Effects of freezing temperature and duration of frozen storage on lipid and protein oxidation in chicken meat

This study examined the effects of freezing temperature and duration of frozen storage on lipid and protein oxidation in chicken leg and breast meat. The meat was frozen at three different temperatures (−7, −12 and −18 °C) and then stored at −18 °C for up to 6 months. A significant effect of frozen storage duration on lipid oxidation was detected in leg and breast meat, whereas freezing temperature had no significant effect. In leg meat, freezing at −7 °C had a significant impact on protein oxidation, measured as the increase in carbonyl groups and the decrease in total sulphydryl groups, after 3 months of frozen storage. Lipid and protein oxidation appeared to occur simultaneously in chicken meat during frozen storage and was more intense in leg meat than in breast meat.     

Proteolytic Activity of Muscle in Pre- and Post-Spawning Hake (Merluccius hubbsi Marini) After Frozen Storage

The proteolytic activity of fillets from fresh fish and after frozen storage of hake muscle from pre- and post-spawned fish was investigated. The autolytic activity of fresh muscle extracts from pre-spawned muscle extracts was significantly higher than that of post-spawned, except for pH 3.4 and incubation temperature of 60 °C where no significant difference was found. In both gonadal conditions, the freezing of hake fillets affected the proteolytic activity of crude muscle extracts. After 50 d of frozen storage, the proteolytic activity values of crude muscle extracts remained higher than the fresh values, except for pre-spawned extracts incubated at 37 °C. At longer storage period (110 d), the proteolytic activity continued with similar or higher values compared with those observed for fresh muscle extracts. Densitometric analysis of crude muscle extracts indicated degradation of MHC in fresh and frozen storage at both gonadal conditions under incubation conditions of pH 6.2 and temperatures 37 and 60 °C, pH 8.5 and temperatures 37 and 60 °C, pH 3.4 and temperature 4 °C.     

Comparison of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and hake (Merluccius merluccius) muscle proteins during iced and frozen storage

Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and hake (Merluccius merluccius) muscle behave differently during storage, whether in ice or deep frozen. Rapid changes have been observed in the texture of hake muscle during frozen storage, while gilthead sea bream has proved to be more stable. In order to ascertain the role of muscle proteins in the changes observed during storage, parameters related to protein functionality and the properties of extracted natural actomyosin (NAM) were studied initially and during storage in ice or at ?20 °C. Initially, the parameters related to functionality had higher values in hake muscle and extracted NAM than in gilthead sea bream. At the end of iced storage (22 days), less myosin heavy chain (MHC) and actin were extracted from hake, but there was practically no change in gilthead sea bream. This decrease was not accompanied by lower Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity. Freezing produced no drastic changes, with lower values for gilthead sea bream. However, this species was more stable after 1 year, except for the Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity of NAM. This suggests that the changes that hake proteins underwent during storage particularly affected properties related to aggregation, whereas in gilthead sea bream the changes hardly affected the formation of soluble or insoluble aggregates but did affect the active sites of myosin. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of freezing rate and frozen storage on the texture and sensory analysis of two pineapple fruit cultivars

The effects of freezing rate (in a cold room at –18°C and in an air-blast freezer at –50°C) and frozen storage (at –18°C for 0–12 months) on texture and the sensory quality of pineapple fruit slices of Smooth Cayenne and Red Spanish cultivars were examined. The texture of pineapple fruit slices was evaluated by sensory and instrumental measurements. Sensory texture was highly (P0.05) and positively correlated with overall fruit acceptability and appearance and negatively correlated with flavour in the two cultivars studied. Sensory analysis showed no significant differences (P0.05) in the appearance, colour, odour, texture, flavour and overall acceptability between the two varieties studied when frozen at different rates, as compared to the fresh product and after 1 year of frozen storage at –18°C. The two cultivars are suitable for freezing.     

Relation between types of packaging,frozen storage and grilling on cholesterol and fatty acids oxidation in Atlantic hake fillets (Merluccius hubbsi)

Two different commercial samples of frozen and packaged, in low and high-oxygen permeability packaging, Atlantic hake fillets were stored at −18 °C for 4 months and the intensity of lipid oxidation, as well as the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COP), during storage and subsequent grilling were studied. Raw fillets at the initial time of storage showed low total COP levels, however, after 120 days of storage the concentrations were raised significantly, under both packed conditions. During freezing and subsequent grilling there was a significant decrease (p < 0.02) in the contents of the cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids in all the hake samples. Correlations were found between the cholesterol and fatty acid parameters and cholesterol oxides formation during storage and heat treatment. The commercial frozen storage with a low-oxygen permeability packaging was more effective in preventing lipid oxidation than high-oxygen permeability packaging, with less accented cholesterol degradation as well as cholesterol oxides formation.     

