This study was attempt to improve the quality of rapid- and low salt-fermented liquefaction of sardine (Sardinops melanoslicta). Effect of pretreatment methods such as water adding, heating, and intermittent NaCl adding on fermented liquefaction of chopped whole sardine were investigated. The divisions of the experimental samples by pretreatment methods were as follows; Sample A (water adding and heating): chopped whole sardine adding 20% water and then adding 3 and 5% NaCl consecutively at the intervals of 3 and 6 hrs during heating for 9 hrs at 50℃ and then fermented at 33℃ for 90 days. Sample B (preheating): chopped whole sardine with 8% NaCl and heating at 50℃ for 9 hrs and then fermented at 33℃ for 90 days. Sample C (control): neither pretreatment methods of water adding nor preheating on chopped whole sardine with 13% NaCl and then fermented at 33℃ for 90 days. Comparison of the appropriate fermentation period, yield of hydrolysate, chemical composition of fermented liquefied products were carried out. The highest content of amino nitrogen appeared at 60 days in the sample A, 75 days in the sample B, and 90 days in the sample C during the fermentation period. The appropriate fermentation period of the sample A was shorten 15 days than the sample B and 30 days than the sample C in the processing of sardine. The product A was lower NaCl (8.5%) and lower histamine content (25mg/100g) than the sample B and C. Possibly, three kinds of pretreatment methods such as water adding, heating, and intermittent NaCl adding, might be recommend as the processing of rapid- and low salt-fermented liquefaction product of chopped whole sardine.

As a part of investigation to use sardine(Sardinops melanoslicta) more effectively as a food source, this study was undertaken the processing condition of rapid- and low salt-fermented liquefaction of sardine. To prepare rapid fermented products, the chopped whole sardine was added 8% NaCl and then preheating treatment at 40℃, 45℃ and 50℃ in the manufactured fermenter(180L) for 9 hrs, and then fermentation at 33℃ for 90 days. The chemical changes such as amino nitrogen(amino-N), volatile basic nitrogen(VBN), and histamine in the hydrolysates of fermented sardine were analyzed as well as viable cell count and organoleptic evaluation during fermentation to compare the quality between control and preheating samples. During fermenting, the amino-N in the hydrolysates increased rapidly during the first 30 days and slowly thereafter. The highest content of amino-N appeared at 75 days in control sample and 60~75 days in preheating samples. The changes of VBN in the hydrolysates increased rapidly during first 15 days in control samples and 30 days in preheating samples. However they were generally low level in preheating samples. Histamine content in the hydrolysates of the control samples increased markedly after 15 days, but preheating samples were generally low level, and then 75~90 days of fermentation reached to the maximum which was about 2.0~3.0 times lower than that of control samples. As for the organoleptic flavor evaluation, the control and preheating at 40℃ samples were unpleasant odor after 15 and 60 days, respectively. But preheating at 45˚ and 50˚ samples were fresh odor after 90 days fermentation.

In order to establish the processing condition of salt-fermented liquefaction of sardine (Sardinops melanoslicta), effect of temperature, pH value, and concentration of salinity on crude enzyme activity of sardine viscera were investigated. The optimum temperature range of crude enzyme activity in sardine viscera was 45~50℃ and the optimum pH value of it was 9.8. According to the concentration of salinity increased the crude enzyme activity in sardine viscera decreased. The relationship between concentration of salinity (X) and the crude enzyme activity (Y) in sardine viscera is shown as follows; Y=-0.01363X+0.7676 (r=-0.88). For the purpose of processing conditions of rapid- and low salt-fermented liquefaction of sardine, changes of viable cell count, histamine content, and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) in the chopped whole sardine with 8% NaCl during preheating process at 40˚, 45˚ and 50℃ for 48 hrs were analyzed. During preheating, initial viable cell counts of chopped whole sardine were 104-7/g, but they decreased 101-5/g after 48 hrs. Histamine contents during preheating process at 40˚ and 45℃ were gradually increased, whereas at 50℃ were almost the same level after 48 hrs. VBN contents were continuously increased during preheating, but preheating at 50℃ samples were lower level than that of 40˚ and 45℃ ones. For the purpose to accelerate the fermentation and liquefaction of chopped whole sardine, preheating at optimum temperature of crude enzyme activity for 48 hrs was useful processing method and the contents of viable cell count, histamine, and VBN were safety level for food sanitation.