Effect of pre- and post-rigor on texture, flavor, heterocyclic aromatic amines and sensory evaluation of roasted lamb

Flavor profile analysis of grilled lamb seasoned with classic salt, chili pepper, and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) through HS-SPME-GC-MS, HS-GC-IMS, E-nose techniques, and sensory evaluation on Sonit sheep

In this study, the volatile flavor profiles of grilled lamb seasoned with salt, chili pepper, and cumin were analyzed employing HS-SPME-GC-MS, HS-GC-IMS, E-nose, and sensory evaluation techniques. The E-nose was found effective in differentiating the samples seasoned variously. A total of 67 volatile compounds were identified by HS-SPME-GC-MS, and 59 by HS-GC-IMS. The PCA demonstrated a correlation between the seasonings and the volatile compounds, with five principal components accounting for 99.54% of the total variance. 1-octen-3-ol, 3-furanmethanol, acetic acid, and heptanal were introduced by salt; compounds like propyl acetate were correlated with chili pepper; a broader range, including ethyl 3-methylbutanoate and high concentrations of alpha-pinene, was associated with cumin. Samples seasoned with all three ingredients showed similarities to those associated with cumin, alongside unique compounds such as gamma-octalactone and alpha-pinene. Sensory evaluations by consumers indicated that the combination of these seasonings significantly enhanced the overall acceptability of the grilled lamb. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Utilizing modern analytical techniques, this study has successfully revealed the distinct impacts of seasonings-salt, chili pepper, and cumin-on the flavor profile of grilled lamb. By providing experimental data on how each seasonings influence the flavor profile of grilled lamb prepared with Sonit sheep. The research offers theoretical foundation for the development of grilled lamb products. By conducting a thorough comparison between GC-MS and GC-IMS, this study has expanded the understanding of the distinct characteristics of these two technologies. It has also provided a clearer analysis of some flavor compounds dimers produced in GC-IMS system.

Influence of Long-Term Freezing of Carcasses in Pre- and Post-Rigor Mortis Stages on the Technological and Nutritional Parameters of the Longissimus lumborum Muscle of Botucatu Rabbits

The aim was to assess the impact of long-term storage on the quality of Botucatu rabbit meat frozen in pre- and post-rigor stages. The stability of the technological and nutritional parameters of Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was analyzed over 12 months. In the post-rigor phase, the dorsal LL surface showed a higher level (p < 0.05) of redness and saturation, while the ventral surface showed a higher level (p < 0.05) of yellowness compared to the pre-rigor LL muscle. During storage, the redness and saturation in the LL muscle decreased (p < 0.05), while the yellowness increased (p < 0.05) on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. In the first six months, the pre-rigor meat had a higher pH (p < 0.05) compared to the post-rigor meat. The fresh meat showed higher (p < 0.05) shear force values in the post-rigor stage. Over the 12-month study period, the lipid oxidation, myofibrillar fragmentation index, gross energy, and levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates increased (p < 0.05), while the shear force, mineral content, and moisture decreased (p < 0.05). Thus, rigor mortis affects meat color in Botucatu rabbits. Fresh meat in the pre-rigor stage is softer, moister, and less acidic than post-rigor meat after 24 h of chilling. Long-term freezing enhances tenderness, regardless of the rigor phase at freezing, preserving its physical, chemical, and nutritional quality, with minor changes in color, lipid oxidation, and chemical composition.

Evaluation of the flavor profiles of Yanbian-style sauced beef from differently treated raw beef samples

In this study, we investigated the volatile flavor compounds and sensory perceptions of Yanbian-style sauced beef prepared from raw meats subjected to different treatments (hot fresh, chilled, and frozen beef). The results indicated that the treatment of raw beef significantly impacted the quality and flavor of sauced beef. Sauced chilled beef (CRSB) exhibited the highest content of fatty acids and total amino acids. A total of 48 volatile compounds were identified. Moreover, a relative odor activity value analysis identified hexanal, nonanal, heptanal, 1-octen-3-ol, and 2,3-octanedione as the characteristic flavor compounds in Yanbian-style sauced beef. The sensory evaluation demonstrated that CRSB was the most palatable and flavorful. Additionally, correlation loading plot analysis indicated strong correlations between sensory evaluation, fatty acids, amino acids, and volatile flavor compounds. These results suggest that chilled beef meat is the best raw material for the production of Yanbian-style sauced beef.

