Improvement of fermented Chinese cabbage characteristics by selected starter cultures.

Abstract

Traditional fermented vegetables have inconsistent quality and high nitrite content, whereas a commercial starter culture could overcome these problems. A total of 34 lactic acid bacteria strains were screened from 2 homemade naturally fermented Chinese cabbages. Fermented characters of single starter or mixed cultures were examined, including acidification, growth rate, and nitrite depletion ability in the fermented culture. As a result, the combined starter culture (Lactobacillus delbrueckii IWQ and Lactobacillus paracasei J21) was selected. The fermented Chinese cabbage resulted from this mixed starter culture had higher sugar content residue (30.5 mg/mL for mixed culture and 22 mg/mL for control). And the titratable acid of the cabbage fermented by the mixed starter was 110°T, which was twice higher than that of control sample. The selected starter culture also had a better texture and sensory qualities than that the starter cultures from a local fermented Chinese cabbage plant, especially for its significantly lower nitrite content (3.00 mg/kg for mixed culture and 4.49 mg/kg for control). The findings of this study form a database for further studies on the development of starter cultures for fermented cabbage production and could replaced the local plant starter culture. LABs were screened from traditional fermented food. The fermented characteristics of selected LABs were better than that of starter cultures from a local Chinese cabbage plant. Selected LAB can decrease nitrite content in fermented cabbage. The Chinese cabbage fermented by the selected LAB had the good flavor and texture.