Changes in Red Hake (Urophycis chuss) Muscle Induced by Different Freezing Strategies

The effect of single and double freezing at ?20°C on fresh and aged red hake with two different holding times of the thawed fillets between the first and second freezing treatments was determined. In addition, twice-frozen fresh red hake was treated with two antioxidation systems to assess their effectiveness in reducing lipid oxidation. Fresh, untreated red hake at 0 time was used for comparison. Significant dimethylamine (DMA) production occurred with all frozen samples, and the differences were not marked after 7-month storage. With a storage time of 3 months, however, there were differences between the treatments in both the fresh and aged samples with the once-frozen sample producing the least DMA, the twice-frozen sample with the 24-h holding time between freezings the most, and the twice-frozen sample with a 6-h holding time between freezings giving intermediate values. All samples showed a greater than 50% loss in protein solubility as determined by lithium chloride extraction after 3 months of storage, and the protein solubility declined further when samples were tested at 7 months. Samples with the best (once-frozen fresh) and worst (twice-frozen with 24-h holding time between freezings of 5-day aged muscle) treatments had the highest thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) values. Both antioxidant treatments were effective in reducing TBARS development.