Effect of Added NaCl Levels on the Physical, Chemical and Microbial Properties of Dry Sausage during Ripening Period

The effect of NaCI content levels(1.7, 2.2, 2.7 and 3.2%) on the ripening of a dry sausage was studied, when starter culture and Glucono-delta-Lacton were used. During the ripening of sausages, the physical and chemical properties and the microbial mutiplication were investigated, and also the growth of inoculated Staphylococcus aureus was detected, pH values were slowly decreased and Aw values dropped fastly during ripening period with the increase of NaCl content. In instrumental texture examination, the texture of sausage with NaCl content of 3.2% was significantly harder and more cohesive than those with lower NaCl contents. During ripening St. aureus was decreased by one tenth and not significantly different among mixtures with different NaCl contents. Depending upon reducing NaCl levels, total bacteria and Lactobacilli grew rapidly, while Enterobacteriaceae decreased slowly during ripening.