Proportion Optimization for Manufacture Kochujang Sauce Supplemented with Tonic Herbal Extract and Beef Using Response Surface Methodology

$Kochujang$ is a fermented paste originated from in and $Kochujang$ sauce is a nutritionally and functionally improved version of $Kochujang$ with additions of beef and tonic herbal extracts. The optimization of the ingredient ratios in the manufacturing of $Kochujang$ sauce was investigated using central composite design and response surface methodology. The amount of beef ($X_1$) and the amount of tonic herbal extract ($X_2$) were chosen as the independent variables. The dependent variables consisted of the properties and sensory evaluation scores The examined physicochemical properties included water activity, pH, color, viscosity, and soluble solids. The sensory evaluation attributes were color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability. Among them, the selected dependent variables were the sauce viscosity ($Y_1$) and the overall acceptability ($Y_2$) of the sauce. The optimal conditions for the independent variables were $X_1$= 9.7% and $X_2$= 14.1%. In addition, the predicted values of the multiple response optimal conditions were $Y_1$= 331000 (cP) and $Y_2$= 7.1 (points), and the actual experimental values were $Y_1$= 3316667 (cP) and $Y_2$= 7 (points).