Abstract
The effects of yeast on the fermentation of kimchi were investigated. The treatments were divided into two groups; yeast treatment during salting of Chinese cabbage(YS) and yeast treatment added in kimchi preparation(YF kimchi). The edible periods of the kimchi after yeast treatment during salting (YS kimchi) was extended 4~5 days by the results of pH, acidity, sensory quality. The activities of amylase, polygalacturonase and galactosidase of YS kimchi were retained at low levels compared to non treated condition throughout all fermentation periods, whereas protease activity was not significant different from the non treated condition. In addition, the contents of total hexose and uronic acid did not show remarkable change throughout fermentation, but total pentose was decreased by more than 7% at the early middle stage of fermentation(7~14 day after soaking). The change of free amino acid content was decreased by 16~44% than the non treated condition. In contrast, in the YF kimchi, the sensory quality was not good. The activities of amylase, protease, polygalacturonase and gal actosidase were appreciably higher than that of the non treated condition. Meanwhile, the contents of total hexose, total pentose and uronic acid, as products of degradation of cell wall constituents by the above enzymes, were decreased by 18~68% throughout fermentation than the non treated con dition, and total free amino acids were higher than the YS kimchi. Thus, yeast treatment during salting was found to be more effective to extend the edible periods of the kimchi.