The quality of cold-smoked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as affected by salting method, time and temperature

The effects of temperature (4 and 10–12 °C) and time (6, 12 and 24 h) on colorimetric parameters (Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b*), carotenoid concentration, salt content and yield were investigated in brine (saturated or 50% saturation) and dry salted fillets of cold‐smoked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), hue (H_ab) and chroma (C*) values were lower at 10 than 4 °C (P < 0.01), whereas redness (a*) was unaffected. L* increased (P < 0.05) and a*, b*, H_ab and C* values dropped when salting time was increased (P < 0.001). Astaxanthin concentration of brine‐salted fillets decreased with increasing salting time (P < 0.05), but was unaffected by salting temperature. Increasing salting time affected colour negatively. The salt content of dry salted fillets increased with temperature and salting time. The process yield was unaffected by temperature and decreased with salting time. In conclusion, the cold smoking process is more important for variation in quality parameters than the salting process.     

Injection-salting of pre rigor fillets of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

ABSTRACT:  The effects of temperature (−1, 4, and 10 °C), brine concentration (12% and 25% NaCl), injection volumes, and needle densities were investigated on fillet weight gain (%), salt content (%), fillet contraction (%), and muscle gaping in pre rigor brine-injected fillets of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). Increased brine concentration (12% to 25%) significantly increased the initial (< 5 min after injection) and final contraction (24 h after injection) of pre rigor fillets. Increased brine concentration significantly reduced weight gain and increased salt content but had no significant effect on muscle gaping. The temperatures tested did not significantly affect weight gain, fillet contraction, or gaping score. Significant regressions ( P < 0.01) between the injection volume and weight gain (range: 2.5% to 15.5%) and salt content (range: 1.7% to 6.5%) were observed for injections of pre rigor fillets. Double injections significantly increased the weight gain and salt content compared to single injections. Initial fillet contraction measured 30 min after brine injection increased significantly ( P < 0.01) with increasing brine injection volume but no significant difference in the fillet contraction was observed 12 h after brine injection (range: 7.9% to 8.9%). Brine-injected post rigor control fillets obtained higher weight gain, higher salt content, more muscle gaping, and significantly lower fillet contraction compared to the pre rigor injected fillets.
Injection-salting is an applicable technology as a means to obtain satisfactory salt contents and homogenously distribute the salt into the muscle of pre rigor fillets of Atlantic salmon before further processing steps such as drying and smoking.     

Sensory and Chemical Changes in Spice-salted Herring as Affected by Handling

Samples of herring (Clupea harengus) were spice-salted, using the same recipe, as partially gutted (nobbed), completely gutted or fillets. The salt uptake and the development of ripening characteristics were followed during storage at 5 ± 1°C. In fillets the salt uptake was more rapid than that in nobbed or gutted herring. The fillets lost less water than the herring and increased considerably in weight during the salting period. Fillets did not develop the characteristic ripened taste whereas the other two groups had a high intensity of ripened taste. All trial groups sampled during salting had similar texture characteristics. The general proteolytic enzyme activity at pH 8 was low in all groups, although it appeared to be slightly higher in the samples containing part of the intestines. Results indicate that the rate of salt uptake was an important regulator of ripening during spice-salting of herring products.     

Changes in physicochemical properties and myofibrillar protein properties in grass carp salted by brining and injection

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties and myofibrillar protein properties of grass carp meat during brining and brine injection at 4 °C. The time reached equilibrium was 7 h in brining group and 5 h by injection, where the salt content was about 1.76%. The water content, water holding capacity and yield in injection group (86.59%, 9.18% and 110%, respectively) were higher than brining group (84.76%, 11.47%, and 108%, respectively) at equilibrium point significantly (P < 0.05). This was attributed to the more swollen filament lattices and disordered protein structure in injection group (P < 0.05). The myofibrillar protein structure was compared, including sulphydryl content, surface hydrophobicity, solubility, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern and secondary structure. The injection group presented the better quality of salted fish meat in shorter time.     

