Effect of enzymatic fish‐scrap protein hydrolysate on gel‐forming ability and denaturation of lizard fish Saurida wanieso surimi during frozen storage

Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was prepared from fish scrap of five marine species by enzymatic treatment for the effective utilization of fish wastes. The major components of the FPH were peptide (82.3–85.8%) with other nitrogenous compounds (11.5–16.3%). Lizard fish Saurida wanieso surimi containing FPH (5.0%, dried weight/wet weight) was stored at −25°C and the suppressive effects of FPH on the decrease in the gel‐forming ability, unfrozen water content and Ca‐ATPase activity were determined during the frozen storage. FPH maintained a high gel‐forming ability and Ca‐ATPase activity were determined during the frozen storage. FPH also suppressed the decrease of unfrozen water content of surimi. These results suggest that FPH can be used as a cryoprotectant to suppress the denaturation of muscle protein of lizard fish surimi during frozen storage.