Effect of frozen storage on the quality and shelflife of mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala)

Abstract

Indian major carps contribute to the major share in the aquaculture of different fish species in India. Mirgal is one among the Indian Major Carps. In the present study, the quality of mrigal was evaluated during frozen storage to estimate the shelflife. In order to achieve the objective the changes in proximate composition, physicochemical parameters, microbial quality and sensory analysis were conducted. From the results it was observed that during frozen storage, the moisture content increased and the crude protein, lipid and ash contents decreased continuously. The pH value of fish increased initially up to 60th day of frozen storage and then decreased till the end of storage. TMA-N and TVB-N showed an increasing trend throughout the storage period. The water holding capacity decreased continuously with increase in storage period. The lipid freshness parameters (PV, TBA and FFA) increased during the entire period of storage. The microbial load decreased with increase in storage time. During frozen storage, TPC counts decreased while the psychrophilic counts increased. From the results it was concluded that mrigal had a shelflife of 165 days during frozen storage.