Effect of added lipids on the texture of minced hake (Merluccius merluccius L.), megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis W.) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus W.) during frozen storage.

The effect of added cod liver oil and oxidized cod liver oil on the measurement of texture in minced hake (Merluccius merluccius L.), megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis W.) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus W.) has been measured during frozen storage (-18 degrees C). The results show that added neutral and oxidized lipids, even at high rancidity levels, do not affect shear resistances measured by the Kramer shear-compression cell in non-formaldehyde forming species such as megrim and sardine, over the frozen storage period. However, in a formaldehyde-forming species such as hake, in the presence of neutral and oxidized lipids at the end of the storage period, the values of shear resistances may be lower than in the absence of these lipids, probably owing to formation of less formaldehyde in these cases. Although it is very difficult to estimate the importance of a single compound or group of compounds on texture, these results seem to indicate that formaldehyde is a much more important factor than oxidized lipids in changes of texture in fish.