Changes in K Value, Microbiological and Sensory Acceptability of High Pressure Processed Indian White Prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus)

Abstract

Indian white prawns headless and with shell on were vacuum packed in ethylene-vinyl alcohol pouches and subjected to high pressure treatment of 100, 270, 435 and 600 MPa at 25 °C for 5 min. Subsequently the treated samples were stored in ice along with control. The samples were periodically analysed to study the changes in total viable count, total Enterobacteriaceae count, K value and overall acceptability. Total viable count, total Enterobacteriaceae count and K value reduced proportionately with increasing high pressure treatment. However, K value and total viable count showed an increasing trend during chill storage whereas total Enterobacteriaceae decreased. No significant difference in K value was observed between control and 100 MPa, while higher pressure treated samples showed a significant difference. However, among the treatments 270 MPa was found to have better sensory acceptability.