High pressure processing improves the tenderness and quality of hot-boned beef

Simulation Study of Xylitol-Mediated Effect on NaCl Diffusion Behavior in Cured Pork Tenderloin

Polyhydroxy alcohol-mediated curing has great potential for producing low-salt cured meat products. This study investigated the mass transfer kinetics and the one-way diffusion simulation of sodium chloride (NaCl) during the curing process. Furthermore, Fick's second law determined the NaCl diffusion coefficient (De) of xylitol-mediated cured pork tenderloin. The results demonstrated that adding xylitol could reduce the De of NaCl. The De of NaCl, calculated using the one-way model, was 1.29 × 10^-9 m²·s^-1, 1.22 × 10^-9 m²·s^-1, 1.2 × 10^-9 m²·s^-1, and 1.15 × 10^-9 m²·s^-1 when the amount of xylitol added was 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% (w/w), respectively. This result agrees with the predicted values from the power function time-varying model. Moreover, a three-dimensional simulating model of mass transfers constructed using COMSOL Multiphysics was developed to evaluate the NaCl diffusion in pork tenderloin during the curing process. This model has high accuracy and can be used to describe the diffusion of NaCl in curing. Overall, this study provided a foundation for NaCl diffusion and distribution during the curing process.

Processing interventions for enhanced microbiological safety of beef carcasses and beef products: A review

Chilled beef is inevitably contaminated with microorganisms, starting from the very beginning of the slaughter line. A lot of studies have aimed to improve meat safety and extend the shelf life of chilled beef, of which some have focused on improving the decontamination effects using traditional decontamination interventions, and others have investigated newer technologies and methods, that offer greater energy efficiency, lower environmental impacts, and better assurances for the decontamination of beef carcasses and cuts. To inform industry, there is an urgent need to review these interventions, analyze the merits and demerits of each technology, and provide insight into 'best practice' to preserve microbial safety and beef quality. In this review, the strategies and procedures used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on beef, from slaughter to storage, have been critiqued. Critical aspects, where there is a lack of data, have been highlighted to help guide future research. It is also acknowledge that different intervention programs for microbiological safety have different applications, dependent on the initial microbial load, the type of infrastructures, and different stages of beef processing.

Post-Harvest Strategies to Improve Tenderness of Underutilized Mature Beef: A Review

Beef muscles from mature cows and bulls, especially those originating from the extremities of the carcass, are considered as underutilized due to unsatisfactory palatability. However, beef from culled animals comprises a substantial proportion of the total slaughter in the US and globally. Modern consumers typically favor cuts suitable for fast, dry-heat cookery, thereby creating challenges for the industry to market inherently tough muscles. In general, cull cow beef would be categorized as having a lower extent of postmortem proteolysis compared to youthful carcasses, coupled with a high amount of background toughness. The extent of cross-linking and resulting insolubility of intramuscular connective tissues typically serves as the limiting factor for tenderness development of mature beef. Thus, numerous post-harvest strategies have been developed to improve the quality and palatability attributes, often aimed at overcoming deficiencies in tenderness through enhancing the degradation of myofibrillar and stromal proteins or physically disrupting the tissue structure. The aim of this review is to highlight existing and recent innovations in the field that have been demonstrated as effective to enhance the tenderness and palatability traits of mature beef during the chilling and postmortem aging processes, as well as the use of physical interventions and enhancement.

Metabolic, proteomic and microbial changes postmortem and during beef aging

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge about proteomic and metabolic changes in beef, the microbiological alteration postmortem and during aging, and observe the influence on beef quality parameters, such as tenderness, taste and flavor. This review will also focus on the different aging types (wet- and dry-aging), the aging or postmortem time of beef and their effect on the proteome and metabolome of beef. The Ca2+ homeostasis and adenosine 5'-triphosphate breakdown are the main reactions in the pre-rigor phase. After rigor mortis, the enzymatic degradation of connective tissues and breakdown of energy metabolism dominate molecular changes in beef. Important metabolic processes leading to the formation of saccharides, nucleotides, organic acids (e.g. lactic acid), creatine and fatty acids are considered in this context as possible flavor precursors or formers of beef flavor and taste. Flavor precursors are substrates for lipid oxidation, Strecker degradation and Maillard reaction during cooking or roasting. The findings presented should serve as a basis for a better understanding of beef aging and its molecular effects and are intended to contribute to meeting the challenges of improving beef quality.

