Sensory and preference testing of selected beef muscles infused with a phosphate and lactate blend

The Effects of Processing and Preservation Technologies on Meat Quality: Sensory and Nutritional Aspects

This review describes the effects of processing and preservation technologies on sensory and nutritional quality of meat products. Physical methods such as dry aging, dry curing, high pressure processing (HPP), conventional cooking, sous-vide cooking and 3D printing are discussed. Chemical and biochemical methods as fermentation, smoking, curing, marination, and reformulation are also reviewed. Their technical limitations, due to loss of sensory quality when nutritional value of these products is improved, are presented and discussed. There are several studies focused either on the nutritional or sensorial quality of the processed meat products, but more studies with an integration of the two aspects are necessary. Combination of different processing and preservation methods leads to better results of sensory quality; thus, further research in combinations of different techniques are necessary, such that the nutritional value of meat is not compromised.

Effects of Pre and Post-Rigor Marinade Injection on Some Quality Parameters of Longissimus Dorsi Muscles

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pre and post-rigor marinade injections on some quality parameters of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles. Three marinade formulations were prepared with 2% NaCl, 2% NaCl+0.5 M lactic acid and 2% NaCl+0.5 M sodium lactate. In this study marinade uptake, pH, free water, cooking loss, drip loss and color properties were analyzed. Injection time had significant effect on marinade uptake levels of samples. Regardless of marinate formulation, marinade uptake of pre-rigor samples injected with marinade solutions were higher than post rigor samples. Injection of sodium lactate increased pH values of samples whereas lactic acid injection decreased pH. Marinade treatment and storage period had significant effect on cooking loss. At each evaluation period interaction between marinade treatment and injection time showed different effect on free water content. Storage period and marinade application had significant effect on drip loss values. Drip loss in all samples increased during the storage. During all storage days, lowest CIE L* value was found in pre-rigor samples injected with sodium lactate. Lactic acid injection caused color fade in pre-rigor and post-rigor samples. Interaction between marinade treatment and storage period was found statistically significant (p<0.05). At day 0 and 3, the lowest CIE b* values obtained pre-rigor samples injected with sodium lactate and there were no differences were found in other samples. At day 6, no significant differences were found in CIE b* values of all samples.

Beef flavor: a review from chemistry to consumer

This paper briefly reviews research that describes the sensation, generation and consumer acceptance of beef flavor. Humans sense the five basic tastes in their taste buds, and receptors in the nasal and sinus cavities sense aromas. Additionally, trigeminal senses such as metallic and astringent are sensed in the oral and nasal cavities and can have an effect on the flavor of beef. Flavors are generated from a complex interaction of tastes, tactile senses and aromas taken collectively throughout the tongue, nasal, sinus and oral cavities. Cooking beef generates compounds that contribute to these senses and result in beef flavor, and the factors that are involved in the cookery process determine the amount and type of these compounds and therefore the flavor generated. A low-heat, slow cooking method generates primarily lipid degradation products, while high-heat, fast cookery generates more Maillard reaction products. The science of consumer acceptance, cluster analyses and drawing relationships among all flavor determinants is a relatively new discipline in beef flavor. Consumers rate beef that has lipid degradation products generated from a low degree of doneness and Maillard flavor products from fast, hot cookery the highest in overall liking, and current research has shown that strong relationships exist between beef flavor and consumer acceptability, even more so than juiciness or tenderness.

Tenderization effect of soy sauce on beef M. biceps femoris

This study was conducted to evaluate the tenderization effect of soy sauce on beef M. biceps femoris (BF). Five marinades were prepared with 4% (w/v) sodium chloride and 25% (w/v) soy sauce solutions (4% salt concentration) and mixed with the ratios of 100:0 (S0, pH 6.52), 75:25 (S25, 5.40) 50:50 (S50, 5.24), 25:75 (S75, 5.05), and 0:100 (S100, 4.85), respectively. The BF samples which were obtained from Hanwoo cows at 48 h postmortem (n=24) were marinated with five marinades for 72 h at 4°C (1:4 w/w), and the effects of soy sauce on tenderness were evaluated. Soy sauce marination resulted in a decrease in the pH value of the BF sample. However, there were no significant differences in the water holding capacity (P<0.05). The S100 treatment showed the significant (P<0.05) increase in collagen solubility and myofibrillar fragmentation index, contributing to decreased shear force compared to S0 (control). Reduction in intensity of few myofibrillar protein bands were observed for S100 treatment compared to control using SDS-PAGE. Scanning electron microscopy revealed breakdown of connective tissue surrounding muscle fibers of the S100 treatment. The tenderization effect of soy sauce may attribute various mechanisms such as increased collagen solubility or proteolysis which depend on soy sauce level in marinade.

The impact of postharvest interventions on the color stability and, subsequently, the palatability of beef from cattle fed wet distillers grain

Two hundred forty heifers were fed at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK, in 1 of 2 treatment groups: a dry rolled corn (CON) diet or a diet including 30% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS). Chuck rolls (n = 60) and paired strip loins (n = 75 pairs; 38 CON and 37 WDGS) were collected from each treatment group and processed at 3 d and 14 d, respectively. After grinding, each chuck was separated into 8 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film overwrapped packages and 8 high oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), each containing approximately 0.23 kg of ground beef, for evaluation by a trained color panel, a trained color panel and a trained sensory panel and for thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) analysis. After 14 d, 1 strip loin from each pair was injected with an enhancement solution. Steaks from each strip loin were fabricated and packaged, one-half in PVC and one-half in MAP. In addition to the evaluation by trained color and sensory panels and TBARS analysis, steaks were subjected to instrumental color evaluation using a HunterLab Miniscan XE and Warner-Bratzler Shear Force analysis using an Instron Universal Testing Machine. Ground beef exhibited no significant differences in color between dietary treatments; however, sensory panelists did find MAP WDGS had less beefy flavor (P = 0.05) and more painty flavor (P = 0.01) intensities than the MAP CON ground beef. Cattle fed WDGS discolored more (P = 0.01) and had less bright steaks than cattle fed the CON when MAP and enhanced. Distillers fed, nonenhanced (nonE) MAP steaks were redder and yellower than control steaks (P < 0.05) on removal from simulated retail display. There were no other significant (P > 0.05) color differences between dietary treatments using any other combination of postharvest interventions. Sensory panel results indicated WDGS NE PVC products were juicier and more tender (P < 0.05), initially, and contained less connective tissue (5.3 ± 0.1, 5.5 ± 0.1, and 5.9 ± 0.4, respectively) than the steaks from CON carcasses (5.1 ± 0.1, 5.4 ± 0.1, and 5.8 ± 0.4, respectively). Although WDGS NE MAP steaks showed more oxidation than CON NE MAP steaks on removal from retail case, all TBAR values were well below a threshold of 1 mg malonaldehyde/kg. Essentially, MAP but not enhancing products from cattle fed WDGS may be the best way to maintain a visually appealing appearance in the retail case but at possible risk to product juiciness.