High Pressure Processing vs. Thermal Pasteurization of Whole Concord Grape Puree: Effect on Nutritional Value, Quality Parameters and Refrigerated Shelf Life

High-pressure processing (HPP) is utilized for food preservation as it can ensure product safety at low temperatures, meeting consumers’ demand for fresh-like and minimally processed products. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of HPP (600 MPa, 3 min, 5 °C) and pasteurization by heat treatment (HT, 63 °C, 3 min) on the production of a novel whole Concord grape puree product (with skin and seeds, no waste), and the shelf-life of the puree under refrigerated storage (4 °C). Microbial load, physicochemical properties, phenolic content and antioxidant activity, composition and sensorial attributes of puree samples were evaluated. HPP- and HT-treated purees were microbiologically stable for at least 4 months under refrigeration, with less microbial growth and longer shelf life for HPP samples. HPP and HT samples had similar levels of phenolic contents and antioxidant activities throughout the 4-month refrigerated storage period, even though HPP retained >75% PPO and POD enzyme activities while those of HT were less than 25%. Inclusion of seeds in the puree product significantly increased the fiber, protein, total fatty acid, and linoleic acid contents. Sensory results showed that HPP-treated puree retained more fresh-like grape attributes, had better consistency, and showed significantly higher ratings in consumer overall liking, product ranking, and purchase intent than the HT puree (p < 0.05).