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What steps are used to process fruit juice?

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lime processing — fruit processing Limes being prepared for processing into juice, Tecoman, Mexico.

The processing of fruit juice involves four primary stages: washing, extraction, clarification, and preservation.1

Washing

Fruit is cleaned using high-pressure soak or spray systems to remove soil and microorganisms. In some cases, detergents or surfactants are added to assist in cleaning.2

Extraction

Preparation involves removing unwanted parts, such as pits from stone fruit or peels from pineapples. For citrus, extraction and separation from the peel occur simultaneously via reaming or squeezing. Alternatively, fruit may be disintegrated into a mash for pressing, or subjected to total enzymatic liquefaction using enzymes like cellulase and pectinase.34

Clarification

To achieve a clear product, juice may undergo depectinization, where pectin is broken down. Filtration is then used to remove suspended solids, traditionally through diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration or modern membrane systems.56

Preservation

Juice is typically pasteurized to ensure safety. For retail, it may be bottled after heating or processed into a concentrate using an evaporator.7