ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two commonly used essential oils after treatment with anodic electrolyzed NaCl solution in order to extend the shelf life of coated semifried tuna slices. Samples of tuna slices were treated with 100-fold electrolyzed water and coated with an edible solution containing 1% essential oil (0.5% eugenol [E] plus 0.5% linalool [L]). The coated slices were fried at 170 degrees C for 1 min and then stored at 5 and 25 degrees C. Total volatile basic nitrogen of slices treated with electrolyzed water and 1% (E+L) decreased from 15.5 for the nontreated control slices to 9.7 immediately after treatment and remained at a low level (<30) until the end of the storage period (day 20). Treatment with 1% (E+L) significantly suppressed lipid oxidation in coated semifried tuna. Sensory evaluation and microbiological assays showed that treatment with electrolyzed water and 1% (E+L) extended the shelf life of coated semifried slices to 15 and 2 days compared with 5 and 1 days for control slices during storage at 5 and 25 degrees C, respectively.