The effects of various salt concentrations during brine curing of cod (Gadus morhua)

The method used for salting of cod (Gadus morhua) is believed to influence the quality and characteristics of the final product. In recent years an initial brine salting for 1–4 days has preceded dry salting; this increases both the weight yield and quality of the final product. After removal from the brine, dry salting is followed by packaging and storage. The effect of the salt concentration in the brine has been a matter of controversy, with some indication that higher weight yield and quality may be obtained by using lower salt concentrations than by using a fully saturated brine solution. Therefore to test this hypothesis, the effect of different brine salting methods was studied; traditional brine salting, maintaining a constant brine concentration and increasing the salt concentration gradually during brining. The results indicated that the effect on weight yield, chemical composition and water holding capacity of the salted or rehydrated cod were not significant. Altering salt concentration of the brine, by adding salt during brining, did not result in any significant improvements in weight yield, either after the salting process or after the rehydration. The overall quality was increased by using a lower salt concentration of 16° Bau compared with 20 and 24° Bau.     

Influence of salt concentration on properties of marinated meat from fresh and frozen herring (Clupea harengus L.)

Salt concentrations of brine above 10% are still commonly used in fish marinating process. The study has showed an increasing salt concentrations affect to adversely all the properties of marinated herring meat. Increase in salt concentration from 5% to 15% resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) decrease content of water, non‐protein nitrogen and products of protein hydrolysis. Consequently, weight yield of marinated fresh herring decreased from 83% to 74%. The most palatable marinades contained 2–3% NaCl in meat only. The higher salt concentrations applied significantly (P < 0.05) worsened the taste, texture and colour of marinated herring. Texture profile analyses (TPA), free hydroxyproline content and colour analyses (L*a*b) confirmed the negative influence of high salt concentration on the marinades quality. Frozen and thawed herring tissue showed greater sensitivity to salt. Namely, marinades from frozen fish contained by 0.3 more salt (P < 0.05), and the weight yield was by 2.3–10.3 percent point lower than from the fresh herring. Meat from frozen herring when matured has significantly (P < 0.05) lower sensory value, lower content of protein hydrolysis products, free hydroxyproline and higher parameter b* value of than the fresh one.     

Control of immersion processes: A novel system for monitoring mass transfers tested with herring brining

A system for continuous determination of mass transfers during brining operations is described and experimentally checked with herring. The system is based on the measurement of the apparent mass of a food product batch immersed in a brine and verifies several hypotheses concerning their behaviour during brining. The accuracy of these hypotheses was checked experimentally with respect to herring fillets immersed in saturated binary solutions (water + salt), and the simulation derived from the system was assessed. The simulated mass transfers were found to be quite precise, and the system also enabled assessment of the magnitude of initial water and fat contents in processed batches of herrings.     

Effect of brine composition and brining temperature on cheese physical properties in Ragusano cheese

Composition and physical properties of cheeses are influenced by temperature, salt, and calcium concentration of brine. This work aimed to examine conditions of brine under which the cheese matrix contracts or expands in absence of restrictions imposed by surface rind development during overnight block formation. Three experimental 4-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese were produced at 3 different stretching temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C) and cut into pieces weighing approximately 40 to 50 g. One piece from each was chemically analyzed at time 0. All other pieces were measured for weight and volume and placed in plastic bags containing 300 mL of different brine solutions (2% NaCl with 0.1% Ca; 10% NaCl with 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4% Ca; 18% NaCl with 0.1% Ca; and 26% NaCl with 0.1% Ca) at 3 different temperatures (4, 12, and 20°C). After 24h of brining, the cheeses were analyzed for weight, volume, chemical, and microstructural changes. Salt concentration in brine significantly influenced composition, weight, and volume of the cheeses after brining. Salt concentration was inversely related to cheese volume and weight. Changes in weight caused by altering the brining temperature were sufficient to reach statistical significance, and statistically significant volume changes were induced by brining temperature and its interaction with salt content. The highest volume increase (30%) occurred in the cheese stored in the 2% NaCl brine at the coldest temperature, whereas the greatest volume decrease was recorded in cheeses brined in the 26% NaCl brine. Composition was not affected by brining temperature. Calcium concentration did influence weight, volume, and composition, except on a fat-on-dry-basis. When cheeses were brined without added calcium, cheese volume and weight increased at all temperatures. At high calcium levels (0.4%), syneresis occurred and volume decreased, especially at 20°C (-16.5%). Microstructural investigation with porosity measurement confirmed weight and volume changes.     

