Salt, Cryoprotectants and Preheating Temperature Effects on Surimi‐like Material from Beef or Pork

Gel forming ability, measured by cooked gel hardness, and water‐holding capacity of surimi‐like pork were enhanced by addition of NaCl at 1.5 or 3% although 4.5% or 6% NaCl did not further increase hardness. Cooked gel strength was unaffected by freezing of beef or pork surimi‐like materials for 48 hr. Addition of cryoprotectants (3% or 6% sorbitol, 3% glycerol, or 3% sucrose) before freezing had no effect on gel forming ability. Gel hardness was not increased by preheating prior to cooking. Preheating surimi‐like pork at 50°C resulted in formation of weaker gels which corresponded to myosin proteolysis. Myosin heavy chain (mw 200 kD) decreased, and new peptide fragments of mw about 138 kD, 128 kD, 120 kD, 86 kD, 77 kD, and 64 kD appeared. Proteolysis was salt‐dependent and occurred at pH 6.8–7.5.