고차단성 포장재를 이용하여 김치를 각기 다르게 진공포장한 후 $10^{circ}C$와 $0^{circ}C$의 저온조건에 저장하면서 진공도 차이에 따른 pH, 산도, 색상, 젖산균수 등의 변화를 측정하고 관능검사를 병행하여 진공포장이 김치 품질에 미치는 영향을 살펴보았다. 전체적으로 진공도 차이는 저장중 김치의 pH와 적정 산도, 색상, Leuconostoc과 Lactobacilli를 포함한 젖산균수, 관능검사 결과 등에 거의 영향을 미치지 않았다. 이로부터 저온 유통되는 소포장 김치의 품질보존을 위해서는 고도의 진공포장이 아닌 포장재 내부의 head space를 제거하는 수준으로도 충분히 효과적임을 확인할 수 있었다.
Kimchi vacuum packaged in PET/AI/PE pouch was stored at $0^{circ}C;and;10^{circ}C$ to evaluate the effect of vacuumizing conditions on quality changes. The quality of kimchi during storage was investigated in terms of pH, titratable acidity, color, viable counts of lactic acid bacteria including Leuconostoc and Lactobacilli and sensory properties. Titratable acidity and pH were not significantly different for the vacuum degrees. Color index (L b/a) values of crushed kimchi juice decreased exponentially and remained constant during storage, but the resulting color change was not affected by the vacuum degrees. Viable counts of lactic acid bacteria and sensory scores exhibited no significant difference among the kimchi of different vacuum degrees. Consequently, the vacuum degree in packaging of kimchi seemed to influence little on quality of kimchi. For enhancing the commercial value of vacuum packaged kimchi products, it would be appropriate to produce a slight vacuum, eliminating the head space, within packages.
