Changes in Physicochemical, Microbiological and Sensory Quality Characteristics of Ssamjang containing Cheongkukjang during Storage

Abstract

This study investigated the quality variation characteristics of Ssamjang containing Cheongkukjang, in order to improve the degree of preference of Cheongkukjang. The amount of Cheongkukjang was set at 1% based on sensory evaluation. Ssamjang containing Cheongkukjang was stored at 37℃ for 13 weeks, after which quality variation characteristics were weekly. During storage for 13 weeks, physicochemical quality characteristics, moisture content, and pH of Ssamjang containing Cheongkukjang slightly decreased, whereas salt content did not change. Amino nitrogen content slightly increased by 1 week but decreased by 3 weeks and then increased by 5 weeks. For microbiology quality characteristics, viable cell counts and total cell counts of B. cereus were unchanged. For sensory quality characteristics, shape quality was poor after 13 weeks while mold, drying phenomenon, and swelling phenomenon were not observed. Therefore, physicochemical quality and microbiology quality of Ssamjang containing Cheongkukjang were unchanged during storage for 13 weeks, and the storage limit was determined to be 12 weeks according to sensory quality evaluation.