| Summary: | Tamarillo is a nutrient-dense fruit with a unique aroma from its volatile compounds (VCs). In this study, we aimed to compare the volatile profiles: (i) of fresh and freeze-dried tamarillo; (ii) detected using Thermal Desorption–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (TD–GC–MS) and Solid-Phase MicroExtraction–Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS); (iii) of freeze-dried pulp and peel of New Zealand grown tamarillo. The possible antibacterial activity of freeze-dried tamarillo extracts was also investigated. We show that freeze-drying maintained most of the VCs, with some being more concentrated with the loss of water. The most abundant VC in both fresh and freeze-dried tamarillo was hexanoic acid methyl ester for pulp (30% and 37%, respectively), and (E)-3-Hexen-1-ol for peel (36% and 29%, respectively). With the use of TD–GC–MS, 82 VCs were detected for the first time, when compared to SPME–GC–MS. Methional was the main contributor to the overall aroma in both peel (15.4 ± 4.2 μg/g DW) and pulp (118 ± 8.1 μg/g DW). Compared to water as the control, tamarillo extracts prepared by water and methanol extraction showed significant antibacterial activity against <i>E. coli</i>, <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, and <i>S. aureus</i> with zone of inhibition of at least 13.5 mm. These results suggest that freeze-dried tamarillo has a potential for use as a natural preservative to enhance aroma and shelf life of food products.
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