Biochemical characterisation of Alaska pollock,Pacific whiting,and threadfin bream surimi as affected by comminution conditions

Salt-soluble protein, surface reactive sulfhydryl content, and surface hydrophobicity of Alaska pollock, Pacific whiting, and threadfin bream surimi were characterised, as affected by various comminution conditions. Chopping time/temperatures were explored in consideration of their habitat temperatures. Salt-soluble protein (SSP) significantly decreased when chopping time was extended. Corresponding to our follow-up study, no relationship between SSP and gel texture was found. Surface hydrophobicity was inversely proportional to SSP concentration, indicating the unfolding of protein upon comminution. Alaska pollock surimi demonstrated aggregation during chopping at 10 and 20 °C, based on the surface hydrophobicity. Surface reactive sulfhydryl (SRSH) contents of the three fish species behaved differently. The SH groups were oxidized to disulphide bonds when higher chopping temperature was applied. As a result, increased SRSH content was not observed in Alaska pollock (10 and 20 °C chopping) and threadfin bream paste (25 and 30 °C chopping).     

Effect of soy protein isolate on gel properties of Alaska pollock and common carp surimi at different setting conditions

The effects of soy protein isolate (SPI) on the gel properties of different grade Alaska pollock and common carp surimi at different setting conditions were evaluated and compared. Breaking force and distance of gels decreased with increasing SPI concentrations in direct cook (85 °C for 30 min) and in cook after setting at 30 °C for 60 min conditions. The effect of SPI on gel strength of common carp surimi was less than in Alaska pollock surimi. The breaking force obtained for addition of 10% SPI to Alaska pollock surimi was higher than for surimi alone when cooked after incubation at 50 °C for 60 min. Addition of SPI decreased the whiteness and increased the yellowness of the gel. The gel structure showed that the addition of SPI modified the microstructure of the fish protein gel, thus resulting in surimi with different gelling properties. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Protein and water structural changes in fish surimi during gelation as revealed by isotopic H/D exchange and Raman spectroscopy

Structural changes of proteins and water during gelation of fish surimi, have been studied by isotopic H/D exchange of water and Raman spectroscopy assisted by monitoring of rheological characteristics, in order to get insights into the structural and functional properties of surimi gels. The results indicate the following: (i) Protein hydrogen bond rearrangements occur involving mainly α-helix to β-sheet transition, (ii) the relative intensity of the symmetric H₂O stretching band near 3220 cm⁻¹ tends to decrease upon gelation, (iii) H/D exchange reveal a slower deuteration kinetics in the gels as compared to the surimi, (iv) the low temperature scanning electron microscopy shows a smaller pore size of the gel network as compared to the surimi, and suggests that water domains in gel are more inaccessible to D₂O, which is consistent with higher water holding capacity in the gel.     

Effect of laver powder on textual,rheological properties and water distribution of squid (Dosidicus gigas) surimi gel

In order to ameliorate the gel quality of Dosidicus gigas surimi, the effects of laver powder on gel properties, rheological properties, and water-holding capacity (WHC) were investigated. Results indicated that the addition of laver powder could significantly increase the hardness, chewiness, and breaking force of surimi gels. However, the texture indexes and gel strength began to decline when additional amount exceeded 0.6%. Rheological results demonstrated that the addition of laver powder increased the storage modulus (G′) and viscosity of surimi, prolonged protein denaturation temperature in surimi gels. Moreover, the WHC of surimi gel was improved with the increase of laver powder. Further analyses in low-field nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that laver powder could shorten the transverse relaxation time, enhanced the combination with water, and altered the distribution of different water categories. The proportion of bound water and immobilized water reached its maximum and minimum at 0.6% of laver powder, respectively. Correlation analyses showed that WHC of surimi gel was negatively correlated well with the proportion of loose-bound water, but positively correlated with the strong-bound water and free water. In conclusion, the results supported that 0.6% was the optimal additional amount of laver powder for the squid-based surimi production based on the current ingredients of surimi products.