Combined Effects of Pressure cooking and Enzyme Treatment to Enhance The Digestibility and Physicochemical Properties of Spreadable Liver Sausage

This study aimed to determine the effect of enzyme, guar gum, and pressure processing on the digestibility and physicochemical properties of age-friendly liver sausages. Liver sausages were manufactured by adding proteolytic enzyme (Bromelain) and guar gum, and pressure-cooking (0.06 MPa), with the following treatments: control, without proteolytic enzyme; T1, proteolytic enzyme; T2, proteolytic enzyme and guar gum; T3, pressure-cooking; T4, proteolytic enzyme and pressure-cooking; T5, proteolytic enzyme, guar gum, and pressure-cooking. The pH was high in the enzyme- and pressure-processed groups. The pressure-processed groups had lower apparent viscosity than other cooking groups, and it decreased during enzyme treatment. Hardness was lower in the enzyme- and pressure-processed groups than in the control, and the T4 was the lowest. Digestibility was the highest in T4 at 82.58%, and there was no significant difference with that in T5. The general cooking group with enzyme and guar gum also showed higher digestibility than the control (77.50%). As a result of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme- and pressure-treated groups (T4, T5) were degraded more into low-molecular-weight peptides (≤37 kDa) than the control and other treatments. Viscoelasticity showed similar trends for viscous and elastic moduli. Similarly, combined pressure processing and enzymatic treatment decreased viscoelasticity, while guar gum increased elasticity but decreased viscosity. Therefore, the tenderized physical properties and improved digestibility by enzyme and pressurization treatment could be used to produce age-friendly spreadable liver sausages.

Role of Food Hydrocolloids as Antioxidants along with Modern Processing Techniques on the Surimi Protein Gel Textural Properties, Developments, Limitation and Future Perspectives

Texture is an important parameter in determining the quality characteristics and consumer acceptability of seafood and fish protein-based products. The addition of food-based additives as antioxidants (monosaccharides, oilgosaccharides, polysaccharides and protein hydrolysates) in surimi and other seafood products has become a promising trend at an industrial scale. Improvement in gelling, textural and structural attributes of surimi gel could be attained by inhibiting the oxidative changes, protein denaturation and aggregation with these additives along with new emerging processing techniques. Moreover, the intermolecular crosslinking of surimi gel can be improved with the addition of different food hydrocolloid-based antioxidants in combination with modern processing techniques. The high-pressure processing (HPP) technique with polysaccharides can develop surimi gel with better physicochemical, antioxidative, textural attributes and increase the gel matrix than conventional processing methods. The increase in protein oxidation, denaturation, decline in water holding capacity, gel strength and viscoelastic properties of surimi gel can be substantially improved by microwave (MW) processing. The MW, ultrasonication and ultraviolet (UV) treatments can significantly increase the textural properties (hardness, gumminess and cohesiveness) and improve the antioxidative properties of surimi gel produced by different additives. This study will review potential opportunities and primary areas of future exploration for high-quality surimi gel products. Moreover, it also focuses on the influence of different antioxidants as additives and some new production strategies, such as HPP, ultrasonication, UV and MW and ohmic processing. The effects of additives in combination with different modern processing technologies on surimi gel texture are also compared.

High-Pressure Processing for Sustainable Food Supply

Sustainable food supply has gained considerable consumer concern due to the high percentage of spoilage microorganisms. Food industries need to expand advanced technologies that can maintain the nutritive content of foods, enhance the bio-availability of bioactive compounds, provide environmental and economic sustainability, and fulfill consumers’ requirements of sensory characteristics. Heat treatment negatively affects food samples’ nutritional and sensory properties as bioactives are sensitive to high-temperature processing. The need arises for non-thermal processes to reduce food losses, and sustainable developments in preservation, nutritional security, and food safety are crucial parameters for the upcoming era. Non-thermal processes have been successfully approved because they increase food quality, reduce water utilization, decrease emissions, improve energy efficiency, assure clean labeling, and utilize by-products from waste food. These processes include pulsed electric field (PEF), sonication, high-pressure processing (HPP), cold plasma, and pulsed light. This review describes the use of HPP in various processes for sustainable food processing. The influence of this technique on microbial, physicochemical, and nutritional properties of foods for sustainable food supply is discussed. This approach also emphasizes the limitations of this emerging technique. HPP has been successfully analyzed to meet the global requirements. A limited global food source must have a balanced approach to the raw content, water, energy, and nutrient content. HPP showed positive results in reducing microbial spoilage and, at the same time, retains the nutritional value. HPP technology meets the essential requirements for sustainable and clean labeled food production. It requires limited resources to produce nutritionally suitable foods for consumers’ health.

