Establishment of quality predictive models for bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) fillets during storage at different temperatures

Quality predictive models were developed to predict the freshness of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) fillets during storage at different temperatures. Quality indices [sensory score, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), total aerobic counts (TAC) and K value] at -3, 0, 3, 9 and 15 degrees C were estimated and kinetically modelled by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy (EA) of sensory score, TVB-N, TAC and K value was 78.17, 75.93, 106.53 and 76.21 kJ mol-1, and the corresponding rate constants (k0) were 1.16 x 1015, 2.60 x 1014, 4.05 x 1019 and 1.36 x 1015. The high regression coefficients (R2 > 0.87) indicated the acceptability of the zero-order reaction for sensory score, TVB-N, TAC and K value. Relative errors between predicted and observed freshness indicators values of sensory score, TVB-N, TAC and K value were all below 10% except the values at 6th day of K value, 3rd day and 9th day of TVB-N. These results indicated that the models based on sensory score, TVB-N, TAC and K value could effectively predict the freshness indicators of bighead carp fillets at the range of -3 to 15 degrees C.