Reaction of Nitrite with Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbic Acid-2-Derivatives

The decrease in free nitrite in aqueous solutions of nitrite and ascorbic acid (AsA), ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AsA-2-P) or ascorbic acid-2-sulfate (AsA-2-S) was studied. Both AsA-2-P and AsA-2-S reacted with nitrite as did AsA. The rate of the reaction followed the order AsA > AsA-2-P > AsA-2-S. The reaction solution of AsA and nitrite did nitrosate cytochrome c and regenerate nitrite, but the reaction solution of nitrite with either AsA-2-P or AsA-2-S did not. When surimi with myoglobin added as a pigment was used as a model meat curing system, the addition of AsA-2-P and AsA-2-S did not participate in the reactions resulting in development of cured meat color.