Effect of cooking methods on the edible, nutritive qualities and volatile flavor compounds of rabbit meat

Improving quality and consumer acceptance of rabbit meat: Prospects and challenges

Rabbit meat is an excellent source of high-quality proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which can be further improved through various management, preslaughter, and post-slaughter interventions. Rabbit meat consumption is popular in certain regions of the world. The multidimensional role of rabbits as pet, pest, and laboratory animals, lack of proper knowledge among consumers towards the nutritive value of rabbit meat, animal welfare, and ethical issues, sustainable potential, undeveloped marketing, and processing chain, and price parity with available cheap meat and non-meat alternatives, are some constraints in the rabbit meat production. Increasing awareness of the nutritive value, positive health effects of rabbit meat consumption and production chain, development of processed meat products, and proper animal welfare compliance in rabbit production could improve consumer acceptance. The present manuscript reviewed various factors that affect the meat quality and consumer acceptance of rabbit meat for a more sustainable and viable source for global meat supply.

Widely targeted metabolomics and flavoromics reveal the effect of Wickerhamomyces anomalus fermentation on the volatile and nonvolatile metabolites of black garlic juice

Black garlic has a variety of biological activities, but many consumers cannot accept it because of the garlic odor and the bitter taste. In this study, fermentation with yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus was adopted to improve the flavor of black garlic juice. Although fermentation reduced antioxidant activities, the garlicky odor and bitter taste were weakened. Metabolomic analysis revealed 141 metabolites were significantly differentially regulated. The upregulated metabolites were mainly related to nucleotides, organic acids and their derivatives, while the downregulated metabolites were mainly related to amino acids, lipids and their derivatives. Flavoromics analysis revealed that 137 metabolites were significantly differentially regulated, particularly garlicky and pungent volatiles were significantly downregulated. Correlation analysis indicated that esters are most closely related to nonvolatile metabolites, and lipids degradation was significantly correlated with volatiles. The results indicated that W. anomalus fermentation is an effective strategy to improve the flavor of black garlic juice.

Untargeted metabolomics reveals the alteration of metabolites during the stewing process of Lueyang black-bone chicken meat

Introduction

Black-bone chicken meat is rich in nutritional substances and bioactive compounds. Stewing is a traditional and healthy cooking style for black-bone chicken meat. However, the alteration of metabolites in chicken meat during stewing is still unknown.

Methods

A comprehensive analysis of Lueyang black-bone chicken meat metabolites was performed in fresh chicken meat (FM), short-term heat-pretreated meat (PM), fully cooked meat (CM) and chicken soup (CS) via untargeted metabolomics.

Results

By comparison, 200, 992 and 891 significantly differentially metabolites (DMs) were identified in the PM vs. FM, CM vs. FM and CS vs. FM comparisons, respectively. These DMs mainly included amino acids, peptides, carbohydrates and lipids. During the heating process, the abundances of Ser, Ala, Tyr, niacinamide, galactose, guanosine 3'-monophosphate and inosine 5'-monophosphate in chicken meat significantly decreased and were partially dissolved in the soup. Due to the hydrolysis of phospholipids, the relative contents of unsaturated lipids, especially a range of lysophosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, arachidonic acid and derivatives, increased in fully cooked meat.

Discussion

Pretreatment had little impact on the changes in metabolites in chicken meat. During stewing, the dissolved amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids could enhance the taste quality of chicken soup, and the high abundance of unsaturated lipids could promote the nutritional quality of black-bone chicken meat. In summary, these data provide helpful information for nutritional quality studies on the metabolite profiles of black-bone chicken meat.

Exploring the influence and mechanism of different frying methods on the flavor quality of low-salt sour meat

To obtain nutritious, healthy, and flavor-enriched sour meat products, the effects of different frying methods (microwave, air-frying, and traditional frying) on the flavor quality of low-salt sour meat were evaluated using metabolomics and other flavor analysis techniques. The pH value of the sour meat rose dramatically, while the TBARS value dropped significantly after frying. E-nose and E-tongue results showed that air-frying could reduce acidity and improve umami. The comprehensive analysis of all samples revealed the identification of 107 volatile flavor compounds, including 10 unique aroma compounds that were specifically detected in the AF group. Additionally, the air frying process notably increased the free amino acid and nucleotide concentrations in sour meat by 53.58% and 159.29%, respectively, while causing a significant reduction in both fatty acid and lactic acid content by 22.84% and 49.29%, respectively. All three frying methods altered the flavor of the samples, but air frying performed better in terms of flavor and texture.

