THE EFFECTS OF ANTIOXIDANT, BUTYL HYDROXY ANISOLE AND POLYPHOSPHATE ON SHELF-LIFE OF FROZEN (-18°C) CRAYFISH (ASTACUS LEPTODACTYLUS) OF THE CASPIAN SEA

Possible effects of antioxidant Butyl Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) and sodium polyphosphate on the shelf-life of frozen Astacus leptodactylus of the Caspian Sea was studied. Samples of the crayfish were dipped in 0.02 and 0.2% BHA and 0.04 and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 30 and 60 minutes. The control samples were packed without immersion in the mixture of BHA and sodium polyphosphate. The Peroxide Value (PV), Total Volatile Nitrogen (TVN), total bacteria count and organoleptic tests were carried out on the samples using a time schedule. The results showed that the minimum increase in PV for the samples which were soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 0.59 to 0.88 meq/1000g, as compared to the control samples with an increase in the range 0.59 to 3.53 meq/1000 g after four months. The PV Value after four month started to be decrease and reached 1.4 meq/1000 grams after sixth months. The results showed that the minimum increase of TVN for the samples which were soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 12.88 to 17.8 mg/100 grams and for the control samples, the increase was from 12.88 to 19.8 mg/100 grams after sixth month. The results also demonstrated that the minimum increase in Total Bacteria Count of for the samples soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 9×103 to 2×101 per gram and for the control samples, the count was from 9×103 to 7×102 per gram after sixth months. Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square and Duncan tests were conducted on five samples for each specific shelf-life time. Using the results, we conclude that immersing the samples into a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for one hour gives the best results in terms of shelf-life and organoleptic tests.