Enhancing freeze-thaw stability and flavor in surimi products: Impact of virgin coconut oil and fish oil incorporation

The study aimed to assess the impact of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and fish oil (FO) on the qualities of the freeze-thaw (F-T) treated surimi gels. In the fresh samples, VCO and FO had a weakening effect on the structure of surimi gels. While in the F-T treated samples, both VCO and FO exhibited a notable enhancement in gel strength, elevating it from 533.24 to 576.21 and 592.62 g cm, respectively ( p  < 0.05). Simultaneously, they increased the water holding capacity from 68.48% to 72.65% and 73.24%, respectively ( p  < 0.05), while also impeding the conversion of physically bound water to free water. Both VCO and FO resulted in a more uniform pore size and a more organized network structure of F-T treated surimi gels. Furthermore, they increased storage modulus of F-T treated surimi and its gels, which indicated the enhanced solid-like behavior of samples. Flavor analysis demonstrated that both F-T treatment and oil oxidation increased the flavor compound content. Both kinds of oil could significantly increase ester and alkane content while lowering the undesirable fishy compounds, and VCO exhibiting a better effect on the flavor enhancement than FO. The inclusion of these oils played a pivotal role in inhibiting the growth of ice crystals and minimizing damage to surimi during F-T treatments. In conclusion, this study introduces novel strategies for the production of frozen surimi gel products, leveraging the beneficial effects of VCO and FO in enhancing gel properties, flavor profiles, and overall product quality.