Evaluation of perceptual interactions between key aldehydes in Kung Pao Chicken

Aldehydes are the strongest and most abundant aromatic compounds in Kung Pao Chicken. However, the perceptual interactions between these aldehydes are not fully understood. Therefore, the flavor contribution of nine key aldehydes was estimated by determining thresholds. Except for benzaldehyde, the thresholds of all aldehydes measured in tasteless chicken matrices (TM) were significantly larger than their comparable values in water. Based on these results, the perceptual interactions of nine aldehydes were evaluated using S-curves and σ-τ plots. The interactions indicated that 31 of their 36 binary mixtures exhibited additive effects, three had masking effects, while two had synergistic effects. Recombination experiments showed that the addition of aldehydes lowered the odor threshold of aldehyde reconstitution (AR), thereby enhancing the aroma intensity of AR. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Kung Pao Chicken's aroma and can be used to improve its aroma quality.

Sensory evaluation of the synergism among ester odorants in light aroma-type liquor by odor threshold, aroma intensity and flash GC electronic nose

Although esters were important odorants in light aroma-type liquor, it was still puzzling that sensory interaction between esters made the odor quality of light aroma-type liquor outstanding. The aim of the paper was to investigate perceptual interaction among esters. The odor thresholds of eighteen esters and 35 binary mixture were determined by a three-alternative forced-choice procedure. The relationship between odor threshold and carbon chain length of homologous ethyl esters was investigated. Moreover, 31 binary mixtures present either a synergistic effect or additive action. Furthermore, odor quality and odor intensity were determined by p/τ plot and σ/τ plot, respectively. From the p/τ plot, an ideal sigmoidal function for odor quality was obtained. From the σ/τ plot, for all 120 binary mixtures, just 9 mixtures were in the hyper-additivity area (σ > 1.05), and two were in the so-called perfect additivity area (0.95 < σ < 1.05). Almost one half (48%) showed compromise level. Finally, a significantly difference was observed by flash gas chromatography electronic nose (p < .05). Sensory analysis revealed that a mask effect of fruity note was occurred by adding ethyl phenylacetate at various levels (100, 2500, 58,000 ppb) to the fruit recombination and an enhancement effect of floral note was reported by adding phenylethyl acetate at low (1400 ppb) or high level (11,500 ppb). It was noticed that sweet note was significantly enhanced by adding phenylethyl acetate at peri-threshold (3200 ppb).