Effects of high-pressure processing on the functional properties of pork batters containing Artemisia sphaerocephala krasch gum

Here, the effect of high-pressure conditions (0.1-400 MPa) on the water-loss, texture, gel strength, color, dynamic rheological property, and water migration of pork batters containing 0.1% (W/W) Artemisia sphaerocephala krasch gum (PB-AG) is studied. Results indicated that the cooking yield, water-holding capacity, texture, gel strength, L^* values, and G' values increased with the increase in pressure (0.1-300 MPa) (p < 0.05). Dynamic rheological results (G') revealed that the thermal gelling ability of the PB-AG gel gradually increased with pressure (0.1-300 MPa). The minimum of T₂₂ content was observed and the proportion of immobilized water decreased at 300 MPa by low-filed nuclear magnetic resonance. However, excessive high-pressure processing treatments (400 MPa) resulted in lower gel strength, WHC, texture, and G'. The scanning electron microscopy results shown that a denser network structure with small cavities was observed at 300 MPa. Therefore, moderate pressure treatment (≤300 MPa) may improve gelation properties of PB-AG gel, while excessive pressure treatment (400 MPa) may weaken the gelation properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: High-pressure processing combining Artemisia sphaerocephala krasch gum could enhance the gelation properties of pork batters. To do so, establishing knowledge on gelation properties of pork batters with Artemisia sphaerocephala krasch gum at different pressure levels treatment would be of paramount importance, because this contributes furnishing engineering data pertinent to the technical progress for the processing of emulsion-type meat with high quality.

Meat tenderness: advances in biology, biochemistry, molecular mechanisms and new technologies

Meat tenderness is an important quality trait critical to consumer acceptance, and determines satisfaction, repeat purchase and willingness-to-pay premium prices. Recent advances in tenderness research from a variety of perspectives are presented. Our understanding of molecular factors influencing tenderization are discussed in relation to glycolysis, calcium release, protease activation, apoptosis and heat shock proteins, the use of proteomic analysis for monitoring changes, proteomic biomarkers and oxidative/nitrosative stress. Each of these structural, metabolic and molecular determinants of meat tenderness are then discussed in greater detail in relation to animal variation, postmortem influences, and changes during cooking, with a focus on recent advances. Innovations in postmortem technologies and enzymes for meat tenderization are discussed including their potential commercial application. Continued success of the meat industry relies on ongoing advances in our understanding, and in industry innovation. The recent advances in fundamental and applied research on meat tenderness in relation to the various sectors of the supply chain will enable such innovation.

Effect of processing technologies on the digestibility of egg proteins

Egg and egg products are a rich source of highly bioavailable animal proteins. Several processing technologies can affect the structural and functional properties of these proteins differently and can influence their fate inside the gastrointestinal tract. The present review examines some of the processing technologies for improving egg protein digestibility and discusses how different processing conditions affect the digestibility of egg proteins under gastrointestinal digestion environments. To provide up-to-date information, most of the studies included in this review have been published in the last 5 years on different aspects of egg protein digestibility. Digestibility of egg proteins can be improved by employing some processing technologies that are able to improve the susceptibility of egg proteins to gastrointestinal proteases. Processing technologies, such as pulsed electric field, high-pressure, and ultrasound, can induce conformational and microstructural changes that lead to unfolding of the polypeptides and expose active sites for further interactions. These changes can enhance the accessibility of digestive proteases to cleavage sites. Some of these technologies may inactivate some egg proteins that are enzyme inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors. The underlying mechanisms of how different technologies mediate the egg protein digestibility have been discussed in detail. The proteolysis patterns and digestibility of the processed egg proteins are not always predictable and depends on the processing conditions. Empirical input is required to tailor the optimization of processing conditions for favorable effects on protein digestibility.

High hydrostatic pressure combined with moisture regulators improves the tenderness and quality of beef jerky

The influence of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at different pressure levels (0.1, 100, 200, and 300 MPa) combined with moisture regulators (MR) on the tenderness, water content, and quality of beef jerky was investigated. HHP treatment reduced the shear force (SF) of beef jerky (P < 0.05). The beef jerky treated with MR+HHP exhibited higher tenderness than the beef jerky treated only with HHP (P < 0.05). The MR+HHP samples had significantly higher moisture content than the HHP samples (P > 0.05) when the water activity was maintained at approximately 0.7. MR+HHP contributed to a shorter T₂₁ value and a higher P₂₁ value, which indicated an improvement in the water-binding ability of the beef muscle. Analysis of the microstructure showed that MR+HHP led to the fracture of the Z-line and destruction of the sarcomere structure. Sensory analysis showed that MR+HHP-200 samples had significantly higher tenderness and overall acceptable scores than other samples (P < 0.05).

