SUMMARY
AbstrakTujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menentukan umur simpan kerupuk ikan lele dumbo panggang menggunakan pendekatan model kadar air kritis dengan 2 jenis kemasan yakni plastik metalik dan polipropilen. Kerupuk ikan ditentukan kadar air awal, kadar air kritis, kadar air kesetimbangan beserta nilai aktifitas air untuk dapat dimasukkan dalam persamaan Labuza. Permeabilitas, ketebalan, dan luas kemasan juga dianalisis sebagai variabel pendukung yang digunakan dalam persamaan Labuza. Titik kritis ditentukan berdasarkan hasil uji skor yang dilakukan oleh 21 panelis terlatih terhadap nilai kerenyahan produk kerupuk hingga produk dinyatakan tidak renyah (skor 2). Hasil perhitungan pendugaan umur simpan berdasarkan persamaan Labuza menunjukkan bahwa kerupuk ikan lele dumbo panggang dengan kemasan plastik metalik memiliki umur simpan yang lebih lama (329 hari) dibandingkan dengan plastik polipropilen (231 hari). Shelf Life Determination of Roasted Catfish Crackers Stored with Metallic and Polypropylene PackagingAbstractStudy aimed to determine the shelf life of roasted catfish crackers using critical moisture content model packed with two plastic packaging, namely metalized plastic and polypropilen plastic. The crackers were determined for their initial moisture content, critical moisture content, equilibrium moisture content, and water activity to be included in the Labuza equation. Permeability, thickness, and area of packaging were also analyzed as additional variable needed by Labuza equation. The critical point was determined based on the scoring test result conducted by 21 welltrained panelists for the crispness value of roasted catfish crackers until the crackers were scored not crispy. Result of the shelf life calculation using Labuza equation showed that the shelf life of roasted catfish crackers packed with metalized plastic was longer (329 days) compared to the one that packed with polypropilen plastic (231 days).