Effect of marinating and vacuum storage at 6 °C on the fate of chemical, microbial and sensory quality indices of echinoid gonads Paracentrotus lividus Lamark, 1816

Chemical, microbial and sensory quality indices of raw and marinated sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus Lamark, 1816, were determined. Marinades were prepared using three different formulations and stored over a 75-day period at 6 °C, under vacuum and air (control) packaging conditions. Significant differences were found between chemical (pH, moisture, ash, NaCI, ammonia and lactic acid), microbial [pseudomonads (Ps), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast–moulds] and sensory analysis of three different marinated groups ( P  <   0.05) during the storage period. The marinating process did not lead to significant differences in fatty acid, protein, fat and carbohydrate contents relative to raw sample. A notable decrease of the ω-3 per ω-6 ratio after marinating and during storage in both packages was observed. Ammonia concentration changes were found to be useful as index of freshness and decomposition of roe in storage. Shelf life of roe marinades at 6 °C was found to be 75 and 60 days under vacuum and air storage conditions respectively.