Contribution of mono- and co-culture of Pseudomonas paralactis, Acinetobacter MN21 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to the spoilage of chill-stored lamb

Exploring the contribution of common microorganisms to spoilage is of great significance in inhibiting spoilage in lamb. This work investigated the extent of protein degradation and profile changes of free amino acids (FAAs), free fatty acids (FFAs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in lamb caused by single- and co-culture of the common aerobic spoilage bacteria, P. paralactis, Ac. MN21 and S. maltophilia. Meanwhile, some key VOCs produced by the three bacteria during lamb spoilage were also screened by orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis and difference value in VOCs content between inoculated groups and sterile group. Lamb inoculated with P. paralactis had the higher total viable counts, pH, total volatile base nitrogen and TCA-soluble peptides than those with the other two bacteria. Some FAAs and FFAs could be uniquely degraded by P. paralactis but not Ac. MN21 and S. maltophilia, such as Arg, Glu, C15:0, C18:0 and C18:1n9t. Co-culture of the three bacteria significantly promoted the overall spoilage, including bacterial growth, proteolysis and lipolysis. Key VOCs produced by P. paralactis were 2, 3-octanedione, those by Ac. MN21 were 1-octanol, octanal, hexanoic acid, 1-pentanol and hexanoic acid methyl ester, and that by S. maltophilia were hexanoic acid. The production of extensive key-VOCs was significantly and negatively correlated with C20:0, C23:0 and C18:ln9t degradation. This study can provide a basis for inhibiting common spoilage bacteria and promoting high-quality processing of fresh lamb.

Rapid detection of adulterated lamb meat using near infrared and electronic nose: A F1-score-MRE data fusion approach

Individual detection techniques cannot guarantee accurate and reliable results when combatting the presence of adulterated lamb meat in the market. Here, we propose an approach combining the electronic nose and near-infrared spectroscopy fusion data with machine learning methods to effectively detect adulterated lamb meat (mixed with duck meat). To comprehensively analyse the data from both techniques, the F1-score-based Model Reliability Estimation (F1-score-MRE) data fusion method was introduced. The obtained results demonstrate the superiority of the F1-score-MRE method, achieving an accuracy rate of 98.58% (F1-score: 0.9855) in detecting adulterated lamb meat. This surpasses the performance of the traditional data fusion and feature concatenation methods. Furthermore, the F1-score-MRE data fusion method exhibited enhanced stability and accuracy compared with the single electronic nose and near-infrared data processed by the self-adaptive BPNN model (accuracy: 94.36%, 93.66%; F1-score: 0.9435, 0.9368). This study offers a promising solution to address concerns regarding adulterated lamb meat.

Relationship between phospholipid molecules species and volatile compounds in grilled lambs during the heating process

The present study used a comprehensive analysis combining headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) to investigate changes in volatile compounds and phospholipid molecules in grilled lambs. The results revealed 19 key volatile compounds (OAV > 1) involved in the grilling process of lambs. Additionally, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis detected 142 phospholipid molecules in grilled lamb, with phosphatidylcholine exhibiting the highest content (36.62 %), followed by phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidyl glycerol, and phosphatidic acid. Through partial least squares analysis, 63 key differential phospholipids were identified. Principal component analysis of the key differential phospholipids and volatile compounds indicated that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyl ethanolamine phospholipids are the key substrates in forming volatile compounds in grilled lambs. This information is essential for precisely regulating the flavor profile, enhancing the grilling process, and minimizing the production of harmful compounds in grilled meat products.

Red Meat Heating Processes, Toxic Compounds Production and Nutritional Parameters Changes: What about Risk-Benefit?

The heating process is a crucial step that can lead to the formation of several harmful chemical compounds in red meat such as heterocyclic aromatic amines, N-Nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and acrylamide. Meat has high nutritional value, providing essential amino acids, bioactive compounds and several important micronutrients which can also be affected by heating processes. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the effects of different heating processes on both the safety and nutritional parameters of cooked red meat. The most-used heating processes practices were taken into consideration in order to develop a risk-benefit scenario for each type of heating process and red meat.

