High-Pressure Processing for Pickled Crabs: Safety, Quality and Flavor Assessment and Correlation Analysis of Spoilage Indicators
Pickled aquatic products are often susceptible to spoilage, which can significantly affect their edibility and flavor. This study aimed to improve the safety and quality aspects of pickled crabs by treated with high-pressure processing (HPP, 400 MPa for 5 min). The physical, chemical, microbiological, and flavor properties of the crabs before and after HPP were assessed, correlation and cluster analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were conducted on specific indicators influencing crab spoilage. The results indicated that HPP effectively reduced the total viable count, psychrophilic bacteria count (PBC), and Escherichia coliform ( E. coli ) count during storage at 4°C (reduced by 30.61%, 36.72%, 100%, day 0, respectively; 19.02%, 21.95%, 100%, day 42, respectively). Moreover, HPP treatment reduced the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) content (35.33 mg/100 g to 31.81 mg/100 g) and the production of putrescine (1858.7 mg/kg to 1293.04 mg/kg) and cadaverine (753.47 mg/kg to 422.08 mg/kg) in the end of storage stage, which extend the shelf life of the pickled crab by 12 days. Furthermore, the application of HPP facilitated the penetration of ethanol into the crab meat, thereby enhancing the development of the characteristic pickled crab flavor. The OPLS-DA analyses indicated that TVBN, TBA, and histamine as deteriorative factors for quality deterioration are key factors determining spoilage of crab, which are significantly correlated with other corruption products. This study provides valuable insights into improving the safety and flavor of crab products, establishing a theoretical basis for ensuring quality control throughout the production process.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）