Proximate composition of composite jam
Table 2 displays the results of the composite jam’s proximal analysis. The control (A) had a higher moisture content than the jam blends, which ranged from 36.87 to 45.59%. Because of the heating technique used during preparation, the difference in moisture is to be expected. Moisture has a significant impact on product shelf life (
Eke-Ejiofor and Owuno, 2013). Water was removed from jams during processing, resulting in a higher concentration of food components
(Saka et al., 2007). The moisture content of any food material is a measure of the food’s lifespan or life span. It specifies how long food can be stored before turning rotten (
Fellows, 2007). Based on this, the produced jams made with pineapple and carrot moisture content were the best jams for a longer shelf life in storage. These moisture values are within the range of numerous fruit and vegetable jams, jellies, marmalades and conserves (36.87-40.52%) (
Pomeranz, 2013). The jams have a long shelf life due to their low moisture content. The results of the study are in line with the suggested jam values for preventing microbiological development and preserving quality
(Moyls et al., 1962; Aina and Adesina, 1999;
Malcolum, 2000). There was a significant difference (p≤0.05) between the control sample (100% pineapple) and the composite jam B(90% pineapple and 10% carrots), C(80% pineapple and 20% carrots), D(75% pineapple and 25% carrots), E(25% pineapple and 40% carrots).
The composite sample had an ash level of 0.60 to 0.8%. The ash content of the control jam sample (100% pineapple) was the lowest, while the ash content of the composite jam (75% pineapple and 25% carrots) was the highest at 0.81%. In comparison to the findings obtained for prickly pear jam, the ash concentration was greater
(Atef et al., 2013). The mineral composition of food samples is indicated by ash content, which is critical in many biochemical reactions that aid the physiological functioning of major metabolic processes in the body (
Ashaye and Adeleke, 2009). These results are similar to those published by
Eke-Ejiofor and Owuno (2013) for jackfruit jam (0.27%) and fresh jackfruit (0.43%), respectively.
Goswami et al., (2011) also reported ash levels of different fresh jackfruit (A. heterophyllus) kinds (0.98, 1.04, 1.11, 0.88 and 0.70). Fresh fruit jam ash concentrations ranged from 0.053% to 0.902%, according to
Haque et al., (2009). Although most minerals have little volatility at high temperatures of 5000C, ash content is a measure of the entire amount of minerals contained in a food; some minerals are volatile and may be partially lost.
In terms of nutrition, ash is crucial since it indicates how concentrated the minerals in a given food sample are. In general, low ash content implies that the food being examined is deficient in minerals. The crude protein value of the jam samples ranged from 0.11-0.48%; composite jam sample D(75% pineapple and 25% carrots) was the lowest (0.11%) compared to the other blends (0.31, 0.36, 6.9, 0.48% respectively and the control 0.34%). This result indicated that the blend samples C(80% pineapple and 20% carrots) and D(75% pineapple and 25% carrots) had higher protein content than the control (100% pineapple), which was lower than a study on prickly pear pulp by
Atef et al., (2013), which found that the protein content of the blend samples C(80% pineapple and 20% carrots) was higher than the protein content of the control (100% pineapple) (7.02-8.51%). All of the composite jams developed had a significant difference (p<0.05). The difference between the control sample (100% pineapple) and samples B (90% pineapple and 10% carrots), C and D was not significant (p<0.05) (80% pineapple and 20% carrots). These findings were similar to those of
Watt et al., (1963), who found protein content in the edible section of jackfruit jam, pineapple jam and raw jackfruit to be 1.3%, 0.46%, 0.19% and 1.12%, respectively. The most prevalent ingredients in jam are fruits, sugar, pectin and citric acid, according to nutritional labeling. Because none of the components utilized are high in protein, jam has a low protein level (
Mohd Naeem et al., 2015). Because of the heat generated during processing, most processed products, such as jams, have reduced nutritional contents when compared to fresh fruits
(Jawaheer et al., 2003).
