Effects of multi-frequency ultrasound-assisted immersion freezing processing on myofibrillar protein structure and lipid oxidation of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) during long-time frozen storage.

In this study, large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) was frozen using multi-frequency ultrasound-assisted freezing (MUIF) with different powers (160 W, 175 W, and 190 W, respectively) and stored at -18 °C for ten months. The effect of different ultrasound powers on the myofibrillar protein (MP) structures and lipid oxidation of large yellow croaker was investigated. The results showed that MUIF significantly slowed down the oxidation of MP by inhibiting carbonyl formation and maintaining high sulfhydryl contents. These treatments also held a high activity of Ca2+-ATPase in the MP. MUIF maintained a higher ratio of α-helix to β-sheet during frozen storage, thereby protecting the secondary structure of the tissue and stabilizing the tertiary structure. In addition, MUIF inhibited the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value and the loss of unsaturated fatty acid content, indicating that MUIF could better inhibit lipid oxidation of large yellow croaker during long-time frozen storage.