Heat‐Induced Changes in Free Amino Acids on Manufacturing Heated Pulps, Purées and Pastes from Tomatoes

ABSTRACT The effect of heating on the free amino acid composition of processed tomato products, heated pulps, purées and pastes was examined. The major components of the fresh pulp were glutamic acid, γ‐aminobutyric acid, aspartic acid, glutamine and asparagine. The heating process caused about a 40% loss of the total amino acids, which was attributable mostly to decreases in glutamic acid, glutamine and aspartic acid. Neither aromatic amino acids nor basic amino acids decreased in this process. Additional low temperature heating applied to the heated pulp to manufacture purées and pastes caused less effects than the high temperature heating used to prepare the pulp.