Abstract:Arctic bonito is abundant in nutrients, including taurine, various unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins. However, because of its coarse muscle fibers and obvious fishy and sour taste, it has low consumer acceptance and low processing and utilization. Deacidification agents and binders were used in this study for deacidification and binding of arctic bonito meat. The drying process after pressing and molding was also investigated to develop a palatable fish tidbit snack by reducing the excessive sour taste of arctic bonito. The results showed that the optimal composition of the deacidification agent was 0.6 wt.% sodium bicarbonate, 0.6 wt.% sodium citrate, and 0.6 wt.% sodium tripolyphosphate. The optimal binder composition was 6 wt.% tapioca starch, 3 wt.% maltodextrin, and 1.5 wt.% konjac gum. The optimal drying conditions of the fish tidbit were as followsL drying at 60 ℃ for 5 h, followed by rehydration at room temperature in a sealed container for 1 h. Under these conditions, the tidbits were caramel-colored and moderately hard, with notably high springiness and chewiness. In addition, as the drying temperature was increased, the types and contents of alcohols, aldehydes, and pyrazines in the tidbits gradually increased. Hexanal promotes the formation of a fatty aroma, and substances such as 2,5-dimethylpyrazine and 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine provide a unique baking aroma to the final products. This study provides theoretical and technical support for deacidification of arctic bonito and development of fish tidbit snacks.