Influences of hot air drying and microwave drying on nutritional and odorous properties of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fillets

Hot air drying and microwave drying were applied to dry fish fillets made of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), and the correlative influences on nutritional and odorous properties were evaluated by proximate composition, protein solubility, amino acid composition, fatty acid composition, peroxide value, anisidine value, and odour evaluation. Drying resulted in a significant increase of protein but reduced fat content. There was lack of negative influence of the drying process on the amino acid composition of grass carp fillets. Both saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid contents decreased, while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased by an average of 23.8% after drying. Microwave-dried samples showed lower fat loss, higher protein solubility, and lower anisidine values than hot air-dried samples. There was no significant difference in odour quality between hot air-dried and microwave-dried samples. The present study provides a possible application of microwave drying as an efficient drying process for fish fillets.