Quality characteristics of sauerkraut fermented by using a Lactobacillus paracasei starter culture grown in tofu whey.

The quality parameters of sauerkraut fermented using Lactobacillus paracasei in terms of its lactic acid bacteria count, texture, colour and biochemical properties were studied. As a starter culture L. paracasei grown in tofu whey was used for sauerkraut fermentation. The experiments were planned using central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology for input variables - culture volume (ml), fermentation time (days) and salt concentration (g/100 g). The linear and interactive effect of variables on responses was understood by statistically significant (p < 0.01) second-order models. Amongst all the input variables culture volume was found to have an overwhelming effect over all the responses. There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the lactic acid bacteria count of finished product; it was less hard but there was a departure in colour from the traditional product. The optimized condition for sauerkraut fermentation in terms of culture volume (ml), fermentation time (day) and salt concentration (g/100 g) was 30 ml, 28 days and 1 g/100 g, respectively. It was also observed that phenolics content was better in starter culture sauerkraut over the one traditionally prepared.