Thawing, Refreezing and Frozen Storage Effects on Muscle Functionality and Sensory Attributes of Frozen Cod (Gadus morhua)

Thawing and re-freezing of cod fillet blocks did not necessarily result in greater deterioration (relative to a ‘once frozen’ control) of cooked fish sensory attributes after 9 months frozen storage at –22°C. Thawed and refrozen fish muscle displayed a faster decline in myofibril protein solubility than once frozen controls and had reduced water-holding capacity but analysis of proton spin-spin relaxation times indicated no change in water location. The decline in protein solubility was not caused by complete protein unfolding. Long thawing times (30 hr) before re-freezing and storage resulted in cooked fish with more gray appearance and more stale flavor. Changes in fish muscle functionality did not enable direct inference of sensory attributes.