Textural and quality changes of hairtail fillets (Trichiurus haumela) related with water distribution during simulated cold chain logistics

Abstract

This study investigated the total viable counts, sensory and physicochemical qualities (total volatile basic nitrogen, K-value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value, water holding capacity and texture parameters), as well as water distribution of fresh hairtail fish during simulated cold chain. The results showed that total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and K-values increased with the increasing time, while sensory scores, water holding capacity, hardness and elasticity decreased. The transverse relaxation time T2 data detected by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance also showed that T22 (trapped water) gradually decreased with the increasing time, while T23 (free water) increased. It was observed that the quality deterioration of the fish fillets developed more quickly when the samples suffered frequent temperature fluctuations than they stored at higher but stable temperatures. The changes of T22 and T23 of both the samples stored at stable and fluctuated temperatures showed good correlations with sensory, total volatile basic nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values (R2 > 0.9, p < 0.05). Therefore, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance technology can be a potential tool to monitor the quality changes of hairtail fish during cold chain logistics.