Application of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum hydrogel coating in combination with ice temperature for the preservation of fresh yak meat

Fresh yak meat is highly nutritious and prone to spoilage, so developing suitable preservation methods is crucial. In this study, hydrogel coatings composed of konjac glucomannan, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and gallic acid (KGX) were applied to preserve fresh yak meat under ice temperature (-1 °C). After 16 days, KGX group showed lowest total viable count (5.3 ± 0.1 log cfu/g) and total volatile basic nitrogen (13.02 ± 1.40 mg/100 g), which did not exceed the relevant standards of fresh meat. Combined assessments of color, texture, pH, drip loss rate, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances indicated that KGX coating effectively prolonged yak meat preservation. High-throughput sequencing revealed that KGX coating effectively reduced the abundance of Pseudomonas and Candida. The application of L. plantarum hydrogel coatings in conjunction with ice temperature increased the shelf life of fresh yak meat to 16-20 days, suggesting its potential as a viable preservation method for fresh meat.

Characterization of flavor profile of Steamed beef with rice flour using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry combined with intelligent sensory (Electronic nose and tongue)

The intelligent senses (Electronic nose and tongue), were combined with headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and free amino acid were used in combination to determine the aroma and taste components during the processing of Chinese traditional dish Steamed beef with rice flour (SBD). The findings revealed that E-nose and E-tongue, could clearly distinguish and identify the aroma and taste of SBD. A total of 66 volatile substances and 19 free amino acids were identified by HS-GC-IMS and amino acid analyzer, respectively. The highest contribution to aroma in the production of SBD was alcohols, esters and aldehydes. Further analysis of relative odor activity showed that 3-Methylbutanol-D, 3-Methylbutanol-M and 3-Methylthio propanal is the marinating stage (T2) main aroma components. Ethyl 3-methylbutanoate-M and Ethyl 3-methylbutanoate-D were the main aroma components in the seasoning stage (T3). Additionally, the calculation of the taste activity value showed that Glutamic contributed significantly to the umami of SBD. Alanine was a representative taste component in the marinating stage (T2), while Proline, Aspartic, Lysine, Glutamic, Valine, Arginine, and Histidine were characteristic amino acids of the seasoning stage (T3). Consequently, this study offers valuable insights into the industrial-scale production and flavor regulation of SBD products.

Influence of Thermal Treatment on the Composition of Alpinia officinarum Rhizome

Alpinia officinarum is a representative of the Zingiberaceae family, which is known for its wide use in the food and pharmaceutical industries also due to its precious pharmacological potential. The major aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of thermal treatment on the composition of the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum and its antioxidant activity. The fresh rhizome was subjected to various thermal treatment processes-boiling, frying and microwave heating during various time intervals-and their composition and antioxidant activity were determined using chromatographic (HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography and HPLC-MS - High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) and spectrophotometric (DPPH and TPC - Total Phenolic Content) methods. Pinobanksin was the main compound found in the extract of the fresh rhizome (537.79 mg/kg), followed by galangin (197.7 mg/kg) and zingerone (185.5 mg/kg). The effect of thermal treatment on the rhizome composition was varied. In general, thermal processing significantly decreased the content of active compounds in the rhizome. However, there were some exceptions-boiling for 4 min significantly increased the content of pinobanksin (1162.4 mg/kg) and galangin (280.7 mg/kg), and microwave processing for 4 min increased the content of pinocembrin (213 mg/kg). It was found that boiling and microwave treatment significantly increased the antioxidant activity of the processed rhizomes.

Effects of different roasting temperatures on rabbit meat protein oxidation and fluorescent carbon nanoparticle formation

This study explores the oxidation of rabbit meat proteins and the physicochemical properties of the resulting fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) under various roasting temperatures (180, 210, 240, 270, and 300 °C). The determination of sulfhydryl content, along with the results from UV and fluorescence spectroscopy, indicates that the protein structure undergoes changes during the roasting process, and the degree of oxidation shows an increasing trend with rising roasting temperatures. The CNP solution obtained exhibits a typical blue fluorescence. Moreover, as the roasting temperature increases from 180 °C to 300 °C, the relative content of the three elements in CNPs, namely C, N, and O, increases by 12 %, -3%, and -9 %, respectively. The surface of the obtained rabbit meat CNPs contains hydrophilic and polycyclic groups, such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, and amide bonds. Correlation analysis reveals a significant positive correlation between the degree of protein oxidation and the fluorescence intensities of CNPs.

