Influence of organic acids on organoleptic and structural and mechanical properties of freshwater hydrobiont meat

Abstract

Research on the use of organic acids in freshwater fish conservation in aquaculture farms is gaining importance due to the growing interest in the quality and safety of fish products. The purpose of the study was to create and substantiate a new technology for preserving freshwater fish with the addition of spicy root vegetables, and in pretreatment of raw materials with organic acids. During the study, carp were treated with salt and various concentrations of organic acids, stored under certain temperature conditions. Sensory assessment, pH, and shear boundary stress were used to evaluate the results, and chemical analysis was performed using a penetrometer and potentiometric method. Based on the findings, a scientifically based technology for preserving freshwater fish with the addition of spicy root vegetables with a fundamentally new method of treatment of raw materials with organic acids has been developed to expand the scope of application of fish products that will have a higher biological value. It was found that at the initial stages of processing, no noticeable organoleptic changes were observed in the samples under study. Comparative analysis of the results confirmed the positive effect of acetic acid at a concentration of 1.0%, for tartaric acid, the best effect was determined with the addition of 0.5-1.0%, and for citric acid, the study indicates that its use does not lead to softening of muscle tissue, indicating the feasibility of its use. Studies have confirmed the use of pretreatment of semi-finished products of salted carp treated with 1.0-1.5% malic acid for 60 minutes to obtain a tender, juicy, and soft consistency, which corresponds to 5 points in the sensory assessment. According to the results of the conducted studies, the positive effect of using organic acids to soften carp meat in the production of preserves from freshwater fish was established. The practical significance of the study is to improve the technologies of meat processing and food production, and to determine the optimal conditions for preserving the taste and texture qualities of meat products