The sample (1 g) was accurately weighed into a 200-mL Pyrex beaker, treated with ca. 100 mL of boiling water at pH 6−8, and kept at 85 °C with continuous magnetic stirring on a hot plate for 15 min. It was then cooled to room temperature, the volume was made up to 100 mL, and the solution was filtered through a 0.20-μm membrane filter (Minisart Sartorius or equivalent) before injection. If the filtrate is kept refrigerated before analysis, the fructan tends to precipitate from solution, so it should be reheated to 80 °C and allowed to cool to room temperature before analysis