Application of efficient pre‐treatment by physical fields for improving the taste and flavor of processed chicken enzymatic hydrolysate

In the condiment industry, people usually use enzymatic hydrolyzate to improve the umami of the product, and there are few reports on the umami intensity of the enzymatic hydrolysate. To explore the differences in taste and flavor of the samples pretreated with different physical fields, the chicken was pretreated by ultrasound (US, 600 W, 30 min), infrared radiation (IR, 90°C, 30 min), and radio frequency (RF, 120 mm, 30 min), respectively, and followed by a two-step enzymatic hydrolysis. Results revealed that the chicken enzymatic hydrolyzate after RF pretreatment (120 mm, 30 min) had the best overall taste and stronger umami. The sample treated with 90°C IR has a richer flavor, while there were no significant changes in taste of the 600 W ultrasound treatment group compared with the “control.” Therefore, RF pretreatment (120 mm, 30 min) is more suitable for industrial to produce low cost and high umami chicken enzymatic hydrolyzates. Practical applications In the condiment food industry, people usually use umami-rich enzymatic hydrolysates to improve the umami taste of products. The 120 mm plate spacing radio frequency pretreatment proposed in this study for 30 min before enzymolysis can significantly improve the taste characteristics of the chicken enzymolysate, significantly enhance its saltness and umami, and make the overall taste more harmonious. It provides a certain theoretical basis for the industrial production of low-cost umami-enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis products.