The crude fat level of the jam samples ranged from 5.29% to 10.67%, with the control sample (100% pineapple) having the lowest fat content (5.29%) and jam sample D (75% pineapple fat content of many foods influences the overall physical features of the food, such as flavor, texture, mouth feel and appearance
(Muhammad et al., 2009). According to Norman (1976), the fat content of many fruits is usually less than 1%.
Haque et al., (2009) also discovered that the lipid content of several fruits varied between 0.0084% and 1.27%.
The fiber level of the jam mixes ranged from 0.1% to 3.86%, with the lowest fiber content of 0.13% in the control sample (100% pineapple) and the greatest fiber content of 3.86% in sample E (25% pineapple and 7% carrots) (3.86%). It was discovered that when the carrot’s fiber content increased, so did the carrot’s fiber content. The fibre content of the control (100% pineapple) and composite sample B did not differ significantly (p<0.05) (90% pineapple and 10% carrots). However, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between sample C (80% pineapple and 20% carrots), D (75% pineapple and 25% carrots) and E (100% pineapple) (25% pineapple and 75% carrots). This Fig is slightly higher than the 3.06% revealed by
Singh et al., (1991). It’s possible that the discrepancy is related to the proportions of substances utilized. Carrot fiber protects the colon mucous membrane by adhering to cancer-causing substances and removing them from the colon.
The jam’s carbohydrate content ranged from 33.95% to 49.52%. The lowest carbohydrate content (33.95%) was found in sample (25% pineapple and 75% carrots), while the maximum carbohydrate content was found in jam blends sample D (75% pineapple and 25% carrots) (49.52% ). The carbohydrate content of the control sample (100% pineapple jam) was 48.05%. The control sample (100% Pineapple jam) and the composite jam samples B (90% pineapple, 10% carrots), C (80% pineapple, 20% carrots), D (75% pineapple, 25% carrots) and E (90% pineapple, 10% carrots) (25% pineapple and 75% carrot) showed a significant (p<0.05) difference. Sample D’s high carbohydrate content (75% pineapple and 25% carrots) could be due to the high carbohydrate content of carrots (
Franz Augstburger et al., 2001). The carbohydrate levels in this study are higher when compared to
Emelike et al., (2015) carbohydrate values for beetroot jam.
Sensory attributes of the jam samples
Sensory evaluation takes into account things like appearance, scent, taste and so forth and it all adds up to show total liking. In most cases, flavour has a significant part in overall acceptance
(Nafisah et al., 2020). The sensory characteristics of pineapple and carrot composite jam are shown in Table 3. In terms of colour, taste, texture and general acceptability, the experimental samples appeared to be substantially different (P<0.05). The color of the jam samples ranged from 8.56 to 9.64, with the greatest mean score (9.64) going to the control sample (100% pineapple) and the lowest mean score going to sample E. (25% pineapple and 70% carrots). The color obtained a slightly diminishing tendency with decreasing pineapple and increasing carrot proportions: 90:10> 80:20> 75:25> 25:75 is a ratio of 90:10> 80:20> 75:25> 25:75. The fragrance score of the control (100:0) sample did not differ substantially from the scores of samples B (90:10), C (80:20) and D (P>0.05). (75:25). The control sample (100% pineapple) and the composite jam sample E (25% pineapple and 70% carrots) showed a significant difference (P<0.05). With the exception of jam sample E (25% pineapple and 70% carrots), the control scored much lower than the composite jam samples in terms of spreadability: 90:10, 80:20 and 75:25. Carrot integration can be responsible for the differences in colour, aroma, taste and spreadability when compared to the control. Furthermore, decreasing the pineapple or increasing the carrot amounts had no effect on the spreadability (P>0.05). The taste of the composite samples was unlikely to be affected by the corresponding increases and declines in carrot and pineapple quantities. Furthermore, there were significant differences in overall liking (P<0.05) between the composite samples and the control. Given the higher scores for aroma, spreadability, taste and overall acceptability compared to the other samples, the sample produced with 75% pineapple and 25% carrots proved to be more preferable based on consumer acceptability.