Effects of Konjac Glucomannan/ε-Polylysine Hydrochloride/Ferulic Acid Composite Coating on the Freshness Preservation Performance and Flavor of Refrigerated Sea Bass Fillets

Coating preservation has a remarkable effect on the preservation of aquatic products. This work prepared a composite coating using konjac glucomannan (KGM) as the film-forming matrix and ε-polylysine hydrochloride (ε-PL) and ferulic acid (FA) as the preservative. Three types of treated sea bass (KGM, KGM-ε-PL, and KGM-ε-PL-FA) and untreated sea bass were stored at 4 °C for 20 days to compare freshness changes under different treatment conditions. The results showed that the surface color and texture of sea bass in refrigerated storage changed dramatically and deteriorated as storage time increased. The composite coating treatment was significantly different from the control group. Using Gas-phase ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS) technology, 32 volatile compounds, such as aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones, were found in fillets during flavor quality analysis. The composite coating can successfully inhibit the formation of odor compounds such as 2-nonenone, isoamyl alcohol monomer, ammonia, and trimethylamine, delaying the deterioration of fish and improving freshness. Among them, KGM-ε-PL-FA composite coating has the most remarkable preservation performance, which significantly inhibits the occurrence of rotten odor, and has a potential application prospect in the field of food preservation.