Quality Characteristics of Bijijang in Different Fermentation Conditions

Changes in quality characteristics of Bijijang (fermented soybean curd residus) prepared at for 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr were investigated. Acidity of Bijijang increased, whereas pH and Hunter's color values decreased during fermentation. Immediately after Bijijang preparation, activities were very low, activity during fermentation increased rapidly, with those fermented at higher than at . Neutral pretense activity was significantly higher than acidic pretense activity, and increased gradually after 12 hr. Change in total nitrogen content in Bijijang was insignificant, whereas contents of amino-type and water-soluble nitrogens increased significantly during fermentation. Major free amino acids of Bijijang were Arg, Pro, Glu, Thr, Ser, and Lys at initial fermenting stage, and, as fermentation progressed, contents of Cys, Met Glu, Ile, Leu, and Phe increased. Reducing sugar contents of Bijijang fermented at were higher than those fermented at . Sucrose content decreased and glucose content increased. Glucoside (genistin and daidzin) contents decreased and aglycone (genistein and daidzein) contents increased during preparation of Biji and fermentation of Bijijang. Contents of free sugars and isoflavones were higher in Bijijang fermented at than at . Based on these results, fermentation at for 48 hr was determined to be optimum fermentation condition for Bijijang.