Abstract
As a part of investigation to use sardine(Sardinops melanoslicta) more effectively as a food source, this study was undertaken the processing condition of rapid- and low salt-fermented liquefaction of sardine. To prepare rapid fermented products, the chopped whole sardine was added 8% NaCl and then preheating treatment at $40^{\circ}C,\;45^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$ in the manufactured fermenter(180L) for 9 hrs, and then fermentation at $33^{\circ}C$ for 90 days. The chemical changes such as amino nitrogen(amino-N), volatile basic nitrogen(VBN), and histamine in the hydrolysates of fermented sardine were analyzed as well as viable cell count and organoleptic evaluation during fermentation to compare the quality between control and preheating samples. During fermenting, the amino-N in the hydrolysates increased rapidly during the first 30 days and slowly thereafter. The highest content of amino-N appeared at 75 days in control sample and $60{\sim}75$ days in preheating samples. The changes of VBN in the hydrolysates increased rapidly during first 15 days in control samples and 30 days in preheating samples. However they were generally low level in preheating samples. Histamine content in the hydrolysates of the control samples increased markedly after 15 days, but preheating samples were generally low level, and then $75{\sim}90$ days of fermentation reached to the maximum which was about $2.0{\sim}3.0$ times lower than that of control samples. As for the organoleptic flavor evaluation, the control and preheating at $40^{\circ}C$ samples were unpleasant odor after 15 and 60 days, respectively. But preheating at $45^{\circ}\;and\;50^{\circ}$ samples were fresh odor after 90 days fermentation.