Optimization of Cold Plasma Treatment for Aspergillus niger Decontamination in Dried Apricots ( Prunus armeniaca )

Dried apricots are highly susceptible to fungal contamination, particularly by Aspergillus niger , posing serious concerns for food safety and shelf life. This study is the first to systematically evaluate and optimize cold plasma treatment (CPT) parameters for the decontamination of A. niger in dried apricot samples (DASs). A central composite design (CCD) was used to assess the effects of exposure time and the distance between the plasma source and the sample. The optimized conditions (15 min exposure at 2 cm distance) resulted in a maximum fungal reduction of 4.3 log colony‐forming unit (CFU)/g (the mean value of the center‐point replicates was 4.63 ± 0.13). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant surface damage, confirming the etching effect of CPT. Moreover, the treatment enhanced total phenolic content (TPC) (from 104 to 204.3 mg GAE/100 g, the mean value of the center‐point replicates was 198.3 ± 0.9 mg GAE/100 g [ n = 5]) and improved antioxidant activity, indicated by decreased 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) absorbance (from 0.052 to 0.033 at 517 nm, the mean value of the center‐point replicates was 0.036 ± 0.005 [ n = 5]), without significantly affecting pH or titratable acidity. These findings demonstrate that CPT not only effectively reduces fungal contamination but also improves functional quality, indicating its strong potential for industrial‐scale application in the dried fruit sector.