Effects of frozen storage at 18C on the quality changes of raw brushtooth lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis) burgers without coating

Developing minced-based products is a good opportunity for production of value-added products. Fish burgers are an example of an acceptable value-added fast food. In the present study, fish burgers were produced from deep flounder fish with no coating and their chemical, microbial, and sensory characteristics during storage at 18C for 5 months were determined periodically after thawing at 4 °C. Fish burgers were produced and packaged in PVC/PE polymer bags. Microbial load (including total plate count, total coliform count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and psychrotrophic bacteria), chemical characteristics (moisture, pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), and TBA), and sensory characteristicswere were determined monthly. Data were analyzed using the SPSS for Windows program. The TVB-N and TBA values increased significantly by the end of the first and second month, respectively. After that no further statistically significalt changes occured in the former, while the latter decreased until the end of storage period, presumably due to reaction of the MDA produced with protein breakdown products and formation of new peoducts. The data also showed that pH increased significantly by the end of the first month; no changes were observed afterwards. All of the microbial counts and sensory parameters had decreased significantly (p<0.05) at the end of storage period. The best expiry time for lizardfish burgers (if stored at C˚18-) is 3 months after production, and sensory evaluation is the most reliable way for predicting their shelf life.