고추장의 품질 향상 및 제품 다양화를 목적으로 메주, 고오지 및 메주와 고오지의 혼용으로 담금한 고추장의 숙성과정 중 품질은 아래와 같다. 고추장 숙성과정 중 수분은 $53.4{sim}66.5%$, 식염 $8.3{sim}10.1%$, 조단백질 $8.3{sim}19.3%$, pH $4.6{sim}5.4$의 범위였다. 아미노태질소는 숙성 중 증가하여 150일에 $230{sim}270mg%$로 나타났고 담금 직후에는 혼용고추장에서, 숙성 30일 이후는 고오지 고추장에서 높았다. 환원당은 숙성 60일에 $15.0{sim}19.5%$로 최대함량을 보였다. 고추장의 아미노산 함량은 glutamic acid가 $1.38{sim}3.66%$로 아미노산 중 함량이 가장 높았고 이외 aspartic acid, leucine, arginine, alanine, phenylalanine의 함량이 높은 편에 속하였다. 색도의 밝기는 30일까지 혼용고추장에서, 이후는 메주 고추장에서 높았으며 적색도는 60일까지 메주 고추장에서, $90{sim}120$일에는 고오지 고추장에서 높았다.
Quality characteristics of kochujang prepared with meju, koji and mixture of the two(meju+koji) were investigated during fermentation to improve quality of kochujang. During fermentation of kochujang, moisture content was in the range of $53.4{sim}66.5%$, salt was $8.3{sim}10.1%$, crude protein was $8.3{sim}19.3%$ and pH of kochujang was $4.6{sim}5.4$. Amino-nitrogen content increased during fermentation and the levels were $230{sim}270;mg%$ after 150 days of fermentation. The highest amino-nitrogen content was found in mixed kochujang at the beginning stage of fermentation, but in koji kochujang after 30 days of fermentation. Maximum reducing sugar content was $15.0{sim}19.5%$ at 60th day of fermentation. The highest amino acid content of kochujang protein was found in meju kochujang followed by koji kochujang at the first stage of fermentation. The content of glutamic acid, a major amino acid was $1.38{sim}3.66%$ of total amino acid content. High levels of aspartic acid, leucine, arginine, alanine and phenylalanine were found in the kochujangs. Mixed kochujang showed the highest L value among the samples until 30 days of fermentation. After that, the highest L value was found in meju kochujang. The highest degree of redness was observed in meju kochujang until 60 days of fermentation and in koji kochujang during $90{sim}120$ days of fermentation.
