The odorants in the brew of cooked clam (Meretrix lusoria)
were separated by adsorption into Tenax
TA resin. An analysis by GC and GC−MS enabled 49 compounds to be
unambiguously or tentatively
identified. Among them,
2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF) (caramel-like),
maltol
(sweet), 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline (roasted), 2-acetylthiazole
(popcorn-like), and 3-methylthiopropanal
(boiled potato-like) were determined as the main potent odor compounds
by an aroma extract dilution
analysis. Since the concentrations of these compounds were
increased with the longer cooking time,
it was considered that the increase of these compounds was deeply
related to the formation of the
characteristic odor in the brew of cooked clam. Furthermore, by
keeping the body of the clam at 4
°C for periods of 30 min, 2 h, 12 h, and 24 h before cooking, the
formation of maltol and DMHF was
increased significantly with increasing length of storage time, thus
enhancing the flavor of the cooked
clam.
Keywords: Cooked clam; potent odorant; Tenax TA adsorption; DMHF; maltol;
storage