The effect of modified atmosphere packaging at an early postmortem stage on lamb meat quality during subsequent aging

This study explores the influence of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on fresh lamb meat quality with respect to gas concentration, rigor state, and post-mortem aging time. A comparison was done for the quality characteristics of lamb Longissimus thoracis lumborum chops that had been packaged separately in air, 75%O2  + 25%CO2 MAP or 50%O2  + 50%CO2 MAP at 1, 6, and 24 h post-mortem and then stored for 6, 12, 24, 72, and 144 h post-mortem, and the quality of lamb chops had been evaluated at each post-mortem period separately. Chops packaged at 1 and 6 h post-mortem in MAP had reduced pH decline, less purge loss, and enhanced redness at early post-mortem storage times. Lamb color stability was evidently greater in 75%O2  + 25%CO2 MAP than in 50%O2  + 50%CO2 MAP during the early storage period when a* and R630/R580 were taken into account. Shear force values were lowest in lambs packaged at 1 h post-mortem with 75%O2  + 25%CO2 MAP at 12 h post-mortem and then increased until 72 h post-mortem, suggesting that rigor has been delayed by such a high O2 MAP. Thus, fresh lamb quality was maintained most effectively when packaged at 1 h post-mortem in 75%O2  + 25%CO2 MAP for consumption at 12 h post-mortem. The exact mechanisms and optimization of MAP based on Chinese retail conditions should be considered in future studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, three slaughter patterns in the meat industry involving boning immediately after dressing (hot-boning) and chilling for a short period (warm-boning) or overnight (cold-boning) are considered, as well as the behavior of non-immediate consumption after purchase. Modified atmosphere packaging provides an effective preservation of early post-mortem muscles with enhanced color stability, water holding capacity, and texture during refrigerated storage. This could provide new insights into how to process lamb muscles in the early post-mortem period to improve and stabilize lamb quality.

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.

Unveiling heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in thermally processed meat products: Formation, toxicity, and strategies for reduction - A comprehensive review

This comprehensive review focuses on heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), a class of chemicals that commonly form during the cooking or processing of protein-rich foods. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has categorized certain HAAs as probable human carcinogens, highlighting the significance of studying their formation and control in food safety research. The main objective of this review is to address the knowledge gaps regarding HAAs formation and propose approaches to reduce their potential toxicity during thermal processing. By summarizing the mechanisms involved in HAAs formation and inhibition, the review encompasses both conventional and recent detection methods. Furthermore, it explores the distribution of HAAs in thermally processed meats prepared through various cooking techniques and examines their relative toxicity. Additionally, considering that the Maillard reaction, responsible for HAAs formation, also contributes to the unique flavors and aromas of cooked meat products, this review investigates the potential effects of inhibiting HAAs formation on flavor substances. A thorough understanding of these complex interactions provides a foundation for developing targeted interventions to minimize the formation of HAAs and other harmful compounds during food processing.

Evaluation of key aroma compounds and protein secondary structure in the roasted Tan mutton during the traditional charcoal process

The traditional charcoal technique was used to determine the changes in the key aroma compounds of Tan mutton during the roasting process. The results showed that the samples at the different roasting time were distinguished using GC-MS in combination with PLS-DA. A total of 26 volatile compounds were identified, among which 14 compounds, including (E)-2-octenal, 1-heptanol, hexanal, 1-hexanol, heptanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-pentanol, (E)-2-nonenal, octanal, 2-undecenal, nonanal, pentanal, 2-pentylfuran and 2-methypyrazine, were confirmed as key aroma compounds through the odor activity values (OAV) and aroma recombination experiments. The OAV and contribution rate of the 14 key aroma compounds were maintained at high levels, and nonanal had the highest OAV (322.34) and contribution rate (27.74%) in the samples after roasting for 10 min. The content of α-helix significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the β-sheet content significantly increased (P < 0.05) during the roasting process. The content of random coils significantly increased in the samples roasted for 0-8 min (P < 0.05), and then no obvious change was observed. At the same time, β-turn content had no obvious change. Correlation analysis showed that the 14 key aroma compounds were all positively correlated with the content of α-helix and negatively correlated with the contents of β-sheet and random coil, and also positively correlated with the content of β-turn, except hexanal and 2-methypyrazine. The results are helpful to promoting the industrialization of roasted Tan mutton.

