4. Conclusions
In this paper, two different jam making methods were applied and compared on different colored carrots. As regards sensory evaluation, the jams produced by both methods were considered acceptable. Nevertheless, the jam obtained through mild method satisfied consumer acceptability more than jam obtained through common method, especially for the purple type. Moreover, mild method preserved the color and most of the antioxidant activity and total phenols of raw carrots more than common method. It could therefore be concluded that the overall quality of perishable vegetables, such as local carrots, can be preserved by using the mild method described in this paper. In addition, from a technological point of view, mild method helps the food processing industry to decrease production costs, with shorter working and cooking times compared to common method. This method, applied in this research for the first time on different types of carrots, could be applied to other nutrient-rich vegetables that are difficult to store in their raw state, and that require a making method aimed to preserve their quality and freshness, as required by consumers. Nevertheless, more information about the effect of storage on the preservation of quality in mild processed jams could be needed before any hypothetical industrial implementation.