Abstract:

In order to provide technological supports for production and distribution, high-temperature ham sausages with different grades were selected as the experimental materials to investigate the changes of texture characteristics during storage at normal atmospheric temperature. Results indicated that the hardness, brittleness and chewiness of high-temperature ham sausages exhibited a trend of initial increase and then decrease during storage, finally reached the maximum value at the storage period of 90 days. The cohesiveness revealed a stable tendency during storage and an increase at the storage period of 180 days. The adhesiveness of premium ham sausage exhibited a trend of initial decrease and then increase; in contrast, the adhesiveness of excellent and general class ham sausage revealed an overall increase trend. The springiness of premium and excellent ham sausage was reduced at the storage period of 90 days, and then increased at the late storage period; however, the springiness of general class ham sausage with lower value exhibited a big fluctuation. In general, the texture of premium and excellent ham sausage remained the stable characteristics in early and late stages during storage; to contrary, the texture of general class ham sausage had a remarkable change during storage stage.

Key words: high-temperature ham sausage, storage, texture