Electrical Parameters as a Tool for Evaluating the Quality and Functional Properties of Superfruit Purees

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of electrical parameters for assessing the quality and health-promoting properties of fruit purees derived from twelve superfruit species native to north-eastern Poland. Their physicochemical characteristics were determined using reference methods, while electrical measurements were conducted with a custom-built system based on an equivalent circuit model (RCC). The recorded electrical parameters included impedance, admittance, and series and parallel capacitance across a frequency range of 100 Hz–1 MHz. Pronounced differences in dry matter, extract, ash content, and bioactive compounds were observed between species. Cluster analysis and PCA revealed that purées with higher bioactive compound content exhibited strong and statistically significant correlations between electrical parameters reflecting impedance and admittance and variables such as dry matter, total extract, and ash (p < 0.01). In contrast, capacitance-based parameters showed weaker and more composition-specific relationships. In purées with lower levels of bioactive compounds, the number and strength of correlations were reduced. These findings indicate that frequency-resolved electrical parameters may serve as a complementary, non-destructive tool for assessing composition-related variability in fruit purées and may support rapid quality evaluation alongside conventional assays.