a b s t r a c t
Pacific whiting surimi was examined to develop optimum conditions for slowly heated surimi seafood
like fish balls. Breaking force and penetration distance increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the addition
of egg white (EW), calcium lactate and microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Setting effects on textural
properties were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by MTG addition. Even without MTG addition, breaking
force and penetration distance also increased significantly (p < 0.05) when setting time was extended up
to 6 h, possibly resulting from the role of endogenous transglutaminase (ETG). The addition of MTG
resulted in a hard, but less deformable gel when setting time exceeded 2 h. Enzyme autolysis showed the
addition of EW at 1 g/100 g paste effectively inhibited endogenous proteases. Results suggested Pacific
whiting surimi, which is hardly used for slowly heated surimi seafood due to the textural degradation by
proteases, can be successfully used to produce high quality fish balls when combined with 3 g/100 g EW,
0.2 g/100 g calcium lactate and setting at 25 C for 2e6 h with MTG or 4e6 h without MTG.
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