Effects of flavourzyme addition on protein degradation and flavor formation in grass carp during fermentation

This study aimed to investigate the effects of flavourzyme addition on protein degradation and flavor formation in grass carp during fermentation. The related results showed that the addition of flavourzyme reduced the moisture content and accelerated the hydrolysis of protein and generation of water-soluble flavor substances (e.g., TCA-soluble peptides, α-amino nitrogen, and free amino acids), thereby contributing to fermented grass carp products with a better taste quality. Besides, radar map results of electronic tongue and electronic nose showed that flavourzyme addition gives fermented products a more intense umami taste and odor. Meanwhile, sensory evaluation results also further confirmed that the addition of flavourzyme significantly improved the sensory attributes of fermented grass carp products, especially the taste and odor attributes. Overall, flavourzyme addition may be an effective way to shorten fermentation time and improve the flavor quality of fermented grass carp products during fermentation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this study, to study the effects of flavourzyme addition on protein degradation and flavor formation in grass carp during fermentation, the related indicators include the moisture content, total nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen, protein degradation index, TCA-soluble peptides, α-amino nitrogen, free amino acids, electronic tongue, electronic nose, and sensory attributes were analyzed. This study may provide some useful information for the improvement of fermentation methods and the production of high-quality fermented grass carp products.