Effect of Animal Age, Postmortem Calcium Chloride Marination, and Storage Time on Meat Quality Characteristics of M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum of Buffalo Bulls

This study investigated the effect of animal age, calcium chloride marination, and storage time on meat quality characteristics of buffalo bulls to suggest a cost-effective method of improving buffalo meat quality. The current study was designed considering the importance of buffalo meat and the usage of meat from spent buffalo animals in local markets of South Asian countries. A total of 36 animals comprised of 18 young and 18 spent buffalo bulls were selected. After slaughtering and 24 h of postmortem chilling, striploins were separated and cut into 16 steaks and equally divided into two groups, i.e., either marinated with calcium chloride or not. Meat quality characteristics were recorded on 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days of storage. The results showed that the pH value of young animals was higher than the value of spent animals and pH was increased over the storage time. Color b*, C*, and h* values were higher in spent animals as compared with the young animals; however, values of colors L* and h* were higher and a* was lower in marinated samples than the values of non-marinated samples. Color a* and C* values were increased and h* was decreased with lengthening the storage time. The meat cooking loss was higher in marinated and the water-holding capacity was higher in non-marinated meat samples. Shear force values were lower in young animals and marinated samples than the values of spent animals and non-marinated meat samples, respectively. Sensory characteristic scores of marinated samples were better than the non-marinated samples. In conclusion, calcium chloride marination can be used to improve the quality characteristics of buffalo meat.

Active Packaging for the Extended Shelf-Life of Meat: Perspectives from Consumption Habits, Market Requirements and Packaging Practices in China and New Zealand

Active packaging (AP) has been developed to improve the safety, quality and integrity of food, and minimise food waste, while its application in meat is scarce. This review aims to describe meat production and consumption culture in China and New Zealand to provide the context for packaging innovation requirements, focusing on the emerging opportunities for AP to be used for the improvement of the shelf-life of pre-rigor, aged, and frozen-thawed meat products. Sustainable polymers utilised in the manufacturing of AP, manufacturing techniques, the release mechanisms of actives, and legal and regulatory constraints are also discussed. Diverse market compositions and consumption cultures in China and New Zealand require different packaging solutions to extend the shelf-life of meat. AP containing antimicrobials, moisture regulating agents, and antioxidants may be used for pre-rigor, dry- and wet-aged products and in improving the quality and shelf-life of frozen-thawed meat. Further innovations using sustainably produced polymers for AP, along with incorporating active compounds of multiple functions for effectively improving meat quality and shelf-life are necessary. Challenges remain to resolve issues with scaling the technology to commercially relevant volumes as well as complying with the rigorous legal and regulatory constraints in various countries.

Water distribution and key aroma compounds in the process of beef roasting

The key aroma compounds and water distribution of the beef at different roasting times (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 min) were identified and analyzed. The results showed that the L^* value increased considerably before peaking and then decreased. On average, a^* values decreased significantly first and then kept stable, while b^* values increased first and then decreased. A total of 47 odorants were identified in all samples, including 14 alcohols, 18 aldehydes, 6 ketones, 1 ester, 3 acids, 4 heterocyclic compounds, and 1 other compound. Among them, 11 key aroma compounds were selected and aldehydes and alcohols predominantly contributed to the key aroma compounds. The fluidity of the water in the beef during the roasting process was decreased, and the water with a high degree of freedom migrated to the water with a low degree of freedom. The correlation analysis showed that water content and L^* were negatively correlated with key aroma compounds of the samples, while M₂₁ was positively correlated with key aroma compounds.

The Influence of Vacuum Packaging of Hot-Boned Lamb at Early Postmortem Time on Meat Quality during Postmortem Chilled Storage

