Abstract: In the present study, neutral electrolytic water was used to reduce bacterial counts and enhance the preservation of chilled fresh grass carp meat. Changes in the quality, texture and myofibrillar structure of the fish meat were determined during storage at 4 ℃. The results showed that neutral electrolyzed water could reduce the changes in the numbers of total bacteria and Pseudomona, pH, TVB-N and TBA in the fish meat during storage, and hence prolong the shelf-life period by 4 days. Meanwhile, neutral electrolyzed water could significantly reduce the degradation of fish myofibrils and in turn alleviate the changes in textural characteristics such as hardness, elasticity and resilience when compared with the control and bactericideⅠ. On the 6th day of storage, hardness, elasticity and resilience of the fish meat treated with natural electrolyzed water were 1.23, 2.13 and 1.83 folds higher, respectively, when compared with the control samples. Moreover, the myofibrillar structure of the sample treated with natural electrolyzed water was longer and arranged more regularly. Therefore, natural electrolyzed water treatment can effectively alleviate the changes in the quality and texture of grass carp meat during chilled storage. This finding will provide a theoretical reference for the development of preservation technologies for fresh fish.

Key words: neutral electrolyzed water, chilled fresh grass carp, quality, texture, shelf life