Effects of preservation methods on geosmin content and off-flavor in nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus)

In this study, the masking or reduction of off-flavor in tilapia due to various preservation methods such as salting, drying, frying, smoking, microwave heating, marinating and fermentation with carbohydrate mixture (som fak preparation) was investigated by subjecting the processed tilapia to sensory evaluation and analyzing the concentrations of geosmin (1,10-trans-dimethyl-trans-9-decaol) in the processed samples. Dry salting or brining muddy-flavored fish and then drying either by hot air at 50°C or sun-drying resulted to only a slight reduction in the geosmin content of the product. Deep-frying reduced the muddy flavor intensity and geosmin content in salted-dried tilapia. Pretreatment of tilapia fillets with acidified brine before smoking reduced geosmin content and masked the muddy flavor in the smoked product. Microwave cooking of fresh muddy-flavored tilapia showed no effect on its geosmin content nor its off-flavor. Marinating tilapia in acetic acid solution resulted in decreased muddy flavor, and longer marinating period led to lower geosmin content in the product. The geosmin content of som fak made from muddy-flavor and non-muddy-flavor tilapia differed significantly, although sensory evaluation yielded no significant differences between the two types of som fak, and the taste panelists preferred the product fermented for 3 days. © 2000 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.