Wheat fiber as a functional ingredient in restructured fish products

The technological effect of wheat fiber as an ingredient in minced fish was tested. Thus 3% and 6% of wheat fiber with different size particles were added to minced hake (Merluccius merluccius) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) muscle and water was also added to maintain the original moisture of the sample. The addition of fiber increased the water holding capacity (WHC). The water binding capacity (WBC) also increased, but only when water was not added to maintain the moisture constant. The cooking drip was lower when 3% or 6% of fiber was added. In general, when the drip was released by gravity, the 250 mu m particle fiber bound more water than the 80 mu m particle fiber, but when the water was extracted by a centrifugal force the opposite was observed. Restructured products with fiber were whiter and their rigidity and cohesiveness were lower. Products with 3% of fiber were well rated by the sensory panel, unlike the products with 6% of fiber. No unusual flavors were apparent when the wheat fiber was added. The effect of fiber as a stabilizing agent on protein and lipid was not apparent, either. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.