To evaluate the effects of early postmortem vacuum packaging (VP) on meat quality during postmortem chilled storage, hot-boned lamb was vacuum-packaged at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postmortem and stored around 2°C until 168 h postmortem, with lamb packaged in plastic wrap as the control (aerobic packaging). Intramuscular pH decline was delayed when lamb was vacuum packaged at 1, 6, and 12 h postmortem (p<0.05). The lamb vacuum-packaged at 1 h postmortem (VP-1h group) had significantly lower shear force values and purge losses accompanied by lower free thiol group values than other treatments during postmortem storage and was also higher in extractable calpain-1 activity by 6 h postmortem (p<0.05). Free thiol group concentrations were significantly higher after VP at 6 and 12 h postmortem (p<0.05). Packaging lamb under vacuum very early postmortem produced the lowest shear force and purge loss, likely by slowing heat loss and muscle temperature decline, implying that lamb quality is improved by VP when applied very early postmortem. This was at the expense of protein oxidation, which was unrelated to other meat quality measurements, most likely because potential contracture during hot boning confounded its impact. Further research is required to understand the implications of the interaction between protein oxidation, VP, and hot boning on the acceptability of lamb.

Development of a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) Ballot and Machine Learning for Generation Z Consumers for Innovative Traditional Food

Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers account for an increasing proportion of the food market. The aim of this study took lamb shashliks as an example and developed novel products from the perspective of cooking methods in order to develop a traditional food suitable for Gen Z consumers. The sensory characterization of electric heating air (EH), microwave heating (MH), air frying (AF), and control (traditional burning charcoal (BC) of lamb shashliks) was performed using the CATA methodology with 120 Gen Z consumers as assessors. A 9-point hedonic scale was used to evaluate Gen Z consumers’ preferences for the cooking method, as well as a CATA ballot with 46 attributes which described the sensory characteristics of lamb shashliks. The machine learning algorithms were used to identify consumer preferences for different cooking methods of lamb shashliks as a function of sensory attributes and assessed the relationship between products and attributes present in the perceptual map for the degree of association. Meanwhile, sensory attributes as important variables play a relatively more important role in each cooking method. The most important variables for sensory attributes of lamb shashliks using BC are char-grilled aroma and smoky flavor. Similarly, the most important variables for AF samples are butter aroma, intensity aroma, and intensity aftertaste, the most important variables for EH samples are dry texture and hard texture, and the most important variables for MH samples are light color regarding external appearance and lumpy on chewing texture. The interviews were conducted with Gen Z consumers to investigate why they prefer innovative products—AF. Grounded theory and the social network analysis (SNA) method were utilized to explore why consumers chose AF, demonstrating that Gen Z consumers who had previously tasted AF lamb shashliks could easily perceive the buttery aroma. This study provides a theoretical and practical basis for developing lamb shashliks tailored to Gen Z consumers.

Changes in Textural Quality and Water Retention of Spiced Beef under Ultrasound-Assisted Sous-Vide Cooking and Its Possible Mechanisms

The present study investigated the effects of ultrasound (28 kHz, 60 W at 71 °C for 37 min) combined with sous-vide cooking (at 71 °C for 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 min) on the textural quality, water distribution, and protein characteristics of spiced beef. Results showed that the spiced beef treated with conventional cooking (CT) had the highest cooking loss (41.31%), but the lowest value of shear force (8.13 N), hardness (55.66 N), springiness (3.98 mm), and chewiness (64.36 mJ) compared to ultrasound-assisted sous-vide (USV) and sous-vide cooking (SV) groups. Compared with long-time thermal treatment, USV heating within 100 min enhanced the water retention of spiced beef by maintaining the lower values of cooking loss (16.64~25.76%), T₂ relaxation time (242.79~281.19 ms), and free water content (0.16~2.56%), as evident by the intact muscle fibers. Moreover, the USV group had relatively lower carbonyl content, but higher sulfhydryl content compared to CT and SV groups. More protein bands coupled with a minor transformation from α-helixes to β-turns and random coils occurred in USV40~USV80. In conclusion, these results indicated that USV treatment within 100 min positively affected the textural quality and water retention of spiced beef by moderate protein oxidation.

Effects of chilling rate on progression of rigor mortis in postmortem lamb meat

This work investigated the effects of chilling rate on the progression of rigor mortis and explored possible mechanisms. Silverside from 18 lamb carcasses was assigned to control group (1.94 °C/h), very fast chilling-I group (VFC-I, 12.19 °C/h) and VFC-II group (15.10 °C/h). The shear force, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), actomyosin ATPase activity, protein degradation and actomyosin dissociation were determined. There was no increase in the shear force in VFC-II group. The activation of actomyosin ATPase at 2-4 h postmortem in VFC-II group resulted in super-contracted sarcomeres and an increase in MFI. The degradation of μ-calpain, troponin T and desmin in VFC-II group was higher than that in control group from 6 to 24 h postmortem. These results suggested that rigor mortis was influenced which resulted in decreased shear force at a chilling rate of 15.10 °C/h by activating actomyosin ATPase and μ-calpain at early postmortem and promoted actomyosin dissociation.

