Effect of the addition of pancreatic lipase on the ripening of dry-fermented sausages - Part 1. Microbial, physico-chemical and lipolytic changes.

The effect of the addition of nine different amounts (3-500 units) of pancreatic lipase on the microbial and physico-chemical parameters and lipid fractions during the ripening of dry fermented sausages has been studied. No differences between conventional and lipase-added sausages were found for pH, dry matter and water activity. The addition of lipase caused a greater accumulation of products resulting from the triglyceride breakdown, mainly diglycerides and free fatty acids (FFA). The maximum rate of lipolysis was observed during the first week of the ripening process, specially in the fermentation phase. The greater the pancreatic lipase added, the higher lipolysis observed. At the end of the ripening, the levels of total FFA were clearly higher (1·5 to 5-fold) in all lipase-added batches than in the controls. This fact gave rise to the accumulation of a great amount of FFA, which can contribute either by themselves to the flavour of the sausage or can be available as substrates for further transformations which may generate other flavour compounds.