Exploring the effects of lipid oxidation and free fatty acids on the development of volatile compounds in grouper during cold storage based on multivariate analysis.

To investigate the relationship between lipid oxidation and the development of volatile compounds (VOCs) in grouper lipid during cold storage, lipids were extracted from grouper as a single-factor study to avoid the complex interactions between microorganisms and proteins. Lipid oxidation during storage and the content of 12 long-chain fatty acids (FAs) in grouper lipids were evaluated. The HS-SPME-GC-MS technique was used to analyze the VOCs in grouper lipids, and a total of 13 key VOCs, primarily comprising alcohols and aldehydes, were screened. Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong acorrelation between these 13 key VOCs, which influenced the overall flavor of grouper lipids, and lipid oxidation, mainly involving secondary oxidation of lipids and the oxidation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Possible solutions for grouper lipid deterioration were proposed, providing a reference for maintaining the overall quality of grouper and regulating flavor formation.