Biochemical and Organoleptic Assessment of Asian Stinging Catfish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) in Two Storage Conditions

The proximate composition, rigor-index, organoleptic quality, and pH of Asian stinging catfish stored at iced condition (SIC) and stored at ambient temperature (SAT) were studied. Rigor mortis for both ice and ambient temperature started immediately after death and the rigor-index was maximum 82.35 % and 63.42% at 4 hrs and 8 hrs storage in SIC and SAT, respectively. Fish SIC showed a remarkably extended maximum rigor-index period of 14 hrs and 2 hrs in fish SIC and SAT, respectively. Fish SIC showed post-rigor period for upto 30 hrs, it was shorter in fish SAT for 18 hrs, though in both storage the rigor-index of the fish did not ceased completely. The moisture, protein, lipid, and ash content of fresh, SIC and SAT fish were 77.30%, 75.57%, and 78.81%, 15.04%, 15.34%, and 14.42%, 6.10%, 6.30%, and 3.47%, 1.99%, 2.67%, and 2.95%, respectively. The initial pH of fresh fish muscle was 6.89 which decreased to 6.32 and 6.12 after 18 hrs in fish SIC and SAT, respectively. The organoleptic quality assessment was in acceptable condition up to 12 days in fish SIC whereas a very short period of 10 hrs at fish SAT. Considering the findings of present study, it is highly recommended to store Asian stinging catfish at iced condition for maintaining shelf-life and quality.