Changes in physicochemical properties and myofibrillar protein properties in grass carp salted by brining and injection.

Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties and myofibrillar protein properties of grass carp meat during brining and brine injection at 4 °C. The time reached equilibrium was 7 h in brining group and 5 h by injection, where the salt content was about 1.76%. The water content, water holding capacity and yield in injection group (86.59%, 9.18% and 110%, respectively) were higher than brining group (84.76%, 11.47%, and 108%, respectively) at equilibrium point significantly (P < 0.05). This was attributed to the more swollen filament lattices and disordered protein structure in injection group (P < 0.05). The myofibrillar protein structure was compared, including sulphydryl content, surface hydrophobicity, solubility, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern and secondary structure. The injection group presented the better quality of salted fish meat in shorter time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]