FERMENTED –DRY SAUSAGE (SUCUK) Dr. HüseyinBOZKURT University of Gaziantep

Sausages are usually defined as comminuted seasoned meats, stuffed into casings; they may be smoked, cured, fermented and heated.

INGREDIENTS • MEAT: Meats used for sausages must be –fresh, –completed rigor-mortis phase –high quality, –with very low microbial counts, –good color,

Composition of Meat • Water 65-80 % • Protein 16-22 % – Myofibrillic protein (9.5 %) • Actin • Myosin – Sarcoplasmic protein (6.0 %) • Myoglobin • Hemoglobin – Stroma proteins (3.0 %) • Collogen, elastine • Fat 1.5- 13.0 % – Phospholipids, cholsterol • Carbohydrate 0.5-1.5 % – Glycogen and glucose

SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE): Salt provides – flavors, – essential in solubilizing muscle proteins, – decrease the moisture, – improve yield, – influence textural characteristics.

NITRITE AND NITRATE: Nitrite has several functions on meat products; 1. forms a bright red-pink color, 2. gains flavor and aroma, 3. prevents rancidity, 4. prevents growth of pathogenic microorganism,

ASCORBATE AND ERYTHORBATE • These reductants react with nitrite to give nitric oxide, thus –fastening development of the pink-red color in cured sausages. • Prevent formation of nitrosamines

SUGAR • Sugar is added to meat as an adjunct –to counteract the salty taste, –to give flavor –to serve as a substrate for bacterial acid production in dry and semidry sausages.

SPICES • Spices are aromatic vegetable substances in whole, broken or ground form. • Spices may be added as natural spices or spices exracts. • They are used to –give flavor (allspice, garlic) –give color (red pepper)

PHOSPHATES • Phosphates are used to –give a phosphate source to microorganisms –increase the fermentation rate –buffering activity • Some examples: sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, dissodium phosphate etc..

FERMENTED SAUSAGE TYPES • 1. SEMIDRY SAUSAGES: Semidry sausages differ greatly from dry sausages; • By their high moisture content • By their pronounced “tangy” flavor of forced fermentation resulting in lactic acid accumulation

2. DRY SAUSAGES • The organoleptic and other properties of dry sausages depend upon; –The products of sugar bacterial fermentation –And strongly influenced by biochemical and physical changes occurring during the long drying or ripening process.

EXAMPLES OF FERMENTED SAUSAGES • SUMMER SAUSAGES • AIR-DRIED SAUSAGES • PEPPERONI • PORK AND BEEF CHORIZOS • BEEF SALAMIS • TURKISH AND ORIENTAL STYLE RAW BEEF SAUSAGES • LANDJAEGERS

Sucuk • Sucuk is a fermented dry meat product. • Minced meat and fat are mixed with salt, sugar, spices, and little amount of other additional substances. • These are filled into natural or artificial casing. • Then, at specific temperature and moisture content they are ripened and dried.

Some Examples of Sucuk

Sucuk: DRY-FERMENTED SAUSAGE Meat piece Spices, garlic, salt NaNO3 and/or NaNO2 Mincing (1.3-2.5 cm) starter culture Waiting (12 hr at 0-4 °C) Cooled or refrigerated Mincing (3 mm) tail fat Kneading Filling Fermentation and maturation Storage Production flow-chart of Sucuk

PRODUCTION OF SUCUK • Selection of raw materials • Grinding, chopping and mixing • Stuffing • Ripening – Fermentation – Drying • Storage

Selection of Meat • The meat of adult and well fed animals is preferred. • Dark-firm-dry (DFD) meat must not be used. • High pH value of meats has high water holding capacity so causes some problems during ripening. • Pale-soft-exudative (PSE) meat is not preferred for sausage manufacturing. • The use of chilled meat with a low pH is most suitable.

Selection of Other Ingredients • Tail fat should be frozen. • Spices should have dry and free from microorganisms, toxin and etc. • Spices should be fresh.