Changes provoked by altitudes and cooking methods in physicochemical properties, volatile profile, and sensory characteristics of yak meat

The present study aimed to shed light on the effects of altitudes and three cooking methods (boiling, steaming, and roasting) on the physicochemical quality, volatile profile, and sensorial characteristics of yak meat. Composite meat samples were prepared to represent each cooking method and altitude level from the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle of nine yaks. The techniques employed were gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and electronic nose (E-nose) along with chemometrics analysis to study the changes occurring in yak volatile profile, and TBARS measurement in lipid oxidation during cooking. Among the cooking methods, boiling and steaming exhibited higher protein and fat content while lower volatile compound contents. Additionally, roasted yak meat received the highest sensory scores, along with decreased L*-values, while elevated a*- and b*-values, and tenderness. A total of 138 volatile compounds were detected, and among them, 36 odorants were identified as odor-active compounds in cooked yak meat. It is evidenced that low-altitude yak presented more complex and richer flavor profiles than high-altitude ones. Moreover, yak meat from low- and high-altitude was classified into two groups by an electronic nose (E-nose) owing to distinct flavor characteristics. Overall, roasted yak meat originating from low altitudes tends to be more popular from a sensory perspective.

Correlation Analysis between Volatile Compounds and Quality Attributes in Pork Tenderloin in Response to Different Stir-Frying Processes

Volatile compounds and physicochemical properties of meat are significantly changed by cooking processes. This study explored the influence of different stir-frying temperatures and times on the dynamic changes of the physicochemical characteristics and volatiles of pork tenderloin and determined the correlation between them. Results showed that time played more of a role than temperature. At the same temperature, the water content decreased (p < 0.05) and the cooking loss increased (p < 0.05) with stir-frying time extending. The L* value and the b* value showed first an increasing and then decreasing trend (p < 0.05), while the a* value significantly increased (p < 0.05). The higher the cooking temperature of sample, the faster the indexes changed. In stir-fried samples, 50 volatiles were identified. Correlation analysis showed that among the quality attributes, b* value and water content had the strongest impact on volatiles. The water content was negatively correlated with most of the compounds attributed to the desired aroma of stir-fried samples, while the correlation between the b* value and these volatiles was positive. Hence, changes in the types and contents of volatiles in stir-fried pork tenderloin could be predicted by detection of b* value and water content.

Effects of grafting methods and raw materials on the physicochemical properties and biological activities of phenolic acids grafted oat β-glucan

Phenolic acids are commonly used as food biological preservatives. Grafting phenolic acids onto polysaccharides could effectively enhance their biological activities and environmental stability to varying degrees. However, grafting methods and raw materials could affect the physical properties and biological activities of the phenolic acid-grafted polysaccharides. In this study, caffeic acid (CA) and gallic acid (GA) were grafted onto oat β-glucan (OG) and hydrolyzed oat β-glucan (OGH) through N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole-mediated (CDI) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride coupling N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) methods. Graft modification decreased the crystallinity and thermal stability of the conjugates, but retained good bioactivities for the conjugates. The antioxidant and bacteriostatic activities of the conjugates prepared by the EDC method were better than those of the CDI method, and the OGH-conjugates showed better biological activities than OG-conjugates. EDC-GAOGH showed best DPPH (89.78%) and ABTS (92.32%) scavenging activities. The inhibitory effect of EDC-GAOGH on Escherichia coli was significantly better than that of EDC-CAOGH, but for Staphylococcus aureus, the results are opposite, which indicating that different phenolic acid grafting products have different inhibitory effects on pathogenic microbes. In general, grafting phenolic acids onto OGH using EDC method is an effective strategy for preparing food biological preservative.

Mechanisms of cooking methods on flavor formation of Tibetan pork

To obtain flavor-enriched Tibetan pork products, the impact of oxidation degree on the flavor of Tibetan pork with different cooking methods (microwaving, frying, boiling, and air frying) was evaluated using an E-nose, an E-tongue, GC-MS, and LC-MS. The level of oxidation was lower in M and F and higher in B and AF groups. Hexanal, pentanal, benzaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone were identified as significant contributors to cooked samples. The volatile abundance of microwaved, fried, boiled, and air-fried pork was 1.61, 1.22, 1.47, and 1.69 times higher than raw, respectively. Leucine and threonine were detected to be the highest in the AF group, which were 1.30 and 3.60 times greater than RAW, respectively. In summary, oxidation of lipids and proteins caused by cooking treatments was the main source of flavor in cooked Tibetan pork. Air-frying treatment could greatly promote the production of flavor compounds and give unique flavor to Tibetan pork.

Effect of honeysuckle leaf extract on the physicochemical properties of carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan/konjac glucomannan/gelatin composite edible film

Honeysuckle leaves are rich in bioactive ingredients, but often considered as agro-wastes. In this study, honeysuckle leaf extract (HLE) was added to the carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan/konjac glucomannan/gelatin composite edible film (CMKH). Compared to films without HLE addition (CMK), the water vapor barrier properties of CMKH slightly decreased, but the transmittance of the CMKH films in UV region (200-400 nm) as low as zero. The elongation at break of CMKH film was 1.39 ∼ 1.5 fold higher than those of CMK films. The DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity of CMKH-Ⅱ was 85.75% and 90.93%, respectively, which is similar to the equivalent content of Vc. The inhibition rate of CMKH-Ⅰ and CMKH-Ⅱ against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes were close to 90%, and the inhibition rate against Staphylococcus aureus were up to 96%. The results emphasized that the composite film containing 25% (v/v) HLE has potential application value in food preservation.

