Influences of ultrasonic-assisted frying on the flavor characteristics of fried meatballs

In order to investigate the influences of ultrasonic-assisted frying on the flavor characteristics of fried meatballs, different ultrasound powers (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 W) were applied during frying (12 min, 160 degrees C). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free fatty acids (FFAs), free amino acids (FAAs), 5'-ribonucleotides and electronic nose data were measured. Results demonstrated that ultrasonic treatment significantly increased TBARS and decreased Sigma FFAs (p < 0.05), thus accelerating FFAs oxidation and further promoting volatiles generation. Meanwhile, ultrasonic-assisted frying increased the contents of 7 FAAs including Lys, Glu, Gly, Ala, Tyr, Ser and Cys in all ultrasonic groups and had a positive effect on nucleotides formation within 400 W. These results were further confirmed by electronic nose analysis. The current study shows that ultrasonic-assisted frying could be a potential approach to improve the overall flavor of fried meatballs. Industrial relevance: Ultrasound, as an emerging and green technology, is a safety and effective tool for food processing industry. It is considered as an excellent alternative in meat processing. Ultrasonic-assisted frying has been scarcely applied in the processing of meatballs. This study demonstrated that the flavor quality of meatballs improved a lot by ultrasonic treatment, which could be an ideal reference to optimize its application in meat industry.