Dehydrated broccoli florets were studied during storage at 5, 15, 25, and 40degreesC. Parameters studied were rehydration capacity, firmness of the rehydrated product and chlorophyll content. Effective diffusion coefficient (D(eff)) and equilibrium moisture (W(e)) were used to assess rehydration capacity. Samples stored at 5degreesC suffered slight changes in all parameters studied during the storage time considered (427 days). At 15 and 25degreesC the equilibrium moisture and the effective diffusivity varied linearly with time. At 40degreesC sharp changes were observed up to 116 days of storage, W(e) decreased and D(eff) increased; from this time on, both parameters suffered moderate changes. Firmness of samples stored at 5, 15, and 25degreesC showed a similar trend without any significant changes through the period. At 40degreesC the firmness increased with time. Chlorophyll content degradation increased in time with temperature. A second order transition was observed at 34 +/- 1degreesC. This fact can contribute to the interpretation of the different tendency observed in all parameters at 40degreesC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.