Effects of freezing and frozen storage on the microstructure and texture of ewe's milk cheese

Semi-hard ewe's milk cheeses, frozen immediately after manufacture either slowly at –35 °C or rapidly at –80 °C and stored at –20 °C for 4 months were studied for microstructural and textural characteristics during subsequent ripening. Two control groups were used to establish the effect of freezing: the fresh unfrozen cheese and cheese thawed immediately after freezing. Freezing proper did not result in any marked changes in the textural parameters of the cheeses, but considerable changes were found in slowly frozen cheeses after 4 months of frozen storage. Shear strength values were lower in all frozen and stored cheeses, particularly in cheese samples frozen slowly compared to those in the unfrozen control batch. This parameter and firmness values were significantly lower in both slowly and rapidly frozen cheeses at the completion of ripening. Ripening tended to offset differences in elasticity, noticeable in the cheeses during the first 30 days of ripening. Light microscopy and electron microscopy revealed small cracks and ruptures in the cheeses which could not be observed by the naked eye. More extensive damage to the cheese microstructure was found in slowly frozen cheese samples stored frozen for 4 months.     

The effect of the pre-treatments and the long and short-term frozen storage on the quality of raspberry (cv. Heritage)

Results are presented of the effect of pre-treatments before freezing followed by long and short-term frozen storage (12 months at –18 °C and 24 days suffering temperature fluctuations between –18 °C and –12 °C) on quality parameters of raspberry. Pre-treatments were carried out with calcium, low methoxyl pectin, a combined solution, and results compared with untreated control fruits. Kramer shear, back extrusion, compression, and multiple penetration tests were used to measure rheological behavior. One-hundred mM CaCl₂ reduced the long and short-term frozen storage induced loss of firmness. For long-term storage at –18 °C, a softening of the tissue became evident between 3 and 12 months and at each date test the stored fruits were firmer than those without storage. For short-term storage with fluctuations, the loss of firmness was evident between 0 and 24 days, and at all the testing dates the stored fruits were softer than those without storage. Results evidenced a higher cell damage in the short-term frozen storage. Coefficients of softening per day suffering fluctuation were determined, the highest values being given by Kramer shear energy and back extrusion maximum force (>1%). Short-term frozen storage affected physical and physico-chemical characteristics, increasing the saturation (r) and the anthocyanins and decreasing the ascorbic acid of the raspberries. In both storage conditions, pre-treatments reduced the drip loss, which correlated best with the Kramer shear energy. Panelists detected mainly time effect on the sensory firmness. For long-term, sensory firmness and juiciness gave the highest correlations with back extrusion maximum force, while for the short-term, sensory firmness and drip loss gave the highest correlations with the Kramer shear energy. SEM revealed different degrees of mechanical damage to structure, which accounted for rheological behavior of the fruits.     

Optimization of low-temperature blanching for retention of potato firmness: Effect of previous storage time on compression properties

Low-temperature blanching (LTB) of potatoes (cv. Kennebec), both without further processing and prior to cooking or freezing + cooking, significantly increased firmness retention as measured from compression parameters. The increase in firmness with respect to that of unblanched potatoes diminished in the order: blanched at 60 °C for 60 min and cooked > blanched at 60 °C for 60 min frozen and cooked > blanched at 60 °C for 60 min. Potato tubers were kept in refrigerated storage, and firmness, PME activity and dry matter (DM) content were periodically sampled over a period of 80 days. In the early stages of storage, PME activity lost 40% of its original value after 60 min at 60 °C, indicating that the contribution of starch breakdown products to the firmness of cooked and frozen cooked potatoes predominated over the effect of enzyme activity. With increasing time in storage, PME activity measured in the fresh tissue increased by 95% of its original value after 35 days; this resulted in changes in the pectic polymers which made for a firmer texture and different PME behaviour versus LTB temperature and time. A central composite rotatable design was used to study the effects of variation in levels of temperature (52.93–67.07 °C) and time (31.72–88.28 min) on compression parameters and PME activity. Stationary points showing maximum mechanical resistance had critical temperatures and times in the ranges of temperature (58–60 °C) and time (66–75 min) used for each independent variable. Results show a high correlation between PME activity and tissue firmness, suggesting that the contribution of the changes in the composition of the cell wall to the firmness of frozen cooked potatoes increased with increasing time in storage and reached a maximum in the intermediate stages of storage (35 days). Engineering stress (_u) proved to be the most appropriate compression parameter for detecting the firming effect that the PME activity produced on the frozen-cooked potato tissues as a consequence of LTB under these conditions.     

