FRACTURE OF ALASKA POLLOCK GELS IN WATER - EFFECTS OF MINCED MUSCLE PROCESSING AND TEST TEMPERATURE

The effects of temperature on instrumental textural measurements of co oked Alaska pollock gels were evaluated. Independent variables were: r aw materials (minced muscle, washed minced muscle alone or with cryopr otectants), cooking schedule (90 degrees C for 20 min with/without pre conditioning at 25 degrees C) and test temperatures. Gels tested at 5 degrees C were more brittle than those tested at 45-55 degrees C. Gels preset at 25 degrees C for 1 hr prior to cooking at 90 degrees C had higher fracture shear stress values and were influenced differently by test temperatures than those not preset suggesting cooking history in fluenced structure of the gels at the molecular level. Results indicat ed get set at 25 degrees C were probably stabilized by more covalent b onds.