Erratum

Various brining times in saturated salt solution and various drying temperatures were used to produce dried Nemadactylus macropterus fillets. The quality of the products was assessed visually before and after reconstitution and also by scanning electron microscopy and isoelectric focusing of the water-soluble proteins. Product quality deteriorated when brining times exceeded 24 h and also as drying temperatures rose. This was evidenced by poor appearance and reconstitution behaviour, disruption of surface and deep tissue and changes in soluble protein components. An acceptable product was obtained by brining for 8h followed by drying at 50°C. The composition of this product was comparable with that of some commercial dried fish products from South-east Asia.     

Pre-rigor filleting and brining of farmed cod: Influence on quality and storage stability

Pre-rigor filleting as well as brining with a mixture of phosphates and salt could influence several quality parameters of cod fillets. The aim of this work was to evaluate which of these processes that affected selected quality parameters of farmed cod the most. The analyses were performed at several points during storage, enabling that the effects of time of filleting, brining and storage could be evaluated simultaneously.Pre- and post-rigor non-brined fillets had similar and significant weight loss during storage. The weight increase of pre- and post-rigor fillets due to brining were 2% and almost 10%, respectively, and brining significantly reduced the weight loss during storage. Liquid loss and total viable count (TVC) were significantly influenced by rigor state at time of filleting, brining and storage time, while water content was influenced significantly by time of filleting and brining. Brining and storage time significantly influenced the whiteness, while time of filleting and storage time had significant influence upon the fillet index. The growth of Photobacterium phosphoreum was affected by storage time only, and the pH of the fillets was not influenced significantly by any of the parameters tested.     

The mathematical modelling of the osmotic dehydration of shark fillets at different brine temperatures

The effect of brine temperature (20, 30, 40 and 50 °C) on the osmotic drying behaviour of shark slabs (10 × 5 × 1 cm) in saturated (100°) brine was investigated. The parameters investigated were weight reduction, water loss, salt gain and water activity. Salt uptake and moisture data were analysed using various mathematical solutions based on Fick's Law of Diffusion and the effective diffusion coefficients were predicted after considering the process variables. The expressions presented by Azuara et al. (1992) , based on the model presented by Crank (1975) , were successfully used to predict the equilibrium point and to calculate diffusion coefficients at not only the initial stages of dehydration, but also at different times during the osmotic process.     

The effects of pre-salting methods on water distribution and protein denaturation of dry salted and rehydrated cod - A low-field NMR study

Low field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) relaxation time measurements were used to evaluate the effect of different pre-salting methods (brine injection of salt and/or phosphates followed by brining, solely brining, pickling and kench salting) on the protein denaturation and change in muscle properties during the production steps of dry salted cod fillets followed by rehydration. The NMR relaxation curves were affected by the salting method and represented well the structural differences between the salting methods at each processing step. Significant correlations were observed between the NMR relaxation parameters and all physicochemical quality properties measured, except the cooking yield, when samples from all processing stages were analyzed together. The longitudinal relaxation time T₁, and the faster relaxing transverse relaxation time T₂₁ were shown to be especially sensitive to protein denaturation in the fillets. The water distribution indicated that the salting and rehydration processes changed the cells irreversibly. The study indicated that pre-brining by brine injection followed by brining, with low salt concentrations, led to the least protein denaturation during the dry salting and rehydration process.     

