Changes in physico-chemical properties and gel-forming ability of lizardfish (Saurida tumbil) during post-mortem storage in ice

Changes in physico-chemical properties and gel-forming ability of lizardfish muscle (Saurida tumbil), stored in ice, were investigated up to 15 days. Heading and eviscerating, prior to iced storage, retarded myosin heavy chain degradation and formaldehyde formation. Additionally, denaturation of myosin and troponin was slightly impeded as monitored by the lower decrease in Ca²⁺-ATPase and lower increase in Mg²⁺–EGTA-ATPase, respectively. Gel-forming ability of surimi, prepared under different setting and/or heating conditions, decreased as storage time increased (P<0.05). However, superior breaking force and deformation of surimi gel, from headed/eviscerated fish, to that from whole fish was observed throughout the storage. Whiteness of surimi gel from headed/eviscerated fish was much higher than that from whole fish, especially when the storage time increased. Therefore, storage time and pretreatment were found to be crucial factors, determining the changes in physico-chemical properties and gel-forming ability of lizardfish during iced storage.