Effect of Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) Bags on the Quality of Stored Beans (Phaseolusvulgaris)

Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags are useful to stop grain pest proliferation. They are cheap, easy to use and they improve the sensory properties of grains. Samples of beans were stored for 2 months in PICS and PP bags, and then compared to bulk and true density, water absorption capacity, moisture content, total polyphenol, protein content, cooking time, and sensory analysis. While there was no significant difference (p<0.05) of other tested parameters for the beans stored respectively in PICS and in PP bags the water absorption capacity (41.75%) and the cooking time (207 min) of PICSstored beans were significantly higher than their counterparts stored in PPbags with respective values of 26.66% and 185 min. In the sensory test, the assessors identified the difference between the two samples (α>95%) in both raw and cooked states and preferred the PICS stored beans. It was therefore concluded that the praised benefits of PICS stored beans were due the protection against insects, improved organoleptic characteristics, but not to any positive effect on the cooking time. Further research is needed to deeply investigate the effect of beans hardening during storage in PICS bags.