The effect of frozen storage on the functional properties of the muscle of volador (Illex coindetii)

Functional properties of muscle proteins of volador (Illex coindetii) were evaluated during frozen storage and classified according to gender and anatomical part of the animal. Solubility of protein in 5% NaCl, in all lots, showed a significant increase in the initial months and then a decrease. This solubility was generally greater in the mantles than in the arms. The viscosity was initially very high and fell rapidly, and there were no significant differences between the lots. This initial viscosity was greater in the arm lots than in the mantle ones. Likewise, extracts of the muscle of the arms also had the greatest initial emulsifying capacity values (P⩽0.05). Soluble collagen, in an acid medium-exhibited a similar trend in all lots, throughout frozen storage. At the early stages of storage, soluble collagen remained stable or increased slightly, and then tended to become insoluble. The lowest solubilities were for the muscles of the arms. Myofibrillar protein and collagen solubilities, as well as emulsifying capacities were effective for detecting molecular changes in the proteins during frozen storage and results showed that, the volador mantles were more suited to frozen storage than the arms.