Grinding, chopping and mixing • The extraction of protein while the spreading properties of the finished product will be improved. • Meat is normally chopped first, and than other ingredients are added. • Salt is added at the latest stage of chopping.

Stuffing • Stuffing into casing should also be done firmly and carefully to exclude air. • Air inside the casing will discolor meat and reduce self life.

Drying • The drying rate should be as low as possible. • The most critical point in drying is to avoid the formation of case-hardening.

Ripening (Fermentation and Drying) • During the ripening; – pH reduced – Desired color formation (nitrosomyoglobin) observed – Nitrite level decreased – Desired flavor formed – Biogenic amines could be formed – Microorganism count decreased – Desired texture attained

Storage • If stored in a warm room, sucuks shrink excessively and become firm. • If left in too humid or too cool room, they soon lose their color. • Optimum storage conditions: 50-65 % relative humidity, and 18-22°C.

Factors Affecting Ripening and Storage of the Sucuk Temperature 1. External Factors Relative Humidity Air-condition Raw Material Salt and sugar 2. Internal Factors Water activity Initial Number of Starter Culture. pH Additives

Microbial Activity in Ripening and Storage Periods • Two basic microbial activities proceed during the fermentation period. • Reduction of pH by lactic acid bacteria, • Formation nitric oxide by nitrate and nitrite reductase activity of microorganisms

1. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) • LAB has a number of beneficial effects on the manufacturing process, quality and shelf-life. –inhibits undesirable microorganisms. –helps to develop texture –accelerates gelatinization. –controls enzymic activities that contribute to aroma. –favors color formation

2. Micrococcus and Staphylococcus • Bacteria of Micrococacceae family, • Microflora or • Added as starter culture, an essential role in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by means of their nitrate reductase activity. • The catalase of Micrococacceae which breaks down peroxides, including hydrogen peroxide produced by Lactobacilli and rancidity is inhibited.

•Micrococacceae have an ability to break down • fat (lipolysis) and • protein (proteolysis) which have great importance in the development of flavor, also stabilize the color in dry sausage 3. Molds and Yeasts The surface flora of dry sausages, mainly the genus Penicillum, •protects from harmful effects of air, and light, •makes drying the sausages easier and •gives them their typical aroma

Starter Cultures and Their Effects •Lactobacillus, Micrococcus, Pediococcus, Staphylococcus, Debaryomyces, and Penicillium •Mixed cultures of lactobacilli and micrococci have given much better results for •reducing ripening period, •development of flavor, •development of color, •development of texture •development of firmness and •prolonging the shelf-life.

•Debaryomyces hansenii •for unique and more aromatic flavor •better and homogeneous color development •inhibit surface flora.

Species used as Useful metabolic Benefits to sucuk fermentation starters activity L. plantarum, Formation of lactic Inhibition of pathogenic and spoilage L.pentosus, acid and bacteria L.sake, L. curvatus, bacteriocins Acceleration of color formation and P.pentosaceus, drying P. acidilactici S. carnosus, Nitrate reduction and Color formation and stabilization S. xylosus oxygen consumption Removal excess nitrate M. varians Peroxide destruction Delay of rancidity Lipolysis Aroma formation Debaryomyces Oxygen Delay rancidity hansenii consumption Aroma formation Lipolysis Penicillium Oxygen Color stability nalgiovense consumption Delay of rancidity biotype 2, 3, 6 Peroxide destruction Aroma formation Lactate oxidation Aroma formation Peoteolysis Aroma formation Lipolysis

Chemical Changes in Sucuks during the Ripening 1. Acid Formation (pH Reduction) 2. Lipid Oxidation (2-Thiobarbituric Acid Formation) 3. Color Formation (Nitrosomyoglobin Conversion) 4. Formation of Biogenic Amines

1. Acid Formation (pH Reduction) • The rate and extent of acid formation must be adjusted carefully to achieve both –favorable sensory quality and –safety from pathogens. • Acid formation rate depends on • the activity of lactic acid bacteria, • ripening temperature, • ability of lactic acid bacteria to ferment sugars and • the rate of drying.

…