The effects of two heat processes LTP (low-temperature pasteurization: 65 C, 30 s) and HTP (hightemperature
pasteurization: 90 C, 5 s) on color quality of pasteurized cloudy and clarified or centrifuged
pomegranate juices were evaluated during prolonged storage at room temperature (25 C) and under
refrigeration (5 C). Both heat treatments combined with refrigeration prevented microbial growth for
120 days. Although processing and storage of pomegranate juice had a decisive impact on the degradation
of anthocyanin compounds and the consequent formation of brown pigments, storage temperature
was the main factor affecting both browning index (BI) and red color loss in pasteurized
pomegranate juices. Samples stored at 5 C had a lower and slower loss of red color than those stored at
25 C. Results showed that BIs increased rapidly with time in juices stored at 25 C, being not acceptable
(>1.00) after 7 days. The juices stored at 5 C showed less browning regardless of pasteurization
treatment they were subjected. In particular LTP-treated cloudy and clarified juices stored at 5 C for 90
days exhibited BI values of 0.93 and 0.85, respectively.