To provide a novel quality-keeping agent with a high safety whereby the qualities of peeled and/or cut vegetables, fruits and so on can be easily and effectively maintained during storage. [Solution] During cold or room-temperature storage of peeled and/or cut vegetables or fruits, color change, browning and so on can be prevented and the qualities can be easily and effectively maintained simply by using, as the active components, three components (i.e., sodium citrate, alum and alpha-lipoic acid) or four components (i.e., sodium citrate, alum, alpha-lipoic acid and sodium tartrate) and contacting the peeled and/or cut vegetables or fruits therewith.本發明之課題係提供可簡便且有效地保持去皮及/或切削蔬菜、水果等之保管時之品質,且安全性亦高之新穎的品質保持劑等。本發明之解決手段係使用檸檬酸鈉、明礬及α-硫辛酸之3種成份、或檸檬酸鈉、明礬、α-硫辛酸及酒石酸鈉之4種成份作為有效成份,僅進行使接觸去皮及/或切削蔬菜、水果之處理,抑制去皮及/或切削蔬菜、水果之冷藏及常溫保管時之變色、褐變等,可簡便且有效地保持其品質。
