Formation of volatile compounds in mutton during air fryer roasted mutton by means of GC–MS and GC-IMS

This study aimed to explore the changes in volatile compounds in mutton during roasting in an air fryer, using solvent-assisted flavor evaporation-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SAFE-GC–MS) and gas chromatography-immersion mass spectrometry (GC-IMS). Significant differences in the volatile compound profiles of different samples were detected using both GC-IMS, an electronic nose and GC–MS analysis. Among them, compounds such as ( E , E )-2,4-decadienal, ( E )-2-heptenal, and octanal showed a gradual increase in concentration throughout the roasting process. This increase was likely attributed to the oxidation of oleic and linoleic acids. Additionally, the levels of glucose, ribose, and free amino acids gradually decreased, as these compounds were consumed during the Maillard reaction, which caused the formation of volatile compounds like 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, methylpyrazine, and 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine. This study provided valuable insights into the use of air fryers as a novel approach for enhancing the flavor of meat products.