RESULTS
General Features of Doenjang Fermentation
The initial pH values of the doenjang samples were approximately
6.4 (Figure1). During the early fermentation period (0–48days),
pH decreased relatively slowly to approximately 6.0; after
48 days, their drop in pH occurred more quickly. From 108
to 179 days of fermentation, pH remained at around 5.0, after
which the samples gradually became more basic again, reaching
approximately 6.0 during the late fermentation period (249–
332 days of fermentation).