Reports

Effect of superchilled processing of whole whitefish - pre ‐ rigor / Effect of supercooling on spoilage processes and shelf life of whole fish and fillets

Published:

01/05/2012

Authors:

Aðalheiður Ólafsdóttir, Björn Margeirsson, Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir, Sigurjón Arason, Eyjólfur Reynisson, Emilía Martinsdóttir

Supported by:

AVS Fund of Ministry of Fisheries in Iceland (R 062‐11)

Contact

Aðalheiður Ólafsdóttir

Sensory evaluation manager

adalheiduro@matis.is

Effect of superchilled processing of whole whitefish - pre ‐ rigor / Effect of supercooling on spoilage processes and shelf life of whole fish and fillets

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of supercooling on the damage processes and shelf life of whole fish and fillets. A study was carried out on whole supercooled cod soon after fishing and also on the effect of supercooling on fillets made from supercooled cod and cod cooled in ice in the traditional way. Temperature measurements, sensory evaluation, chemical and microbial measurements were used to compare the following experimental groups, which were stored at –1.4 to –1.2 ° C average temperature:

1) NC: whole cod cooled in ice

2) SC: supercooled whole cod

3) NC-NC: traditional fillet processing from whole cod cooled in ice

4) NC ‐ SC: super-chilled fillets made from whole cod cooled in ice

5) SC-NC: traditional fillet processing from super-chilled whole cod

6) SC-SC: super-chilled fillets made from super-chilled whole cod

Sensory evaluation results suggest that supercooled processing of whole cod can extend its shelf life by two days. Supercooling of whole cod did not affect the acidity, water content, water resistance and microbial growth of whole fish compared to fish that were not supercooled during processing. According to sensory evaluation, there was little difference in the shelf life of different fillet groups. Shelf life was estimated at 16-18 days, which is quite a long time for cod fillets. However, the freshness period of the experimental group SC-SC seemed to be somewhat longer than the other groups. As with whole cod, there was little difference between the fillet groups in terms of microbial growth, chemical and physical properties. Limited differences between experimental groups can possibly be explained by stable and supercooled storage conditions. With this in mind, it is planned to carry out another similar experiment, which will simulate more typical environmental temperature processes in the transport of fresh fish products (0–4 ° C) than in this experiment (–1.4 to –1.2 ° C).

The main aim of the study was to study the effects of superchilled processing on storage life of both whole fish and fillets. The following experimental groups were evaluated by means of temperature monitoring, chemical and microbial measurements and sensory evaluation, which were stored at mean temperatures of –1.4 to –1.2 ° C:

1) NC: non ‐ superchilled whole cod

2) SC: superchilled whole cod

3) NC ‐ NC: non ‐ superchilled fillets from non ‐ superchilled whole cod

4) NC ‐ SC: superchilled fillets from non ‐ superchilled whole cod

5) SC ‐ NC: non ‐ superchilled fillets from superchilled whole cod

6) SC ‐ SC: superchilled fillets from superchilled whole cod

The results from the sensory evaluation indicate that superchilled processing of whole cod can extend shelf life by two days. Differences in values of pH, water content, water holding capacity and bacterial growth between the superchilled and non ‐ superchilled whole fish groups were minor. Differences in sensory scores between the fillet groups were small. Shelf life was estimated between 16 and 18 days which is quite long shelf life for cod fillets. However, the SC ‐ SC group seemed to retain freshness a little longer than other groups. As in case of the whole cod, the differences in bacterial count, chemical and physical properties between the fillet groups were small. Very similar fish temperatures between both the whole fish and the fillets groups resulting from the superchilled storage conditions applied may be the main reason for the small differences obtained. Thus, another study with more common temperature conditions during transport and storage of fresh fish (chilled but not superchilled) will be performed.  

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Reports

The effect of different cooling techniques on the quality changes and shelf life of whole cod (Gadus morhua)

Published:

01/08/2010

Authors:

Hannes Magnússon, Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir, Lárus Þorvaldsson, María Guðjónsdóttir, Hélène L. Lauzon, Eyjólfur Reynisson, Árni R. Rúnarsson, Sveinn H. Magnússon, Jónas R. Viðarsson, Sigurjón Arason, Emilia Martinsdóttir

Supported by:

AVS R&D Fund of Ministry of Fisheries in Iceland, the Technology Development Fund at the Icelandic Center for Research and EU (contract FP6-016333-2)

Contact

Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir

Project Manager

kolbrun.sveinsdottir@matis.is

The effect of different cooling techniques on the quality changes and shelf life of whole cod (Gadus morhua)

The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the effect of three different cooling methods on the shelf life of whole, gutted cod: (i) Cooling with crushed plate ice, (ii) cooling with liquid ice, (iii) pre-cooling with liquid ice and then cooling with crushed plate ice. Temperature processes were monitored with temperature sensors in all groups during the storage period. Samples were assessed by sensory evaluation, microbial and chemical measurements during the 10 days the fish was stored. The results of microbial and chemical measurements were generally in good agreement with the results of sensory evaluation. Comparison of experimental groups revealed that cod chilled with liquid ice had a shelf life of about two to three days shorter than the other two groups. The shelf life of the cod was considerably shorter than various previous studies have shown, especially in the group that was cooled with liquid ice (only 9-10 days). It is now clear that the cod that was cooled with liquid ice was vanished on board the fishing vessel compared to the other two groups. In addition, refrigerated storage after landing was not as good as might be considered, but the temperature fluctuated between 2-5 ° C. This could possibly explain the shorter shelf life of all groups compared to previous studies.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of three different cooling methods on the storage quality of whole, bled gutted cod: (i) Cooled with crushed plate ice, (ii) cooled with liquid ice, (iii) pre-cooled in liquid ice and then cooled with crushed plate ice. The temperature history of each group was studied using temperature loggers. The samples were analyzed with sensory, microbiological and chemical methods for up to 10 days from catch. The results from microbial and chemical measurements were generally in good agreement with the results from sensory evaluation. Comparison of the groups showed that the use of liquid ice instead of plate ice resulted in two to three days shorter shelf life than in the other two groups. The shelf life in this study was considerably shorter compared to previous studies with whole cod, especially in the experimental group where liquid ice was used for cooling (only 9-10 days). It is now known that the liquid iced group in this experiment was insufficiently iced on board the fishing vessel compared to the other two groups. Additionally, the ambient temperature in the cold room of the fish plant was relatively high and fluctuated between 2 - 5 ° C during the storage period. This could possibly explain the shorter shelf life of all groups compared to some earlier studies.

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