Nitrate Reduction and Pigment Formation of Chinese-Style Sausage Mixes Caused by Micrococcaceae

This study investigated the nitrate reduction ability of Micrococcaceae on pigment formation in Chinese- style sausage. One hundred ppm sodium nitrite and 150 ppm sodium nitrate was added asepticly to ground pork which was then inoculated with $10^7CFU/g$ of either Micrococcus varians, Staphylococcus carnosus or Staphylococcus xylosus. All samples were cured at $20{^{\circ}C}$ or $30{^{\circ}C}$ for 3 days and then color, residue nitrite, nitrosyl pigment and residue nitrate were determined. The results indicated that samples inoculated with S. xylosus had higher a- and b- values due to nitrate reduction and pigment production after 3 days curing and these values were higher at the higher curing temperature. The nitrosyl pigment of the samples with S. xylosus had highest values after 3 days curing at both $20{^{\circ}C}$ and $30{^{\circ}C}$. However, sample inoculated with S. carnosus and S. xylosus had lower nitrate contents than the sample inoculated with M. varians. At $30{^{\circ}C}$ as well as S. carnosus and M. varians had a stronger decreasing in nitrate concentration during curing at $20{^{\circ}C}$. Moreover, samples inoculated with S. xylosus and S. carnosus had a higher residual nitrite content during curing at $20{^{\circ}C}$ or $30{^{\circ}C}$. In conclusion, two Staphylococci strains tested were most optimum starter cultures for improving pigment formation during Chinese-style sausage curing.