Optimization of high pressure processing parameters of Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus)

The effect of pressure (150, 250 and 350?MPa), ramp rate (200, 400 and 600?MPa/min) and holding time (3, 6 and 9?min) on the quality indices (dependent variable) of Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus) was optimized using response surface methodology. Box–Behnken response surface design was used with 15 runs. Second-order response surface model was fitted to the experimental data and the model adequacy was measured by R² value. The linear and quadratic effect of pressure, ramp rate and holding time was significant for tri-methylamine, total volatile base nitrogen and total plate count. Based on the ridge analysis and response surface plots, the optimum combination obtained was 250?MPa pressure, 400?MPa/min ramp rate and 6?min holding time for high pressure (HP) processing of Indian white prawn. Validation of the experiment indicated that the developed model was appropriate to predict quality indices in Indian white prawn processed by HP processing.