Fat and sodium chloride reduction in sausages using kappa-carrageenan and other salts

Fat and sodium chloride were reduced in a sausage formulation including kappa-carrageenan and other salts, as potassium and calcium chloride, in different concentrations, in order to compensate the ionic strength during myofibrillar protein extraction and solubilisation, and to promote the carrageenan stable conformation and gelation. Four different treatments were employed reducing fat from 15 to 10% and sodium chloride from 2.5 to 1.5% and 1%. Potassium chloride was added at 0.5% to all the treatments, and calcium chloride to 0.5% and 0.01% in the last two. The cooking yield was higher for all the treatments but expressible moisture was not significantly different, meaning that the water is not chemically entrapped by carrageenan at the ionic strength conditions employed. However, since no detrimental cooking losses or fat release were detected, myofibrillar proteins maintain a good functionality at these conditions together with kappa-carrageenan. Low-fat sodium-reduced treatment results were slightly darker but redder than the control, probably due to less fat in the formulation. Textural profile analysis demonstrated that, at the fat level employed and the different sodium, potassium and calcium chloride concentrations, similar textures could be created. Sensory analysis indicated that from the formulations employed, 1.5% NaCl with 0.5% KCl and 0.01% CaCl(2) was similar in controlling flavour (juiciness) and texture (hardness). These results established the possibility to reduce significantly the fat and sodium chloride content employing kappa-carrageenan with potassium and calcium chloride, without detrimental effects on texture and sensory characteristics.