RESUMO
In order to design a minimal process for cantaloupe, the water activity of the fruit was reduced until 0.976 through vacuum osmotic dehydration and the optimum combination of microbial preservatives (100 ppm sodium sulfite, 600 ppm potassium sorbate, 0.5 L-ascorbic acid and 1 citric acid), that contributed to minimize (p < 0.05), the content of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, molds and yeast, was determined through a 2k multifactorial design. In the second experimental stage, the conditions previously mentioned were tested together with the application of fruit's blanching (98 degrees C/3 min) with saturated steam and product storage in three different modified atmospheres (6 O2-6 CO2, 5 O2-10 CO2 and atmospheric air). In such sense, the application of microbial preservatives together with fruit's blanching and atmospheric air in high barrier packages (30 mu nylon) contributed to extent the shelf life of the cantaloupe minimally processed during 14 days on the basis of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, acid lactic bacteria, enterobacteria, molds, yeast and the sensory attributes color, odour, taste and texture.