Effect of freezing on theβ-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity of fish meat

Changes in the β-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity of squid (Loligo vulgaris), mackerel (Scomber scombrus), tuna (Thunnus alalunga), sea bream (Pagellus centrodontus), sole (Solea solea), hake and small hake (Merluccius merluccius) meat due to freezing treatment at ?10° C, ?18° C, ?35° C, ?80° C or ?196° C were investigated. With the exception of the small hake, the HADH activity of aqueous extracts from meat was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in all frozen/thawed fish species studied than in unfrozen animals because during freezing there was a release of HADH. HADH activity values of frozen/thawed squid, unfrozen mackerel, frozen/thawed and unfrozen sea bream and unfrozen hake were affected by the storage time in crushed ice.     

The effects of freezing and frozen storage of ewe''s milk cheese on the viability and proteolytic activity of lactococci used as a starter

A study has been conducted on the effect of two freezing conditions (slow and fast) and frozen storage of ewe's milk cheese (–20 °C for 4 months) on the viability and the proteolytic (cascinolytic and aminopeptidase) activity ofLactococcus lactis subsp.lactis andL. lactis subsp.cremoris used as starters in the manufacture of cheese. The study was carried out on the lactococci subjected to freezing and frozen storage, either in the cheeses or in curds simulating a model system. As well as other parameters used to quantity microbial activity, the total viable counts during the subsequent cheese ripening have been analysed in the frozen cheeses. Frozen storage of the investigated lactococci, either in the cheese or in model systems, gave rise to significant decreases in the caseinolytic and aminopeptidase activities greater than did freezing alone. No clear differences were found in enzymatic activity values when using slow or fast freezing conditions. Storage of the cheeses under frozen conditions also affected microbial viability and consequently caused a greater decrease of the viable flora during subsequent ripening of the frozen stored cheeses.

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Einfluß des Tiefgefrierens und der Tiefkühllagerung von Schafskäse auf die Lebensfähigkeit und proteolytische Aktivität von Starterkulturen

Zusammenfassung Schafskäse wurde schnell oder langsam eingefroren und 4 Monate bei –20 °C gelagert. Verschiedene Lactococcen, die zur Herstellung der Käse eingesetzt waren, wurden auf ihre Überlebensfähigkeit und die proteolytische Aktivität überprüft. Die Lagerung bewirkte einen stärkeren Verlust der Aktivitäten als das Einfrieren. Der Gefriermodus war ohne Einfluß auf das Überleben der Keime.

     

Broccoli (<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Brasica oleracea</Emphasis>) treated under pressure-shift freezing process

The experiment was carried out on broccoli to study the freezing effects under pressure using the pressure shift freezing treatment (PSF). The treatment was applied to samples that were in polyethylene bags, sealed under a vacuum at 180 MPa, –16°C and 210 MPa, –20°C and in samples blanched for 2 and 3 min. Protein content, peroxidase (POD), polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and structure were analysed. The final results showed that the proteins decreased after the treatments. Five heat-cold-pressure shock proteins of 50, 43, 39, 36 and 20 KDa were found. The assayed conditions were not enough to inactivate the POD and PPO enzymes. Four POD-isozymes of 110, 80, 50 and 39 KDa were detected and the highest activity was for the 80 KDa isoform. The sensorial test revealed that after 30 days of frozen storage at –20 °C the flavour of broccoli was not acceptable to consumers, but the texture remained quite firm. Cryo-Sem revealed that the vacuole membrane was destroyed and an internal disorganised cell was observed after the PSF treatment.     