A possible systematic culinary approach for spent duck meat: Sous-vide cuisine and its optimal cooking condition

This study offered a possible systematic culinary approach to spent-laying ducks. Breast meat is suitable for processing due to its amount and completeness. Sous-vide cooking resulted in lower cooking loss than poaching, pan-frying (P < 0.05), and roasting. The sous-vide duck breast had higher gumminess, chewiness, and resilience than other culinary techniques (P < 0.05). Sous-vide cooking at 65°C had a lower cooking loss than 70°C (P < 0.05), and less than 1.5-h sous-vide could keep a lower cooking loss and WB shear value (P < 0.05) as the cooking period extended, the smaller (P < 0.05) quantity of myosin heavy chain and the destroyed sarcomere arrangement were observed. A condition at 65°C for 1.5 h could be the optimal sous-vide cuisine for spent-laying duck breast. These sous-vide products stored at 4°C were still safe for consumption due to no detectible microorganisms and unchangeable physicochemical properties within 7 d.

Dynamic alterations in protein, sensory, chemical, and oxidative properties occurring in meat during thermal and non-thermal processing techniques: A comprehensive review

Meat processing represents an inevitable part of meat and meat products preparation for human consumption. Both thermal and non-thermal processing techniques, both commercial and domestic, are able to induce chemical and muscle's proteins modification which can have implication on oxidative and sensory meat characteristics. Consumers' necessity for minimally processed foods has paved a successful way to unprecedented exploration into various novel non-thermal food processing techniques. Processing of meat can have serious implications on its nutritional profile and digestibility of meat proteins in the digestive system. A plethora of food processing techniques can potentially induce alterations in the protein structure, palatability, bioavailability and digestibility via various phenomena predominantly denaturation and Maillard reaction. Apart from these, sensory attributes such as color, crispness, hardness, and total acceptance get adversely affected during various thermal treatments in meat. A major incentive in the adoption of non-thermal food processing is its energy efficiency. Considering this, several non-thermal processing techniques have been developed for evading the effects of conventional thermal treatments on food materials with respect to Maillard reactions, color changes, and off-flavor development. Few significant non-thermal processing techniques, such as microwave heating, comminution, and enzyme addition can positively affect protein digestibility as well as enhance the value of the final product. Furthermore, ultrasound, irradiation, high-pressure processing, and pulsed electric fields are other pivotal non-thermal food processing technologies in meat and meat-related products. The present review examines how different thermal and non-thermal processing techniques, such as sous-vide, microwave, stewing, roasting, boiling, frying, grilling, and steam cooking, affect meat proteins, chemical composition, oxidation, and sensory profile.

Simultaneously enhanced stability and biological activities of chlorogenic acid by covalent grafting with soluble oat β-glucan

Chlorogenic acid (CA) has a wide range of biological activities but the chemical structure is extremely unstable. In this study, CA was grafted onto a soluble oat β-glucan (OβGH) to improve the stability. Although the crystallinity and thermal stability of CA-OβGH conjugates reduced, the storage stability of CA significantly improved. The DPPH and ABTS scavenging ability of CA-OβGH IV (graft ratio 285.3 mg CA/g) were higher than 90 %, which is closed to activities of equivalent concentration of Vc (93.42 %) and CA (90.81 %). The antibacterial abilities of CA-OβGH conjugates are improved compared to the equivalent content of CA and potassium sorbate. Particularly, the inhibition rate of CA-OβGH for gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) are significantly higher than that of gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The results demonstrated that covalent grafted CA with soluble polysaccharide is an effective strategy to enhance its stability and biological activities.

Quality changes of duck meat during thermal sterilization processing caused by microwave, stepwise retort, and general retort heating

The quality changes of duck meat during thermal sterilization using microwave, stepwise retort and general retort heating were evaluated. Results showed that compared with stepwise retort and general retort, duck meat subjected to microwave showed significantly higher gumminess, chewiness, cohesiveness and resilience as well as glutamic acid, lysine and total amino acids. Low-field NMR revealed that the relative content of immobilized water after microwave and stepwise retort treatment was significantly higher than that after general retort treatment. The relative content of 1-octen-3-ol with characteristic mushroom aroma was significantly higher with microwave and stepwise retort heating than with general retort heating, while 2-pentyl-furan with poor taste was only detected with general retort heating. The muscle bundles subjected to microwave were neatly arranged, similar to those with no thermal sterilization. Overall, the meat quality after three thermal sterilization treatment was microwave > stepwise retort > general retort.