• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.627-635
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• 2014

We investigated the changes in the quality characteristics of Doenjang with low salt contents (6, 8, 10, and 12%) and 10% garlic. The Doenjang was analyzed at an interval of a week during its fermentation for six weeks, at room temperature. Its L color gradually decreased, but its a and b colors did not change significantly. Its salinity increased by about 1% after six weeks. In contrast, immediately after its preparation, its pH was gradually decreased and its acidity was increased for the fermentation. The reducing sugar was significantly increased from 1.34~1.88 g/100 g immediately after its preparation to 7.25~9.13 g/100 g after six weeks, which was higher as the salt concentration decreased. The amino-type nitrogen doubled from 100~130 mg% at 0 week to 210~290 mg% at six weeks, which were lower with the higher salt concentrations. The growth curve of the Bacillus fermentation strains of Doenjang increased to two weeks but gradually decreased since, and the growth of the Bacillus was favorable for up to two weeks in the Doenjang with 10% and 12% salt added. Otherwise, the yeast was reduced rapidly during the early fermentation of the Doenjang, and slightly changed after three weeks of fermentation. The results of this study showed that the reducing sugar and amino-type nitrogen contents of the low-salt garlic Doenjang were higher with the lower salt dose, and the physicochemical quality of the 6%-salt Doenjang was not significantly affected. Thus, we suggest that low-salt Doenjang can be manufactured with the addition of 6% salt and 10% garlic.