Semi-Quantitative and Qualitative Distinction of Aromatic and Flavour Compounds in Charcoal Grilled, Electric Barbecue Grilled, Infrared Grilled and Superheated-Steam Roasted Lamb Meat Patties Using GC/MC, E-nose and E-tongue

This study investigated the influence of four different methods of cooking (charcoal grilling, electric barbecue grilling, superheated-steam roasting and infrared grilling) on the volatile profile of lamb meat patties. The study included the patties of the oyster cut muscle of lambs cooked using charcoal grilling, electric barbecue grilling, infrared grilling and superheated-steam roasting methods. The principal component analysis (PCA) of electric nose data showed a total variance of 73.71%. The e-nose values showed differentiation of the volatiles released from the lamb meat patties. Data of PCA of e-nose and GC-MS revealed good separation between groups. Significance (p < 0.05) was found for the flavour profile values of charcoal-grilled and superheated-steam-roasted samples while the lowest significance was observed between infrared- and electric-barbecue-grilled samples. Saltiness and sourness were higher in superheated-steam-roasted patties than charcoal-grilled samples through e-tongue. The main volatile compound found in all the lamb patties was 2,3-octanedione with a content of 20.43 µg/g–27.83 µg/g. 1-hexanol was highest at 34.74 µg/g in the charcoal-grilled samples while 2,3-octanedione was highest at 35.83 µg/g in superheated-steam-roasted patties.

Chlorogenic acid and Epicatechin: An efficient inhibitor of heterocyclic amines in charcoal roasted lamb meats

There are few studies on controlling the formation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) by adding polyphenols to roasted lamb. The aim of this study was to assess the inhibitory effect of 0.025, 0.125, and 0.625 mmol of chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rutin, quercetin and quinic acid on the formation of HAs in charcoal roasted lamb, respectively, by UHPLC-MS/MS. The results indicated that Harman, Norharman, PhIP, IQx and 8-MeIQx were detected, but both chlorogenic acid and epicatechin greatly inhibited the formation of IQx, 8-MeIQx, Norharman, Harman and PhIP, and epicatechin had better inhibitory effect than chlorogenic acid. PLSR-VID analysis suggested the key precursors of HAs formation in roasted lamb were glucose, ribose, fructose, isoleucine, valine, and lysine. In addition, this work also implied that the potential mechanism of inhibition of HAs formation by chlorogenic acid and epicatechin in roasted lamb might attribute to competitive chemical reactions between polyphenols and key precursors of HAs.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Flavor in Charcoal and Electric-Roasted Tamarix Lamb by HS-SPME/GC-MS Combined with Electronic Tongue and Electronic Nose

To prevent the pollution generated during charcoal roasting of tamarix lamb, environmental-friendly electric is gradually applied in meat processing. The profile and formation of flavor in roasted tamarix lamb were evaluated using HS-SPME/GC-MS combined with E-nose/-tongue. Results indicated that charcoal-roasted tamarix lamb exhibited the higher taste of umami and sourness in E-tongue and had higher contents of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, and aromatics in E-nose, while the electric ones exhibited the higher taste of sweetness and bitterness and had higher contents of nitrogen oxides, terpenes, aromatics, and organic sulfur. Compared with charcoal, application of the electric significantly decreased the numbers of key volatile compounds with VIP > 1 (markers) and the contents of most markers.

