The role of molecular size in antioxidant activity of peptide fractions from Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) hydrolysates

► Hake hydrolysates demonstrated good antioxidant activities. ► Hake hydrolysates inhibited lipid peroxidation in a model system. ► Peptides with size <1400 Da showed highest ABTS radical scavenging activity. ► Protease-dependent peptide composition affected lipid peroxidation inhibition. ► Lipid peroxidation inhibition by Validase BNP-L hydrolysate did not depend on size.