Relatively Low Lecithin Inclusion Improved Gelling Characteristics and Oxidative Stability of Single-Washed Mackerel (<i>Auxis thazard</i>) Surimi

Abstract

The effect of lecithin addition on the gelling characteristics and oxidative stability of single-washed mackerel (Auxis thazard) surimi was investigated in this study. Surimi was chopped in the presence of 2.5% (w/w) NaCl with different concentrations of lecithin (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/100 g surimi). The rheological behavior, gel-forming ability, microstructure, and lipid oxidation of lecithin-added surimi varied significantly depending on lecithin content. When compared to the control, lecithin at 0.1, 0.5, and 1 g/100 g improved the breaking force of the gel (p p p p p p p > 0.05). Adding lecithin to mackerel surimi improved its whiteness slightly, regardless of concentration. Lecithin impacted the microstructures of surimi gel in a concentration-dependent manner. Lecithin at a concentration of 0.1 g/100 g produced a densely packed network with small, jointed clusters and minimal holes within the gel. Joined clusters in the gel were reduced by 0.5–1.5 g/100 g lecithin, and continuous aggregates predominated. Surprisingly, at higher doses of lecithin, notably 1.5 g/100 g, porous structures with continuous voids were perceived. Surimi gels treated with various lecithin doses had lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels than the control (p < 0.05). Overall, lecithin at a low concentration of 0.1 g/100 g was most effective at improving the texture, increasing water-holding capacity, lightening the color, and delaying lipid oxidation of single-washed mackerel surimi.

Keywords

• surimi
• mackerel
• lecithin
• gel
• lipid oxidation