Low seaweed consumption in the West is due to lack of availability and consumer familiarity. In this study, the effects of preservation processes on quality aspects of Saccharina latissima products were assessed. First, a blanching (100 °C for 1 or 3 min) treatment was used to produce seaweed salad. In a second study, effects of blanching, freezing, and fermentation on kelp quality were assessed and processed kelp was used to produce sauerkraut. Blanching significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) the instrumental kelp a* value and firmness. The a* value negatively correlated with overall liking of salads. To prepare sauerkraut, raw, raw/frozen (−20 °C), blanched (100 °C, 1 min), or blanched/frozen kelp were mixed with cabbage, salted, inoculated with starter cultures and fermented. Inconsistent trends in L* values, firmness, and fungi enumeration were observed after fermentation. Consumers evaluated kelp salad (n = 100) and sauerkraut (n = 80) for acceptability. Blanched kelp salad had higher hedonic scores than raw kelp salad. A 100% cabbage sauerkraut control and blanched kelp/cabbage blends were compared; kelp blends were similar to control for appearance, color, and texture but were lower for overall acceptability. Results suggest improved quality and enhanced consumer acceptability of seaweed products with use of minimal processing.

High pressure processing (HPP) and sous vide may increase the shelf-life of high value seafood products without the use of additives. This study investigated the effects of 150MPa or 350MPa for 10min on microbial, sensory, and physicochemical qualities of raw and subsequently sous vide cooked (65°C) lobster tails during 28 days of refrigerated storage. Raw lobster pressurized at 350MPa or sous vide cooked maintained significantly lower microbial counts, total volatile base nitrogen, and biogenic amine levels. Due to off-odors, 90% and 60% of sensory respondents rejected the control and 150MPa raw samples, respectively, by day 7, while 70% rated the 350MPa samples as still acceptable on day 28. For cooked lobster, only 20% of the respondents rejected any samples by day 28. Moderate HPP conditions were effective in extending refrigerated shelf-life of vacuum-packaged raw lobster tails. However, HPP pretreatment did not contribute to additional shelf-life extension for sous vide cooked products.