Abstract
Physicochemical changes in black rockfish muscle subjected to saturated salt solution were investigated. The immersion of black rockfish in saturated salt solution accelerated rigor mortis of the muscle and full rigor was rapidly shortened by the increase of immersion time. However, the rigor index of samples immersed in a saturated salt solution decreased compared with that of samples killed instantly. The total content of ATP and related compounds in all samples was 7.2 μmol/g. However, ATP decreased in the samples immersed in a saturated salt solution. In addition, ATP content became lower as the immersion time was longer. Also, lactate accumulated, as immersion time was prolonged, in contrast with the decrease in the ATP. The breaking strength of samples immersed in the saturated salt solution was higher than that of samples killed instantly. The myofibrillar ATPase activities of the samples immersed in the saturated salt solution were higher than those of samples killed instantly.