Influence of the temperature of salt brine on salt uptake by Ragusano cheese

The influence of temperature (12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 degrees C) of saturated brine on salt uptake by 3.8-kg experimental blocks of Ragusano cheese during 24 d of brining was determined. Twenty-six 3.8-kg blocks were made on each of three different days. All blocks were labeled and weighed prior to brining. One block was sampled and analyzed prior to brine salting. Five blocks were placed into each of five different brine tanks at different temperatures. One block was removed from each brine tank after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brining, weighed, sampled, and analyzed for salt and moisture content. The weight loss by blocks of cheese after 24 d of brining was higher, with increasing brine temperature, and represented the net effect of moisture loss and salt uptake. The total salt uptake and moisture loss increased with increasing brine temperature. Salt penetrates into cheese through the moisture phase within the pore structure of the cheese. Porosity of the cheese structure and viscosity of the water phase within the pores influenced the rate and extent of salt penetration during 24 d of brining. In a previous study, it was determined that salt uptake at 18 degrees C was faster in 18% brine than in saturated brine due to higher moisture and porosity of the exterior portion of the cheese. In the present study, moisture loss occurred from all cheeses at all temperatures and most of the loss was from the exterior portion of the block during the first 4 d of brining. This loss in moisture would be expected to decrease porosity of the exterior portion and act as a barrier to salt penetration. The moisture loss increased with increasing brine temperature. If this decrease in porosity was the only factor influencing salt uptake, then it would be expected that the cheeses at higher brine temperature would have had lower salt content. However, the opposite was true. Brine temperature must have also impacted the viscosity of the aqueous phase of the cheese. Cheese in lower temperature brine would be expected to have higher viscosity of the aqueous phase and slower salt uptake, even though the cheese at lower brine temperature should have had a more porous structure (favoring faster uptake) than cheese at higher brine temperature. Therefore, changing brine concentration has a greater impact on cheese porosity, while changing brine temperature has a larger impact on viscosity of the aqueous phase of the cheese within the pores in the cheese.     

Evaluation of Brining Ingredients and Antimicrobials for Effects on Thermal Destruction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a Meat Model System

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli O157:H7 may become internalized during brine injection of meat. This study evaluated the effect of brining ingredients on E. coli O157:H7 in a meat model system after simulated brining, storage, and cooking. Fresh knuckles (5.3 ± 2.4% fat) or beef shoulder (15.3 ± 2.2% fat) were ground individually, mixed with an 8-strain composite of rifampicin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (7 log CFU/g) and brining solutions. Treatments included no brining, distilled water, sodium chloride (NaCl, 0.5%), sodium tripolyphosphate (STP, 0.25%), sodium pyrophosphate (SPP, 0.25%), NaCl + STP, NaCl + SPP, NaCl + STP + potassium lactate (PL, 2%), NaCl + STP + sodium diacetate (SD, 0.15%), NaCl + STP + PL + SD, NaCl + STP + lactic acid (0.3%), NaCl + STP + acetic acid (0.3%), NaCl + STP + citric acid (0.3%), NaCl + STP + EDTA (20 mM) + nisin (0.0015%) or pediocin (1000 AU/g), NaCl + STP + sodium metasilicate (0.2%), NaCl + STP + cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC; 0.5%), and NaCl + STP + hops beta acids (0.00055%). Samples (30 g) were analyzed for pH, and total microbial and rifampicin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (inoculum) populations immediately after mixing, storage (24 h at 4 °C), and cooking to 65 °C. Fat and moisture contents and water activity were measured after storage and cooking only; cooking losses also were determined. The effect of beef type on microbial counts, pH, and water activity was negligible. No reductions in microbial counts were obtained by the brining solutions immediately or after storage, except for samples treated with CPC, which reduced (P < 0.05) pathogen counts after storage by approximately 1 log cycle. Cooking reduced pathogen counts by 1.5 to 2.5 logs, while CPC-treated samples had the lowest (P < 0.05) counts compared to any other treatment. These data may be useful in developing/improving brining recipes for control of E. coli O157:H7 in moisture-enhanced beef products.     

