The effects of edible chitosan-based coatings on flavor quality of raw grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fillets during refrigerated storage

•The flavor quality of fillets treated with chitosan-based coatings was studied.•Chitosan-based coatings maintained the sensory quality of fillets.•Coating treatments significantly reduced off-flavors.•Clove bud essential oil addition reduced volatile oxidation productions of refrigerated fillets. This study investigated the effects of chitosan-based coatings on flavor retention of refrigerated grass carp fillets by using various indicators: free amino acids (FAA), nucleotides, trimethylamine (TMA), volatile profile, sensory quality, and electronic nose analysis. The results indicated that chitosan-based coatings contributed to the significant reduction of off-flavor compounds, such as TMA, hypoxanthine (Hx) and histidine, and accumulation of inosine monophosphate (IMP) and umami-associated FAA. GC–MS analysis showed 23 volatile organic compounds, including many C5–C9 aldehydes and alcohols in the fresh fillets. The coating treatments, especially chitosan-clove bud essential oil composite coatings, sharply reduced the relative content of off-odor volatiles, such as hexanal, octanal and 1-octen-3-ol. According to the results of the sensory evaluation and electronic nose analyses, chitosan coating combined with glycerol monolaurate and clove bud essential oil was a promising method to improve the edibility of grass carp fillets by maintaining flavor quality during refrigerated storage.