Effect of Postmortem Phases on Lamb Meat Quality: A Physicochemical, Microstructural and Water Mobility Approach

To investigate the effect of postmortem phases on lamb meat quality, the physicochemical quality, microstructure and water mobility of oyster cut, short loin, knuckle and silverside muscles from Small-Tail Han sheep were evaluated in the pre-rigor, rigor mortis and post-rigor phases. Pre-rigor lamb meat had higher pH and water holding capacity (WHC), whereas lower CIE L*, b*, hue angle values than rigor mortis and post-rigor meat (p<0.05). The Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values were higher in rigor mortis short loin and silverside than their pre-rigor and post-rigor counterparts, pre-rigor short loin had lower WBSF value than its post-rigor counterpart (p<0.05). Muscle fibers shrank laterally and longitudinally during the onset of rigor mortis. Rigor mortis and post-rigor lamb meat exhibited wide I-bands, dark A-bands, short sarcomeres and large inter-myofibrillar spaces. The shift of immobilized water to free water and repulsion from the intra-myofibrillar space to the extracellular space result in the increase of water loss in rigor mortis and post-rigor lamb meat. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that rigor mortis and post-rigor lamb meat had similar quality properties but different from pre-rigor lamb meat. In conclusion, the lamb meat in the pre-rigor phase had good tenderness, color and WHC. The results of this research could provide some theoretical references for lamb meat production and processing.

Characterization and Discrimination of Key Aroma Compounds in Pre- and Postrigor Roasted Mutton by GC-O-MS, GC E-Nose and Aroma Recombination Experiments

The key aroma compounds in the pre- and postrigor roasted mutton were studied in this study. The results showed that 33 and 30 odorants were detected in the pre- and postrigor roasted mutton, respectively. Eight aroma compounds, including 3-methylbutanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, 1-octen-3-ol, and 2-pentylfuran, were confirmed as key odorants by aroma recombination and omission experiments. The aroma profiles of pre- and postrigor roasted mutton both presented great fatty, roasty, meaty, grassy, and sweet odors. Particularly, the concentrations of hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, 1-octen-3-ol, and 2-pentylfuran in postrigor roasted mutton were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the prerigor roasted mutton. The postrigor back strap was more suitable for roasting than the prerigor back strap. The pre- and postrigor roasted mutton could be obviously discriminated based on the aroma compounds by orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Hexanal and 1-octen-3-ol might potential markers for the discrimination of the pre- and postrigor roasted mutton.

Proteomics analysis to investigate the impact of diversified thermal processing on meat tenderness in Hengshan goat meat

During the thermal processing, proteins of Hengshan goat meat undergo structural modifications such as degradation, oxidation and denaturation, ultimately affect the palatability and acceptability. The results of several objective metrics demonstrated that thermal processing exhibited significant impacts on the tenderness of goat meat. The 551, 84, 72, and 121 proteins were identified in the control and thermal processed groups (boiled, steamed, and roasted), respectively. Compared with the control group, the 101, 98, and 109 differentially-expressed proteins were explored in the treatment groups. Furthermore, the functions of metabolic and skeletal muscle proteome were investigated and discussed. Sensory evaluation and proteomics analysis showed that steaming and boiling treatment had no significant effect on the tenderness of goat meat, while roasting significantly reduced the tenderness, indicating that the available thermal processing methods to ensure the tenderness of goat meat were steaming and boiling treatments. Thus, the established proteomics database of goat meat provided the valuable reference for rational selection of thermal processing methods.

Effect of Wet Aging on Color Stability, Tenderness, and Sensory Attributes of Longissimus lumborum and Gluteus medius Muscles from Water Buffalo Bulls

Simple Summary

The water buffalo is found in many tropical countries worldwide. In the current world scenario, where meeting the protein requirements of the population is one of the biggest future challenges, buffalo meat could be a good source of protein and other nutrients. Currently, very little information is available regarding buffalo meat quality attributes. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of aging time and muscle type on meat quality attributes (pH, color, tenderness, water holding capacity, and sensory acceptance) of buffalo meat. The results showed that color, tenderness, and sensory attributes were improved with aging time; the suitable aging time required to enhance meat quality attributes in Longissimus lumborum and Gluteus medius muscles is 28 and 21 days, respectively.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of wet aging on meat quality characteristics of Longissimus lumborum (LL) and Gluteus medius (GM) muscles of buffalo bulls. Meat samples from six aging periods, i.e., 0 day (d) = control, 7 d, 14 d, 21 d, 28 d, and 35 d, were evaluated for pH, color, metmyoglobin content (MetMb%), cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and sensory evaluation. The pH, instrumental color redness (a *), yellowness (b *), chroma (C *), and MetMb% values were increased, while the lightness (L *) and hue angle (h *) values showed non-significant (p > 0.05) differences in both LL and GM muscles in all aging periods. The cooking loss increased while WHC decreased till 35 days of aging. MFI values significantly (p < 0.05) increased, while WBSF values decreased; in addition, sensory characteristics were improved with the increase in the aging period. Overall, the color, tenderness, and sensory characteristics were improved in LL and GM muscles until 28 and 21 days of aging, respectively. Based on the evaluated meat characteristics, 28 days of aging is required to improve the meat quality characteristics of LL, whereas 21 days of aging is suitable for GM muscle.

