Characterization of Important Odorants in Steamed Male Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) using Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry‐Olfactometry

Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) from Yangcheng Lake in Jiangsu Province is a popular species due to its unique pleasant aroma and intensive umami taste. In this study, odorants in steamed male E. sinensis were investigated using the headspace‐monolithic material sorptive extraction technique coupled with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry‐olfactometry (GC‐MS‐O). A total of 74 volatile compounds were found, and the results of the GC‐MS‐O analysis, combined with odor activity values, showed that trimethylamine (fishy, ammonia‐like odor), (Z)‐4‐heptenal (mushroom‐like odor), and benzaldehyde (paint‐like odor) were the important odorants (IOs) in all 4 of the edible parts of steamed male E. sinensis. Furthermore, heptanal (mushroom‐like odor) was common to the abdomen, claw, and leg meat but was not found as the IO in the gonad. The abdomen meat also contained 3‐methylbutanal (vegetable‐like, grassy odor), while 2 additional IOs were found in claw meat (2‐methylbutanal, which has a mushroom odor and 3‐ethyl‐2,5‐dimethylpyrazine, which has a chocolate‐like, musty odor). Another IO (2‐nonanone, chocolate‐like odor) was also found in leg meat, while (E)‐2‐nonenal (green, fruity odor) was the IO found exclusively in the gonad.