The objective of this study was to evaluate physical properties and structural changes of myofibrillar protein gels with basil seed gum (BSG) at different salt levels and develop the low-salt sausages with BSG. Myofibrillar protein (MP) gels were prepared with or without BSG at different salt concentrations (0.15, 0.30, and 0.45 M). Cooking yield (CY, %), gel strength (GS, gf), viscosity, sulfhydryl contents, protein surface hydrophobicity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of MP were measured. Pork sausages were manufactured with 1% BSG at both low-salt (1.0%) and regular-salt (1.5%) levels. pH, color, expressible moisture (EM, %), CY, textural profile analyses, FTIR, sulfhydryl group, and protein surface hydrophobicity (μg) were measured for analyzing the properties of sausages. The addition of 1% BSG to MP gels increased CY and shear stress. Among treatments with different salt concentrations, MP at 0.30 M salt level with 1% BSG had higher GS than that at 0.15 M salt level with BSG. In microstructure, swollen structures were shown in MP gels with BSG. Although CY of sausage at the low-salt concentration (1.0%) decreased, regardless of the BSG addition, hardness values of sausages with regular-salt level increased with the addition of 1% BSG was added. Protein surface hydrophobicity and sulfhydryl contents of sausages increased with the addition of 1% BSG, resulting in higher hardness and lower springiness than those without BSG. These results suggest that BSG could be used as a water-binding and gelling agent in processed meats.
Physical Properties and Structural Changes of Myofibrillar Protein Gels Prepared with Basil Seed Gum at Different Salt Levels and Application to Sausages