Effect of sodium bicarbonate on textural properties and acceptability of gel from unwashed Asian sea bass mince.

Asian sea bass mince gels having different adjusted moisture/water content (80 and 85%; w/w) were prepared with addition of sodium bicarbonate (SB) at various concentrations (0, 0.05 and 0.1%; w/w). Fish mince gels of 80% water content added with 0.05 and 0.1% SB (G80-0.05 and G80-0.1, respectively) had the highest increase (135-139%) in breaking force (BrF) than the respective control gel (G80) (P < 0.05). For gel with 85% water content, a lower increase (17-28%) in BrF was found with the addition of SB as compared to their corresponding control (G85). Whiteness of all samples was continuously decreased with increasing amount of SB, however the water holding capacity was increased drastically with augmenting levels of SB, regardless of the water content (P < 0.05). A loss in the elasticity of gel was attained with the addition of SB as indicated by decreasing storage modulus. A finer and more compact network was detected in a gel containing SB, irrespective of water content. Based on sensory scores, gel having 85% water content added with 0.05 and 0.1% SB had similar acceptability to the control gel (G80) containing 80% water content (commercial level). Therefore, SB at the appropriate level could improve the gelling properties with higher water holding ability of the mince gel with high acceptability.