holding ability (bonded water) (Kinsella, 1982) as compared to the
control (lot C1). In the case of lot S, the larger number of Naþ and
Cl ions made for greater electrostatic charge density, which
increased the number of ionedipole interactions with the permanent
dipoles of water, enhancing thewater holding ability of the gel
network (lot S1) more effectively than in the control (lot C1).
During days 1e21 of chilled storage there were no significant
differences (p < 0.05) in WBC values in lots C and O with respect to
the value at day 1 following pasteurization, but lot S registered a
significant decrease at day 7 of chilled storage, slightly higher (~8%)
than at day 1 after pasteurization (~5%). This difference in the
decrease of WBC in S7 could be a consequence of the higher ionic
strength of this lot S, reducing the number of water molecules
surrounding the GM-protein matrix and thus causing partial
dehydration. This electrostatic effect would be naturally reinforced
at low temperature during chilled storage and could have caused
some rigidity in S7 sample, as evidenced by its lower breaking
deformation (BD), which is discussed in Section 3.7 (puncture data).
Nevertheless, even at day 21 the WBC of all lots was still above 75%,
indicating high stability during chilled storage. By day 35, therewas
another significant decrease in WBC in all three lots, but particularly
in lots C (C35) and S (S35) (~16%), as compared to C21 and S21
respectively, indicating irreversible structural damage in both gel
networks. However, this decrease of WBC was considerably smaller
(~5%) in sample O (O35) than in samples C35 and S35, showing the
stabilizing role of oil in network.