Effect of Tartary Buckwheat Peptides on Shelf Life of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fillets.

Tartary buckwheat peptides (TBPs), produced from tartary buckwheat through solid-state fermentation, were used as a dip treatment solution to preserve tilapia fillets. Fillets were dip treated with different concentrations of TBPs (0.5, 1, and 2% [v/v]) and stored at 4°C for 12 days. The effect of TBPs on thiobarbituric acid, total volatile base nitrogen, surface color, texture profile analysis, total viable counts, and changes in sensory properties of tilapia fillets during storage was investigated. Compared with the control group, the groups treated with TBPs displayed reduced rates of quality deterioration in physicochemical, bacteriological, and sensory characteristics. Based on total volatile base nitrogen content, total viable counts, and sensory scores, the shelf life of control tilapia fillets was 4 days and that for TBP-treated fillets was 8 days, twice as long as that of the control group. Thus, TBPs can be used as preservatives to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of tilapia fillets stored at 4°C.