Physical properties of fish proteins cooked with starches or protein additives under ohmic heating

The texture, color and microstructure of surimi seafood gels were investigated to determine the interaction effects of fish proteins with starches or protein additives under ohmic heating, and to compare ohmically cooked gels with conventional water-bath-cooked gels. Gel properties were affected by the type of additive, concentration and cooking method. The effect of starch on gel texture was more pronounced at low concentrations. Compared to wheat starch, potato starch seemed to slightly improve gel strength; however, it decreased the gel whiteness. All nonfish protein additives resulted in better or equal textural properties of gels, whereas there was a slightly negative effect for gel color. Fast ohmic-cooked gels mostly exhibited higher gel strength than conventionally cooked gels. There is a discrepancy between current gel preparation (slow heating by water bath) and current practice of crabstick manufacturing (fast heating). The use of data generated from slow cooking gel preparation for the manufacture of fast cooking crabstick does not make sense. This study demonstrates how starch and protein additives behave at ohmic heating which mimics the fast cooking crabstick manufacture.