Comparison of freezing and heating treatment sequence on biochemical properties and flavor of swimming crabs (Portunus Trituberculatus) meat during freeze-thaw cycles.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of freezing and heating treatment sequences on the biochemical properties and flavor of crab (Portunus trituberculatus) meat during freeze-thaw cycles. The results showed that pH, color, K and microstructure changes in the H-F group were not significant with increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles, but TVB-N values increased and WHC values decreased. However, with the increase in the number of freeze-thaw cycles, pH and WHC significantly decreased and TVB-N, L* and K values significantly increased in the C and F-H groups. Proteins were degraded in all groups, but the lower degree of degradation occurred in the H-F group. Although the total free amino acid content decreased with increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles in each group, the high content of AMP and IMP in the H-F group suggested that it still had a better flavor.