Enhancing Fermented Sausage Quality with Weissella hellenica, Lactobacillus sakei, and Pediococcus pentosaceus.
- 2026-03-09
- Gels (Basel, Switzerland) 12(3)
- PubMed: 41892544
- DOI: 10.3390/gels12030222
Study Design
- Population
- Sausages inoculated with the compound fermenter group were compared with control group (naturally fermented)
- Methods
- Compared sausages inoculated with a compound fermenter group (<i>Weissella hellenica</i>, <i>Lactobacillus sakei</i>, and <i>Pediococcus pentosaceus</i>) with a naturally fermented control group over 90-day frozen storage using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses
The natural fermentation of sausages often results in inconsistent gel texture and flavor stability. This study introduces a compound fermenter group (Weissella hellenica, Lactobacillus sakei, and Pediococcus pentosaceus) to improve the quality of fermented sausages. The aim was to evaluate its flavor-modulating and quality-preserving effects, addressing the research gap in applying these microbial synergies in fermented meats. Sausages inoculated with the compound fermenter group were compared with control group (naturally fermented) over 90-day frozen storage using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses. The results showed that the compound fermenter group enhanced protein gel network stability (increased hardness and chewiness; reduced moisture loss), enriched the volatile aroma profile, with an 8.7% increase in the variety of flavor compounds and no detected lipid oxidation-derived off-flavor aldehydes (e.g., trans-2-nonenal), and improved oxidative and microbial stability (lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total volatile basic nitrogen values; total viable counts within safety limits), with consistently higher sensory scores. The compound fermenter group effectively coordinates proteolysis, gelation, and flavor metabolism, offering a promising strategy for producing high-quality fermented meat gels with optimized texture and extended shelf life.
Research Insights
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