Effect of Fish Attributes and Handling Stress on Quality of Smoked Arctic Char Fillets

ABSTRACT: Arctic char hatched at 6.5 and 9.5 °C and later divided into large, medium, and small size groups were assigned to processing (1) without handling stress, (2) immediately after handling stress, (3) at 24 h after handling stress, and (4) at 48 h after handling stress. Stress reduced gut weight and muscle a* value, increased muscle L* for the 9.5 °C group, decreased muscle L* for the 6.5 °C group, and increased fillet weight loss after brining. Fillets from the stressed, 9.5 °C group absorbed more brine, increasing salt and ash content of smoked products. A 24‐h stress recovery decreased total‐ and water‐phase salt. Fish hatched at 9.5 °C appeared to be more sensitive to handling stress than fish hatched at 6.5 °C. A 48‐h stress recovery increased gut weight and enhanced muscle L*.     

Acidification Effects on Microbial Populations During Initiation of Cucumber Fermentation

Addition of acetic acid (0.067M) or calcium acetate (0.133 M) to the cover brine (1.94M NaCl) of cucumbers reduced naturally occurring Enterobacteriaceae, but not lactic acid bacteria (LAB), during the first 5 days after brining. Naturally occurring LAB were predominantly heterofermentative (≥ 80%) 1 day after brining and homofermentative (≥ 90%) on the 5th day. Enterobacteriaceae survived longer within cucumbers than in brine, particularly in nonacidified cucumbers. Starter cultures of Lactobacillus plantation or Pediococcus pentosaceus decreased 90–99.9% during the first 10 hr after addition and did not increase until about 30 h after brining. Obtaining predominant fermentation of brined cucumbers by added cultures was difficult due to presence of natural microflora on/in the cucumbers and the harsh environment of the brine (high salt, low nutrients).     

Fermentation of Cucumbers Without Sodium Chloride

Cucumbers were successfully fermented and stored in the absence of sodium chloride (salt) under laboratory conditions, provided the fruit were blanched (3 min, 77°C) before brining in a calcium acetate buffer and the brine inoculated with Lactobacillus planturum. Bloater formation was prevented by blanching even when brines were not purged of CO₂. Firmness of cucumbers was similar in salt-free brines or those containing salt after 1 mo, but firmness of salt-free cucumbers was lower after storage for 12 mos. Under pilot-scale, commercial conditions, however, the cucumbers were severely bloated, and the firmness was unacceptable after storage for 7 mo, due apparently to Microbial recontamination after blanching.     

Uptake of salt in the kippering of herring

Summary. The effects of several factors on the uptake of salt during the brining of herring for kippering have been studied. the most important factors were the brine concentration, the brining time and the rate of stirring. the orientation of the fish (skin up or skin down on the brine surface), the oil content and the size of the fish were less important.     

Comparison of physicochemical and sensory changes in fresh and frozen herring (Clupea harrengus L.) during marinating

BACKGROUND: The influence of freezing on the changes during ripening is better described for salted fish than marinades. Therefore in the present study the effect of preliminary freezing of raw material on the ripening of carcasses and fillets marinated during 18 days at a temperature of 10 °C, in brine with 6% salt and 5% acetic acid was examined. RESULTS: In both cases the marinating of thawed frozen material resulted in larger mass losses and decrease of the value of meat colour parameters. The semi‐marinades from raw herring were characterised by higher values of total estimation based on sensory analysis. The statistical analysis showed weak correlation between the discriminants of sensory assessment and the studied physicochemical parameters of semi‐marinades. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the semi‐marinades from raw fish are characterised by higher sensory quality, better colour parameters and higher yield than those from frozen thawed fish. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Brine Concentration and Brining Time on Quality of Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillets

ABSTRACT: Frozen rainbow trout fillets were brined in 8.7 or 17.4% sodium chloride solutions for various periods. Brine uptake, brined and cooked pH, cook yield, shear force, total and water-phase salt content, and brined and cooked proximate composition were determined. Fish mince was used for texture (hardness and cohesiveness) and protein solubility (total soluble and myofibrillar proteins) evaluations. Increasing the brine concentration increased fillet weight loss after brining, cook yield, water-phase salt content, shear force, brined fat, brined and cooked ash, brined pH, and brined and cooked moisture.