Abstract: In the present study, the effect of the interaction between wheat starch and gluten on oil distribution in deep-fried battered and breaded fish nuggets (BBFNs) from silver carp surimi was investigated. Deep-fried BBFNs were prepared using batters consisting of wheat starch (WS) and gluten (WG) blends (at mass ratios of 15:1, 13:1, 11:1, 9:1 and 7:1), and then the surface hydrophobicity (H0), free sulfydryl content, disulfide bond content, secondary structure of WG and the crystalline structure of WS in the crust, as well as the surface oil and penetrated surface oil contents of deep-fried BBFNs were evaluated. The microstructure and oil distribution in the crust were also observed. The results showed that as the WS/WG ratio decreased, the H0 value increased firstly then decreased, and the free sulfydryl and disulfide bond contents gradually decreased and increased, respectively. Meanwhile, the β-turn structure of WG was gradually converted into β-sheet, and the surface oil and penetrated surface oil contents of deep-fried BBFNs as well as the relative crystallinity of WS decreased firstly then increased. The size of pores in the crust and oil distribution decreased at first and then increased. Among the tested WS/WG ratios, deep-fried BBFNs with a WS/WG ratio of 11:1 had the highest H0 (8 990), and the lowest surface oil (2.1%) and penetrated surface oil contents (5.8%), and the lowest relative crystallinity of WS (17.8%), and the crust exhibited the most compact microstructure and the least oil distribution. Therefore, the interaction between WS and WG is affected by changes in WS/WG ratio, which can in turn affect oil distribution in deep-fried BBFNs.

Key words: wheat starch; wheat gluten; deep-fried battered and breaded fish nuggets from silver carp surimi; deep-fat frying; oil distribution