Pink discoloration and quality changes of squid (Loligo formosana) during iced storage

Pink discoloration and quality changes of squid (6–10 squids/kg) with and without deskinning during iced storage at different squid/ice ratios (1:1 and 1:2, w/w) for 16 days were investigated. The increases in a* and b*-values of squid mantle were observed with increasing storage time (p < 0.05), indicating the formation of pink color on the mantle. The increase was more pronounced in squid without deskinning with a squid/ice ratio of 1:1 (p < 0.05). No changes in a*-value were observed in deskinned squid throughout the storage, regardless of squid/ice ratio (p > 0.05). However, the slight increase in b*-value was found in the squid with deskinning during the storage. Psychrophilic bacteria counts of squid increased continuously as the storage time increased. Coincidental increases in total volatile base (TVB), trimethylamine (TMA) and ammonia contents were observed during the storage. The rates of increase were greater in the samples with a squid/ice ratio of 1:1 than those found in the samples kept in ice with a squid/ice ratio of 1:2. Pink discoloration, psychrophilic bacteria count, TVB and TMA contents were much lowered when the squid without deskinning was treated with 0.1 g/100 mL sodium azide (NaN3) prior to storage, suggesting that microbial growth was associated with those changes. Therefore, deskinning together with icing using a sufficient amount of ice as well as the use of safe antimicrobial agent could be a means to lower the pink discoloration and retard the losses in quality of squid stored in ice.