Identifying constituents of whey protein concentrates that reduce the pink color defect in cooked ground turkey

Presalting Condition Effects on the Development of Pink Color in Cooked Ground Chicken Breasts

The effects of presalting conditions (storage temperature and duration) with/without sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) on the color and pigment characteristics of cooked ground chicken breast were investigated. Meat mixtures containing 2% NaCl (control) or 2% NaCl and 0.5% STPP (STPP treatment) were stored for 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 d at 2°C or 7°C, followed by cooking to 75°C, and cooling and storage at 2°C-3°C until further analysis. The treatment was the most effective on the pink color defect of all independent variables. The effect of storage temperature was only observed on CIE L* values and percentage myoglobin denaturation (PMD). The control was redder than the STPP treated samples and the CIE a* values increased (p<0.05) from 0 to 5 d in the control and STPP treated samples. Compared to the STPP treatment, the control exhibited increased reducing conditions (more negative oxidation reduction potential), lower undenatured myoglobin, and greater PMD. No differences in the cooking yields of the control and STPP-treated samples were observed for various storage durations. Products with STPP showed higher (p<0.05) pH values than those without STPP, but no differences (p>0.05) in PMD were observed over the storage period in the control and STPP treated samples, except for day 0. Thus, STPP is effective at reducing the pink color in cooked chicken breasts. In addition, presalting for longer than 5 d resulted in increased pink color of the cooked chicken breasts.

Influence of Citric Acid on the Pink Color and Characteristics of Sous Vide Processed Chicken Breasts During Chill Storage

Chicken breast dipped with citric acid (CA) was treated by sous vide processing and stored in a refrigerated state for 0, 3, 6, 9, and 14 d. A non-dipped control group (CON) and three groups dipped in different concentrations of citric acid concentration were analyzed (0.5%, 0.5CIT; 2.0%, 2CIT and 5.0%, 5CIT; w/v). Cooking yield and moisture content increased due to the citric acid. While the redness of the juice and meat in all groups showed significant increase during storage, the redness of the citric acid groups was reduced compared to the control group (p<0.05). The percentage of myoglobin denaturation (PMD) of the CA groups was also increased according to the level of CA during storage. Total aerobic counts, Enterobacteriaceae counts, volatile basic nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were generally lower in the citric acid-treated samples than in untreated ones, indicating extended shelf life of the cooked chicken breast dipped in citric acid solution. The shear force of the 2CIT and 5CIT groups was significantly lower (p<0.05). The findings indicated positive effects in the physicochemical properties and storage ability of sous vide chicken breast at 2% and 5% citric acid concentrations.

Calcium chloride and tricalcium phosphate effects on the pink color defect in cooked ground and intact turkey breast

Calcium chloride (250, 500ppm) was examined for its ability to reduce the pink color defect induced by sodium nitrite (10ppm) and nicotinamide (1.0%) in cooked ground turkey in the presence and absence of sodium tripolyphosphate (0.25, 0.5%) and sodium citrate (0.5, 1.0%). The ability of tricalcium phosphate (0.1-0.5%) to reduce pink cooked color also was evaluated in ground turkey and both calcium chloride and tricalcium phosphate were tested for their effects on pink cooked color in whole breast muscle. The combination of calcium chloride and sodium tripolyphosphate, not calcium chloride alone, was necessary for a reduction in pink cooked color induced by nicotinamide. Subsequently, in the presence of phosphate, both calcium chloride and sodium citrate reduced pink cooked color and were most effective in combination. Tricalcium phosphate also was capable of reducing pink cooked color in ground turkey, however substituting tricalcium phosphate for sodium tripolyphosphate resulted in lower pH and cooking yields. Neither calcium chloride nor tricalcium phosphate was capable of reducing pink cooked color in whole turkey breast. Currently, a combination of sodium tripolyphosphate, calcium chloride, and sodium citrate represents the most suitable means for reducing or preventing the pink color defect in uncured ground turkey.