Frozen and packaged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillet was obtained from a local company (Vanibru e Comercio de Produtos Alimentares, Braga, Portugal). After unpacking, the salmon fillets were cut into slices (samples) with the dimensions 10 cm 5 cm 2e3 cm (Fig. 1) and an average weight of
113.4 ± 7.4 g, using a vertical bone sawing machine (FK 32, BIZERBA, Germany). This process was carried out in a refrigerated (5e8 C) room to minimize heat uptake. For each treatment, salmon samples (n ¼ 3) were individually packed in zip-lock polyethylene freezer bags and stored in an industrial freezing chamber maintained at 21.4 ± 1.6 C, for 9 months.