Acetylation of Sarcoplasmic and Myofibrillar Proteins were Associated with Ovine Meat Quality Attributes at Early Postmortem

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between meat quality attributes and the changes of sarcoplasmic protein acetylation and myofibrillar protein acetylation in lamb longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscles at different postmortem phases. Protein acetylation, color, pH, shear force, myofibril fragmentation index and cooking loss were measured. The total level of acetylated sarcoplasmic proteins showed a negative relation with pH, a positive relation with a*, b* and cooking loss at the pre-rigor phase. Sarcoplasmic proteins acetylation affected postmortem pH by regulating glycolysis, which in turn affects color and cooking loss. The total level of acetylated myofibrillar proteins showed a positive relation with shear force at the pre-rigor phase. Myofibrillar proteins acetylation affected meat tenderness by regulating muscle contraction. This study indicated that acetylation played a regulatory role of meat color, water-holding capacity, and tenderization process at early postmortem.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Volatile and Nonvolatile Compounds in Oyster Cuts of Roasted Lamb at Different Processing Stages Using Traditional Nang Roasting

Nang roasting is a traditional lamb processing method in Xinjiang (China) with a history of thousands of years. This study comprehensively evaluated the volatile and nonvolatile compounds of oyster cuts of roasted lamb at different processing stages of Nang roasting using gas chromatography mass spectrometry and amino acid automatic analyzer, respectively. Results indicated that aldehydes were the dominant profiles of volatile compounds, and hexanal, nonanal, octanal, (E)-2-nonenal, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal, (E, E)-2,4-nonadienal and 1-octen-3-ol were the key volatile compounds or aroma contributors to roasted oyster cuts. Isoamylol and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone could differentiate fresh and marinated oyster cuts from roasted ones; (E)-2-nonenal, (E, E)-2,4-decadienal, 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal, octanal, nonanal and (E, E)-2,4-nonadienal could differentiate Nang roasted oyster cuts of 60 min from those of 15, 30 and 45 min. Umami amino acids and sweet amino acids are the dominant profiles of nonvolatile compounds; glutamic acid, alanine and 5′-IMP were the key free amino acids or taste contributors to roasted oyster cuts. Glutamic acid, alanine and 5′-IMP could differentiate fresh and marinated oyster cuts from roasted samples. This work provided theoretical support for the control of flavor attributes of roasted lamb with traditional Nang roasting.

Potential Alternative to Nitrite in Roasted Lamb for Sensory Attributes: Atmospheric Nonthermal Plasma Treatment

Reducing or replacing sodium nitrite without compromising the sensory attributes of meat products has always been a focus of the meat industry. In this study, five treatments, CT (without nitrite and plasma treatment), NT (with nitrite treatment), PT15, PT30, and PT45 (without nitrite and with plasma treatment for 15, 30, and 45 min, respectively), were designed to investigate the effect of atmospheric nonthermal plasma treatment replacing nitrite on the sensory attributes of roasted lamb. Results showed that PT45 decreased the residual nitrite of roasted lamb by 30% compared with NT, and nitrite was not detected in the PT15 and PT30 samples. The inhibition effect of plasma treatment on the lipid oxidation reached values from 86.69% to 89.89% compared with NT. Compared with CT, the redness of plasma-treated samples was increased by 9.30% to 31.40%, and the redness of NT samples was increased by 30.87%. In addition, the volatile compounds (OAVs > 1) of the PT30 sample were higher than those of the NT sample. The overall sensory score of the PT30 sample was higher than that of the CT sample and was similar to that of the NT samples. In conclusion, the sensory attributes of roasted lamb were enhanced by plasma treatment, and the 30 min plasma treatment is recommended.