Quality enhancement in refrigerated tiger tooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) fillets using chitosan coating containing green tea extract

The effects of chitosan (2%) coating combined with green tea extract (GTE) (1%) on the quality of tiger-tooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) fillets including chemical, microbiological, texture, color and sensory properties during 16 days of refrigerated storage was investigated. The color changes were significantly retared, and the texture parameteres and sensory scores were significantly improved in tiger- tooth croaker coated by chitosan, GTE and chitosan combined with GTE, compared with the control. The coincidental lowered rate of increase total volatile base (TVB) content, thiobarbitoric acid (TBA), peroxide value (POV) and free fatty acids (FFA) were obtained in tiger-tooth croaker coated chitosan+GTE. Chitosan in combination with GTE had higher inhibition on microbial growth and yielded the tigertooth croaker with higher likeness, comapared with the other treatments. Therefore, fish coated with chitosan+GTE had the lowest losses in quality during refrigerated storage.