Optimal blending of differently refined fish proteins based on their functional properties

Two different mixtures (Alaska pollock surimi with grass carp fish protein isolate (FPI) and grass carp surimi with grass carp FPI) were investigated for their compatibility and functionalities. As the proportion of FPI increased, it was observed surface hydrophobicity and surface reactive sulfhydryl (SRSH) content increased significantly, indicating the degree of fish protein unfolding prior to gelation was much higher than surimi alone. Comparable results were shown as measured by storage modulus (G′) in oscillatory dynamic rheology, demonstrating the gelling temperature was reduced when the proportion of FPI increased. Effects of mixing surimi and FPI on gel functionality (hardness, cohesiveness, and whiteness) exhibited a linear pattern when the proportion of surimi was larger than or equal to that of FPI. However, there were no linear relationships when the proportion of FPI exceeded that of surimi.

Practical applications

Commercial surimi has been successfully used in the Western world over 30 years. Unlike surimi which is a refined fish myofibrillar protein composite, fish protein isolate (FPI) is a refined composite of myofibrillar protein and sarcoplasmic protein. The former is made by avoiding any chemical/physical denaturation, while the latter can be made by inducing chemical denaturation and renaturation with pH shift. Even though FPI is not currently available in a commercial scale, it has a great potential to replace all or a part of surimi for the manufacture of fish protein gel products. This study reveals how to optimally mixed these two differently refined fish proteins based on their functional properties. The results suggested that blending surimi and FPI may be feasible only when the proportion of FPI does not exceed 50%.