Lipolysis and aroma generation as mechanisms involved in masking boar taint in sodium reduced fermented sausages inoculated with Debaryomyces hansenii yeast.

BACKGROUND: The use of boar back fat for processing of fermented sausages may cause the presence of abnormal odours. In dry-cured products, ripening time is essential to develop the sensory characteristics. Yeast has been proposed as an alternative to mask boar taint odour through its metabolic activity but it is necessary to elucidate which mechanisms are involved. The aim is to study the effect of Debaryomyces hansenii inoculation on the lipolysis process and generation of aroma compounds in fermented sausages manufactured with boar back fat at two different ripening times.

RESULTS: D. hansenii inoculated sausages had a higher degree of lipolysis as demonstrated by higher content of free fatty acids, ester compounds and branched aldehydes which contribute the fruity odour. The increase in lipolysis produced by D. hansenii inoculation was not followed by an increase in oxidation during processing possibly due to the metabolic activity of yeast. The effect of back fat type was scarcely appreciated whereas ripening time had a stronger effect on sausage. Boar sausages were characterised by a lower polyunsaturated fatty acid profile and lesser lipolysis than gilt sausages.

CONCLUSION: Yeast inoculation with D. hansenii and long ripening time were appropriate strategies to limit the perception of boar taint in dry fermented sausages. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.