Abstract: | The textural characteristics and water holding capacity of suwari (set) and kamaboko (set and cooked) sardine surimi gels were examined in order to clarify the influence of the initial network formed in setting conditions (25, 35 and 40°C for 30 and 60 min) on the texture of the kamaboko gels. Although the texture of suwari gels set at 35°C improved with longer setting, both setting times ensured kamaboko gels with the highest gel strength. Suwari gels set at 25°C also improved with longer setting but the gel strength of both suwari and kamaboko gels was lower than at 35°C. For gels set at 40°C prolonged setting weakened the suwari networks formed, leading to kamaboko gels with poorer textural characteristics. ©1997 SCI |