Controlled formation of characteristic aroma compounds induced by added seasonings during electromagnetic cooking of braised pork: Weakened lipid oxidation and accelerated Maillard reaction

This study investigated the formation of characteristic aroma compounds in braised pork during electromagnetic cooking, focusing on the effect of added seasonings on lipid oxidation and the Maillard reaction. The accelerated lipid oxidation led to a rapid increase in the levels of most characteristic aldehydes, 1-octen-3-ol, and 2-pentylfuran during the temperature-rising stage (S0-S2) and the simmering stage (S3-S4) in braised pork. However, the addition of seasonings inhibited polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation, reducing the levels of these lipid-derived aroma compounds during the sauce thickening stage (S5). Heat treatment models of purified fatty acids with and without the addition of seasonings further confirmed that the seasonings inhibited the formation of these aroma compounds due to their high antioxidant activity. Moreover, seasonings could provide abundant Maillard reaction substrates (such as methionine, leucine, and glucose), which promoted the continuous formation of methanethiol and 3-methylbutanal throughout the electromagnetic cooking of braised pork.