Effects of Xanthan Gum Treatment on the Quality and Stability of Imitation Fish Roe Based on Calcium Alginate Hydrogels

摘要

Imitation fish roe (IFR) based on calcium alginate hydrogels (CAG) can be heat treated for sterilization and salted to prolong the shelf life. However, these processes change the physical properties of IFR, and it is necessary to minimize these changes. In this study, we investigated the effects of xanthan gum (XG) treatment on the quality and stability of IFR. Both non-XG and XG-treated IFRs were treated with boiling water (95°C), sodium chloride (0.5-2.0%, w/v), and autoclaving. The non-XG treatedIFR shrunk slightly after the boiling water and autoclaving processes. By comparison, shrinkage of the XG-treated IFR after autoclaving was significantly reduced. The sphericity of the non-XG treated IFR was reduced by the boiling water, sodium chloride, and autoclaving treatment. However, the sphericity of the XG-treated IFR was maintained by 90% or more, preserving the IFR shape at a level visually recognized as spherical. In addition, unlike the non-XG treated IFR, the XG-treated IFR showed high rupture strength even after the salt and heat treatments. Our findings provide useful information for the industrialization of IFR based on CAG with heat and salt treatments.