Characterization of Cantonese sausage fermented by a mixed starter culture

L. plantarum, P. pentosaceus, and D. hansenii isolated from Cantonese sausage were investigated for their potential as a mixed starter culture with the capability to improve sausage quality. Results unveiled that Cantonese sausage produced with the mixed starter culture exhibited low nitrite residue and low-fat content advantages over fermented sausage without starter culture. Different fermentation time possessed different influence on physicochemical parameters, free amino acids (FAAs) composition and textural characteristics of Cantonese fermented sausage. Within 24 hrs fermentation, Cantonese sausage fermented by the mixed starter culture enjoyed soft texture with relatively high titratable acidity (6.98 ± 0.02 g/kg), FAAs contents (1,893.2 mg/100 g dry basis) and low nitrite residue (33.3 ± 0.15 mg/kg). These findings indicated that the combination of those strains could be used as a mixed starter culture for Cantonese fermented sausage. Practical applications Cantonese sausage is one of the most popular Chinese-style cured meat products. However, ripening process of traditional sausages belongs to fermentation without starter culture, which hardly guarantees product quality and safety. This study provides a novel mixed starter culture for sausage production and results verified its priority over improving sausage quality.