Abstract:To develop high-quality low-salt surimi products, the tilapia was took as the research object, the effects of ultrasonic treatment time (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 min) on the gel properties and physicochemical properties of surimi with different salt addition levels (low salt: 1.5 wt.%; high salt: 3 wt.%) were investigated, and the texture, water holding capacity, rheological properties, moisture distribution, microstructure, and flavor were systematically analyzed. The results indicated that ultrasonication significantly enhanced the texture and water-holding capacity of low-salt surimi more markedly than that of high-salt surimi, with 20 min being the optimal treatment duration. Under this condition, the hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness and water-holding capacity of low-salt surimi were increased by 20.00%, 14.24%, 18.18% and 10%, respectively compared with the untreated group, exhibiting superior gel properties when compared with high-salt surimi. Both low-salt and high-salt surimi gels exhibited higher G' values than their non-ultrasonic counterparts, at the meantime, T22 relaxation times shifted to the left. Ultrasonication reduced α-helix and increased β-sheet conformation in high-salt surimi gels, while decreasing β-turns and increasing random coiling in low-salt surimi gels. Reduced levels of nitrogen oxides and organic sulphides post-ultrasonication were further revealed by volatile component analysis, indicating its positive effect on flavor improvement. Therefore, the optimal effect of improving the gel properties of surimi was achieved at 20 min of ultrasonic treatment. This research establishes theoretical foundations for the development of healthy low-salt surimi products.