Effect of frozen storage on emulsifying properties of actomyosin from mantle and fins of squid (Illex argentinus)

Abstract

The emulsifying properties of actomyosin (AM) of mantle and fins obtained periodically from frozenstored squid were investigated. Oil in water (O/W) emulsions and their stability were studied by optical characterisation. Both emulsions showed that the initial backscattering (BS) decreased after 3 months of frozen storage. O/W emulsions formulated with AM of squid mantle showed certain stability during the first 20 min, and presented destabilisation during the remaining analysed time, reaching a 20% of BS, approximately. However, for emulsions formulated with AM of fins, the BS diminution was recorded between 30 and 45 min, indicating a higher stability as a function of time with respect to the mantle. The size distribution of emulsions prepared after short times of storage presented three droplet size populations. With increasing the time of frozen storage, the size distribution changed from trimodal to bimodal: the large population decreased until it disappeared and the population with medium size increased at long time of frozen storage. The emulsions formulated with AM of squid fins presented a similar behaviour than emulsions of mantle. QuickScan profiles allowed discriminating creaming and coalescence processes to both emulsions mainly at short time of frozen storage. The emulsion prepared with AM from squid fins was further flocculated than emulsion of mantle. Actomyosin from fin squid exhibits the best properties as emulsifier agents of O/W emulsions. These results suggest that a short frozen-storage period can favour the emulsifying properties of actomyosin obtained from squid mantle and fins. On the other hand, the structure of flocs would affect positively the stability of emulsions.