Influence of partial replacement of NaCl with KCl and CaCl(2) on texture and color of dry fermented sausages.

A Spanish type of dry fermented sausage, Chorizo de Pamplona, was manufactured with a mixture of (2.29%) different salts (NaCl, KCl, and CaCl(2)) with an equivalent ionic strength to that of the control manufactured with 2.6% NaCl. The use of this salt mixture affected the texture profile analysis (TPA), giving rise to a significant reduction in hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness. Instrumental color values showed higher b (yellowness) and L (lightness) values. Sensory texture and color intensity yielded lower scores, but they were classified as acceptable. Principal component analysis was carried out with the instrumental measures. The two principal components explained 76.9% of the variance. Modified and control samples were separated by the first component, which explained 57.1% of the variance and was defined basically by texture parameters.