Effect of frozen storage of hake,sardine and mixed minces on natural actomyosin extracted in salt solutions

Natural actomyosin extracted in salt solutions from mixtures of hake and sardine minces (3:1; 1:1 and 1:3 w/w) stored frozen for up to 1 year differed in the amount extracted and in the characteristics of the extracts. In the mixed minces the amount of natural actomyosin extracted decreased during frozen storage at a higher rate than that theoretically corresponding to the amount of hake in the mixes. With increasing storage time and proportion of sardine a lower percentage of myosin heavy chain and actin was observed by electrophoresis. An increased size of aggregates was also observed by electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy. The stability of emulsions was enhanced when aggregates appeared in the extracts. The decrease in the amount of natural actomyosin extracted does not explain the changes observed in the texture of the minces during frozen storage. This may indicate that the size of the aggregates unextractable in salt solutions, independently of the type of bonds that bind the proteins in the aggregates, plays an important role in the textural changes observed. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Kinetics of quality changes of pumpkin (Curcurbita maxima L.) stored under isothermal and non-isothermal frozen conditions

The effects of freezing process and frozen storage at isothermal (−7, −15 and −25 °C) and non-isothermal (accelerated life testing with step-stress methodology; temperature range from −30 to −5 °C) conditions on pumpkin quality were investigated. Storage temperature conditions were selected to embrace the limits practiced in the cold chain. Quality changes, such as texture, colour CIE Lab and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content, were evaluated for both frozen storage regimes. The freezing process (that included a pre-blanching step) and subsequent frozen storage had significant impacts on all quality parameters analysed.A fractional conversion kinetic model was adequate in colour, texture and vitamin C data fits. The storage temperature effect was successfully described by the Arrhenius law.This study shows that non-isothermal frozen storage has a marked effect on pumpkin quality.     

EFFECT OF SEASONAL VARIATIONS ON PROTEIN FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF FISH DURING FROZEN STORAGE

Influence of seasonal variation (February, July and October), time elapsed before freezing, and type of processing of the muscle on several functional properties (protein solubility, emulsifying capacity, and viscosity) in two species of fish with differing seasonal behavior (hake and sardine) were studied. Correlations between the changes in these functional properties during frozen storage were established. Although proximate analyses of the hake muscle were similar throughout the year, significant differences were observed in viscosity and protein solubility during storage between lots of fish caught in different seasons. Changes in the functional properties were less evident in sardine, which undergoes wide seasonal variations. The larger differences in the functional proprities of hake muscle, depending on season, were related to differences in the dimethylamine content after the fifth month of frozen storage. High correlations were established between functional properties in fish caught in the same or different seasons. Any of the three functional properties studied can be used as a suitable index of the quality of frozen fish, irrespective of the different conditions studied.     

Freezing preservation of four Spanish kiwi fruit cultivars (Actinidia chinensis, Planch): chemical aspects

Summary Chemical changes taking place during freezing and frozen storage of four kiwi fruit cultivars (Monty, Bruno, Abbot, and Hayward) were studied. Kiwi fruit was air-blast frozen as slices without any previous treatment and stored at–18° C for a 12-month period. Freezing preservation of kiwi fruit slices led minimal changes in moisture content. The total aciditiy of kiwi fruit slices decreased slightly during the freezing process; only frozen slices of Monty showed a 20% decrease. The pH values changed in parallel with the total acidity values obtained. No important changes related to the sugar content were associated with the freezing preservation of kiwi fruit slices. Freezing produced a decrease of 10–25% in the ascorbic acid content depending of the cultivar considered. The chlorophyll content diminished in all kiwi fruit slices during frozen storage but this decrease produced only a slight perceptible change in the visual colour of frozen slices stored during prolonged periods. These changes were directly related to the observed decrease in –a/b and increase in L (brightness) Hunterlab values.

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Gefrierkonservierung von vier spanischen Kiwisorten (Actinidia chinensis, Planch): Chemische Aspekte

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die chemischen Veränderungen durch Tiefgefrieren und Gefrierlagerung von vier Kiwisorten (Monty, Bruno, Abbot und Hayward) untersucht. Die Kiwifrüchte wurden in Scheiben ohne vorherige Behandlung im Luftstrom bei–18 °C eingefroren und zwölf Monate gelagert. Es wurden geringe Veränderungen im Wassergehalt beobachtet. Durch das Gefrieren hat die gesamte titrierbare Säure der Kiwischeiben keine bedeutsamen Veränderungen erfahren, nur bei den Scheiben der Montysorte gab es einen 20%igen Abbau. Bei allen Sorten ändert sich der pH-Wert parallel zum titrierbaren Säuregrad. Keine signifikanten Veränderungen zeigten sich beim Zuckergehalt während der Gefrierlagerung. Der Ascorbinsäure-Gehalt nahm zwischen 10–25% in Abhängigkeit von der Kiwisorte ab. Der Chlorophyllgehalt nahm bei allen Sorten ab, aber diese Veränderung zeigte nur bei langen Lagerzeiten einen geringen Farbverlust. Diese Veränderungen sind abhängig von der Abnahme in –a/b und der Zunahme in L (Glanz).

