*2.4. Physicochemical Characterization*

In fruit, the moisture content was quantified by vacuum drying at 60 ◦C until constant weight [15]. Water activity was measured using a dew point hydrometer (DECAGÓN Aqualab CX-2, ±0.003, Pullman, WA, USA). Brix were determined in a refractometer (ABBE ATAGO BT, NAR T3, Tokyo, Japan) at 20 ◦C. pH values were measured with a potentiometer (Mettler Toledo Inlab, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland) at 20 ◦C. The apparent density was obtained through the volume displacement method, using a solids pycnometer and toluene as reference liquid.

In homogenized and nonhomogenized juice, density was determined with a liquid's pycnometer. Particle size distribution was determined using a Malvern Mastersize 2000 system (Malvern Instruments Limited, Worcesterhire, UK) equipped with a blue light source (470 nm wavelength; 0.02–200 micron measuring range). A small amount of sample was diluted in deionized water in the diffractometer cell under moderate agitation until it reached 8–9% darkness. The refractive index values of the juice (cloud) and the dispersant (water) were 1.5 and 1.33, respectively. These measurements were taken using a shortwavelength blue light source in conjunction with forward and backscatter detection to enhance sizing performance in the 0.01–1000 μm range. The particle size distribution of the juice was characterized by percentages in volume (D[4,3]) and in area (D[3,2]) based diameters, and by percentiles d10, d50, and d90, which represent the characteristic diameters

under which 10%, 50%, and 90% of the particles are within the distribution. Each analysis was repeated ten times. The rheological behavior was determined by obtaining a flow curve from a rotary rheometer (HAKKE RheoStress 1—RS1 Thermo Electron Corporation, Karlsruhe, Germany), using a Z34 DIN coaxial cylinder sensor system and a temperature bath at 20 ± 1 ◦C (HAKKE Phoenix 2 controller, Thermo Electron Corporation, Kalsruhe, Germany). The samples were subjected to three ascending and three descending sweeps with a velocity gradient from 0 to 300 s<sup>−</sup>1. Since all the samples exhibited a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior, samples' flow behaviors were modeled using the Ostwald–de Waele model. .

$$
\sigma = \mathbb{K} \cdot \boldsymbol{\gamma}^n
$$

The parameters K (consistency index (*Pa*·*s<sup>n</sup>*)) and n (flow behavior index (dimensionless)) for the model were obtained by regression using the software HAAKE RheoWin Data Manager v.3.61.0004. The results stated are the average of triplicates.

Color coordinates were obtained through a reflection spectrum between 400 and 700 nm, using a MINOLTA brand spectrocolorimeter (Model CM-3600D, Minolta, Osaka, Japan) with D65 illuminant and a 10 ◦C observer as references. The resulting CIE-L\*a\*b\* color coordinates allowed for the calculating of the psychometric coordinates: tone (h\*ab) and chrome (C\*ab). The color difference ( ΔE) between each homogenized juice and the nonhomogenized one (reference) was calculated. All determinations were made by triplicate.
