP) that includes simple grinding of air-dried garlic slices has problems of microbial safety and a pungent flavour for this product. Microbiologically safe GP with a less pungent flavour and better antioxidant activities was manufactured using high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), wet grinding and freeze-drying process. The numbers of total aerobic bacteria and yeasts and molds in untreated (without HHP) GP were 3.64 and 2.47 log CFU/g respectively. Garlic powder treated with 600 MPa HHP for 5 min exhibited a total aerobes count of 1.62 CFU/g and a yeasts and molds count of 1.43 log CFU/g. The diallyl disulfide content, which is responsible for the pungent odour of garlic, was also significantly reduced by HHP due to a decrease in the alliinase activity. Hence, a novel process using HHP can help to produce GP with improved microbial safety, flavour and nutrition.