hand, when the tissue is frozen rapidly, the cellular fluids do not
have enough time to migrate out to the extracellular spaces and
will freeze as small crystals uniformly distributed throughout the
tissue (Mazur 1984). Thus, rapid freezing has a less detrimental
effect on the cell or tissue (Coggins and Chamul 2004). However,
if the storage temperature fluctuates, the intracellular ice recrystallizes,
forming large ice crystals and causing cell disruption,
which leads to drip loss as well. Mechanical damage from ice
crystals on the texture of food during freezing and frozen storage
has been studied in kiwi fruit (Fuster et al. 1994), lamb meat
(Payne and Young 1995), squid mantle muscle (Ueng and Chow
1998), pork (Ngapo et al. 1999), and beef (Farouk et al. 2003).
During storage, if the product is not wrapped or is improperly
packaged, ice may sublime into the headspace and produce a
product defect called freezer burn (Blond and Le Meste 2004,
Coggins and Chamul 2004). The sublimation of ice crystals
leaves behind small cavities and causes the surface of fish to
appear grayish. It is more pronounced when the storage temperature
is high (Blond and Le Meste 2004). Freezer burn increases
the rate of rancidity and discoloration because of the greater
exposed surface, resulting in a “woody” (Blond and Le Meste
2004), tough, and dry texture in fish, making and leaving the fish
less acceptable (Coggins and Chamul 2004).