     

Effects of freezing rates on starch retrogradation and textural properties of cooked rice during storage

The effects of freezing rates and storage temperatures on starch retrogradation and textural properties of cooked rice were evaluated. Cooked rice was frozen with different freezing rates and then stored at 4 °C for 14 days or −18 °C for up to 7 months. Starch retrogradation enthalpy (ΔH_r) of cooked rice was determined by a differential scanning calorimetry, and textural properties were determined by a texture analyser. The results showed that the ΔH_r and hardness values had a negative correlation with freezing rate, however, a positive correlation was found between adhesiveness and freezing rate. On the other hand, the advantages (lower hardness and higher adhesiveness, less starch retrogradaton) of cooked rice gained by rapid freezing, were lost quickly in the first 3 days of storage at 4 °C. However, rapid freezing combined with −18 °C frozen storage can effectively retard starch retrogradation and maintain the textural properties of cooked rice for at least 7 months. Therefore, high quality cooked rice can be produced by combined rapid freezing with frozen storage.     

Effects of freezing and frozen storage conditions on the rheological properties of different formulations of non-yeasted wheat and gluten-free bread dough

Empirical and fundamental rheological measurements were made on fresh and frozen dough to study the effects of freezing and frozen storage conditions. Frozen dough was stored at two different temperatures, −18 °C and −30 °C, and for 1, 7 and 28 days. Four dough formulations were tested: a standard wheat dough, a fibre-enriched wheat dough, a standard gluten-free dough and a gluten-free dough containing amaranth flour. No yeast was used in any formulation. The wheat dough is more affected by freezing and by the first days of storage whereas the gluten-free dough is more affected by a longer storage time. A storage temperature of −30 °C alters dough rheological properties more than a storage temperature of −18 °C. The addition of dietary fibres to the wheat dough increases its resistance to freezing and frozen storage. The addition of amaranth flour to gluten-free dough also increases its resistance to freezing but decreases its resistance to storage conditions.     

Impact of frozen storage on polyacetylene content, texture and colour in carrots disks

This study investigated the effect of freezing method (slow or blast freezing) with or without blanching during storage at −20 °C on the levels of three polyacetylenes, falcarinol (FaOH), falcarindiol (FaDOH), falcarindiol-3-acetate (FaDOAc) in carrot disks. The quality of the carrot disks was also assessed using instrumental texture and colour measurements. Blast frozen carrot disks retained higher amounts of polyacetylenes compared to their slow frozen counterparts. Whilst the levels of retention of total polyacetylenes was higher in unblanched than blanched disks prior to freezing there was a sharp decrease in the levels of polyacetylenes in unblanched frozen carrots during the storage period for 60 days at −20 °C. FaDOH was observed to be the most susceptible to degradation during frozen storage of unblanched carrot disks, followed by FaOH and FaDOAc. The changes in the level of polyacetylenes during storage were adequately described by using Weibull model. The texture and colour were also found to decrease during frozen storage compared to fresh carrots.     

EFFECTS OF CRYOPROTECTANTS IN MINIMIZING PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF BOVINE NATURAL ACTOMYOSIN DURING FROZEN STORAGE1

Physicochemical changes in bovine natural actomyosin extracted from prerigor semimembranosus muscle were investigated during frozen storage at ?28°C as affected by the addition of cryoprotectants (5.6% Polydextrose® or 5.6% mixture (1:1) of sucrose and sorbitol). Proteins were destabilized during freezing and frozen storage as reflected by decreases in protein solubility, the visual appearance of aggregates in protein sols, decrease in intensity of flow birefringence, intrinsic viscosity and ATPase activity, and changes in size, shape, or charge of the protein (especially myosin) as evidenced by nondenaturing electrophoresis. These effects were reduced to some extent by the two cryoprotectant treatments.