High-pressure processing of meat: Molecular impacts and industrial applications

High-pressure processing (HPP) has been the most adopted nonthermal processing technology in the food industry with a current ever-growing implementation, and meat products represent about a quarter of the HPP foods. The intensive research conducted in the last decades has described the molecular impacts of HPP on microorganisms and endogenous meat components such as structural proteins, enzyme activities, myoglobin and meat color chemistry, and lipids, resulting in the characterization of the mechanisms responsible for most of the texture, color, and oxidative changes observed when meat is submitted to HPP. These molecular mechanisms with major effect on the safety and quality of muscle foods are comprehensively reviewed. The understanding of the high pressure-induced molecular impacts has permitted a directed use of the HPP technology, and nowadays, HPP is applied as a cold pasteurization method to inactive vegetative spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in ready-to-eat cold cuts and to extend shelf life, allowing the reduction of food waste and the gain of market boundaries in a globalized economy. Yet, other applications of HPP have been explored in detail, namely, its use for meat tenderization and for structure formation in the manufacturing of processed meats, though these two practices have scarcely been taken up by industry. This review condenses the most pertinent-related knowledge that can unlock the utilization of these two mainstream transformation processes of meat and facilitate the development of healthier clean label processed meats and a rapid method for achieving sous vide tenderness. Finally, scientific and technological challenges still to be overcome are discussed in order to leverage the development of innovative applications using HPP technology for the future meat industry.

Monitoring Thermal and Non-Thermal Treatments during Processing of Muscle Foods: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Technological Advances

Muscle food products play a vital role in human nutrition due to their sensory quality and high nutritional value. One well-known challenge of such products is the high perishability and limited shelf life unless suitable preservation or processing techniques are applied. Thermal processing is one of the well-established treatments that has been most commonly used in order to prepare food and ensure its safety. However, the application of inappropriate or severe thermal treatments may lead to undesirable changes in the sensory and nutritional quality of heat-processed products, and especially so for foods that are sensitive to thermal treatments, such as fish and meat and their products. In recent years, novel thermal treatments (e.g., ohmic heating, microwave) and non-thermal processing (e.g., high pressure, cold plasma) have emerged and proved to cause less damage to the quality of treated products than do conventional techniques. Several traditional assessment approaches have been extensively applied in order to evaluate and monitor changes in quality resulting from the use of thermal and non-thermal processing methods. Recent advances, nonetheless, have shown tremendous potential of various emerging analytical methods. Among these, spectroscopic techniques have received considerable attention due to many favorable features compared to conventional analysis methods. This review paper will provide an updated overview of both processing (thermal and non-thermal) and analytical techniques (traditional methods and spectroscopic ones). The opportunities and limitations will be discussed and possible directions for future research studies and applications will be suggested.

The Impact of High-Pressure Processing on Physicochemical Properties and Sensory Characteristics of Three Different Lamb Meat Cuts

This study investigated the effects of high pressure processing (HPP) on the physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of different lamb meat cuts. Lamb meat discolouration occurred when HPP was applied at 400 and 600 MPa. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values significantly increased with pressure increase from 200 to 600 MPa for loin cut, and 300 to 600 MPa for shoulder and shank cuts. Saturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid content significantly decreased with pressure increase from 200 to 600 MPa for shank and shoulder cuts, and 300 to 600 MPa for loin cut. Free amino acids content significantly increased in shank and loin cuts with pressure increase after 200 MPa, and in shoulder cuts after 400 MPa. In addition, samples treated with HPP at high pressure levels of 400 and 600 MPa were associated with browned, livery and oxidized flavours. The pressure levels applied and type of cuts used are important considerations during HPP processing as they influenced physicochemical and sensory properties of lamb samples.

Effect of High Pressure, Calcium Chloride and ZnO-Ag Nanoparticles on Beef Color and Shear Stress

This study investigates how the use of a combination of high-pressure treatment, steak marination and active packaging influences beef color and shear stress. A 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design was applied, including pressure, marination, packaging and storage time. Many significant interactions among factors were found, but the effects of pressure and marination were so high that the effect of packaging was almost undetectable. Independent of storage type, pressurized treatments presented higher values for both L* and hab than unpressurized treatments, and independent of pressure application, the increase in L* and hab with storage time was higher for marinated treatments than for unmarinated treatments. In unpressurized samples, marination provoked an increase in L*, a* and hab and a decrease in Cab*, whereas in pressurized samples, marination had no effect on color. Pressurized samples always showed higher values for shear stress (on average 71% higher) than unpressurized samples.

Combined effects of aging and low temperature, long time heating on pork toughness

The combined effects of aging and low temperature, long time heating (LTLT) on meat toughness were investigated. Pork loins were heated at 53 or 58 °C for up to 20 h, and shear force values, cooking loss, moisture content, collagen solubility, electrophoresis of myofibrillar proteins were determined. Structural changes in perimysium were also observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that aging and LTLT cooking independently affected meat toughness, and higher temperature or longer time were required to decrease toughness of one-day aged meat to the same level as in 10-day aged meat. Collagen solubilization is suggested as the main reason for the tenderization effect of LTLT. Myofibrillar proteolysis might not occur during LTLT cooking, and will not be contributing to meat tenderness.

Effect of High-pressure Processing on the Quality Characteristics and Shelf-life Stability of Hanwoo Beef Marinated with Various Sauces

The effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) treatment on the quality characteristics of low graded Hanwoo beef marinated with five different sauces (soy, fish, fish-soy, soy-fish and fish-soy-meat sauces) obtained from Asian countries were studied. The Hanwoo beef striploins were marinated with the aforementioned sauces (at ratio: 3:1 w/w) for 3 days at 4℃ before they were treated with HPP at 550 MPa for 5 min at 10℃. All the sauces used were equalized to a same salt level of 12.5%, and the samples marinated with a 12.5% brine solution were served as a control. After treating with the HPP, all the samples were stored for further 7 days at 4℃ for analyses. Results revealed that HPP treatments showed some effects on technological quality traits (pH, cooking loss and color) but had no effect on the collagen contents of the marinated beef. Noticeably, the HPP treatment led to the increases in amounts of free amino acids associated with monosodium glutamate–like taste and sweet taste in the samples marinated with fish sauce or soy-fish sauce, fish-soy sauce and fish-soy-meat sauce whereas, it only reduced these amino acids in the samples marinated with soy sauce or control. Furthermore, the total bacteria count in all the marinated beef samples treated with HPP were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of the non-HPP-treated samples throughout the storage periods. It is concluded that HPP could be applied for enhancing the taste-active compounds production such as free amino acids, and improving the shelf-life stability of the marinated beef.

Applied and Emerging Methods for Meat Tenderization: A Comparative Perspective

The tenderization process, which can be influenced by both pre- and post-slaughter interventions, begins immediately after an animal's death and is followed with the disruption of the muscle structure by endogenous proteolytic systems. The post-slaughter technological interventions like electrical stimulation, suspension methods, blade tenderization, tumbling, use of exogenous enzymes, and traditional aging are some of the methods currently employed by the meat industry for improving tenderness. Over the time, technological advancement resulted in development of several novel methods, for maximizing the tenderness, which are being projected as quick, economical, nonthermal, green, and energy-efficient technologies. Comparison of these advanced technological methods with the current applied industrial methods is necessary to understand the feasibility and benefits of the novel technology. This review discusses the benefits and advantages of different emerging tenderization techniques such as hydrodynamic-pressure processing, high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, ultrasound, SmartStretch^™ , Pi-Vac Elasto-Pack® system, and some of the current applied methods used in the meat industry.

The physical and biochemical effects of pre-rigor high pressure processing of beef

High pressure processing (HPP) of pre-rigor longissimus thoracis (strip loin) from prime and bull animals substantially decreased the shear force and improved consumer eating attributes of the final meat product. The improved tenderness in both prime and bull meat was associated with a lower myofibrillar fragmentation index and reduced calpain 1 activity which indicated the mechanism of tenderisation was different from that which occurred in chill aged meat. Light microscopy showed disruption to the fibre packing within the muscle and electron microscopy confirmed significant disruption of the Z discs and M lines and disappearance of the A lines. Thus, HPP is associated with a reduction in the structural integrity and strength of the sarcomeres. These effects were consistent in strip loins sourced from prime and bull stock. HPP also led to the movement of glycogen phosphorylase from the sarcoplasmic fraction to the insoluble myofibrillar fraction in all animals and this was associated with a higher pH at 24 h.