Consumer Assessment of Beef Tenderloin Steaks from Various USDA Quality Grades at 3 Degrees of Doneness

A consumer study was conducted to determine palatability ratings of beef tenderloin steaks from USDA Choice, USDA Select, and USDA Select with marbling scores from Slight 50 to 100 (USDA High Select) cooked to various degrees of doneness. Steaks were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 degree of doneness categories: very‐rare, medium‐rare, or well‐done. Consumers (N = 315) were screened for preference of degree of doneness and fed 4 samples of their preferred doneness (a warm‐up and one from each USDA quality grade treatment in a random order). Consumers evaluated steaks on an 8‐point verbally anchored hedonic scale for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall like as well as rated steaks as acceptable or unacceptable for all palatability traits. Quality grade had no effect (P > 0.05) on consumer ratings for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall like scores, with all traits averaging above a 7 (“like very much”) on the 8‐point scale. In addition, no differences (P > 0.05) were found in the percentage of samples rated as acceptable for all palatability traits, with more than 94% of samples rated acceptable for each trait in all quality grades evaluated. Steaks cooked to well‐done had lower (P < 0.05) juiciness scores than steaks cooked to very‐rare or medium‐rare and were rated lower for tenderness (P < 0.05) than steaks cooked to a very‐rare degree of doneness. Results indicate consumers were not able to detect differences in tenderness, juiciness, flavor, or overall like among beef tenderloin steaks from USDA Choice and Select quality grades.     

The relationship of physiological maturity and marbling judged according to Korean grading system to meat quality traits of Hanwoo beef females

Fifty seven carcasses from Hanwoo beef females were randomly selected by official meat graders and were sorted into three levels of maturity and marbling. Carcass data was collected for back fat thickness, longissimus area, carcass weight, meat colour, fat colour, marbling score, yield and quality grades. Mature carcasses had more yellow fat, coarser texture, a larger longissimus muscle area and lower quality grades and marbling scores (P<0.05). Carcasses with a higher marbling score had thicker fat and a higher quality grade. Carcasses with low marbling had a higher yield grade and a coarser texture (P<0.05). Higher marbling scores corresponded with lower cook and drip loss values for longissimus steaks. As the maturity of carcass was increased, the redness and lightness of meat and the yellowness of fat all tended to increase. Tenderness, flavour and overall acceptability scores for the older maturity group were lower than for younger and intermediate groups. Marbling was significantly (P<0.01) correlated with quality grade, crude fat content, cook and drip losses, and Warner-Bratzler shear force. The maturity level was also significantly (P<0.01) correlated with quality grade, fat colour, texture score, number of calves produced and milk teeth, meat redness and yellowness, fat yellowness, and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Results indicate that a low marbling group and older maturity group based on Korean grading system could negatively influence carcass traits and beef qualities of Hanwoo beef female.     

EFFECTS OF CARCASS CHILLING TEMPERATURE ON LOIN STEAKS FROM BULLS AND STEERS1

South Devon bulls (n=10) and steers (n=10) were slaughtered at 16 months of age. The right sides were conventionally chilled (CC) at 2°C while the left sides were delayed chilled (DC) for 4 h at 12.8°C and subsequently moved to the 2°C cooler. Bulls exhibited heavier carcasses, larger longissimus (LD) area, less subcutaneous fat and lower USDA yield grades. Steers possessed higher marbling scores and more desirable lean texture. Bulls and DC sides exhibited higher LD temperatures 2 and 4 h postmortem. Bulls and CC sides tended to have higher 2 and 4 h pH values. Sex had no effect on Warner-Bratzler (WB) values; however, DC steaks had lower WB values than steaks from CC sides. Steers possessed slightly longer LD sarcomeres but no difference was observed between chill treatments. Sensory panelists judged steers to be superior in tenderness, flavor, juiciness and connective tissue residue. Steaks from CC sides were rated more tender then steaks from DC sides, but no differences were detected for the other sensory traits.     

Chronological age and breed-type effects on carcass characteristics and palatability of bull beef

Bulls (n = 115) of four slaughter ages (9, 12, 15 or 18 months) and of 15 genotypes were studied. In this analysis, each bullock was assigned to one of four breed groups-British and British crosses, Brahman and Brahman crosses. Jersey and Jersey crosses or Holstein and Holstein crosses. Slaughter age had an (P < 0·01) effect on marbling score, longissimus muscle area, fat thickness and yield grade while breed group had an (P < 0·01) effect on marbling score and quality grade. In general, British and British cross bullocks produced carcasses with the thickest subcutaneous fat, the highest marbling score and the highest USDA quality grade while Jersey and Jersey cross bullocks yielded carcasses with the lowest weight, smallest longissimus muscle area and the lowest USDA quality grade of the four breed-type groups. Increases in chronological age (from 9 to 18 months) were generally associated with a decrease in USDA maturity score, and increases in marbling score, USDA quality grade, longissimus muscle area, subcutaneous fat thickness and USDA yield grade. Shear force values decreased as bulls matured from 9 to 18 months of age. The meat from Brahman-type bulls had higher shear force values (P < 0·01) than that from bulls of the other breed groups. Steaks from British-type carcasses received the highest numerical ratings for sustained juiciness and flavor while steaks from the Brahman-type carcasses were assigned the lowest numerical ratings for juiciness. Breed-type had a greater effect on tenderness of bull beef than did chronological age.     

Variation in Flavor and Textural Descriptions of Cooked Steaks from Bovine m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum from Different Production and Aging Regimes

ABSTRACT: Free choice profiling (FCP) and generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) were used to assess flavor differences in cooked bovine m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) steaks sourced wholesale or from steers fed the same diet. Wholesale steaks were from LTL muscles that were either unaged or aged for 93 d with high or low visible marbling from old and young grass- and grain-finished cattle. The GPA of this sensory data showed that the 1st dimension contrasted grass- and grain-finished beef and accounted for 44.1% of the total variance, whereas the 2nd dimension contrasted unaged and aged beef and accounted for 22.9% of the variance. GPA was also used to assess flavor variation in cooked LTL steaks aged 4 or 14 d postmortem from 10 steers finished on the same diet, and the 1st 2 dimensions accounted for 39% of the total variance. Univariate analysis of beef aroma, flavor intensity, tenderness, and juiciness showed only tenderness increased with aging ( P = 0.041) and Duncan's multiple comparison test on all FCP data indicated that aging beef up to 14 d shifted beef sensory characteristics toward increased tenderness, juiciness, and fatty flavor. The results of these studies showed that distinct flavors exist in beef from cattle finished in different production systems and that there is less variation in the flavor of beef from steers produced on the same farm than in beef available for general retail.     

CONSUMER EVALUATION OF THE PALATABILITY OF USDA SELECT,USDA CHOICE AND CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF STRIP LOIN STEAKS FROM RETAIL MARKETS IN LUBBOCK,TEXAS, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT

Select, Choice and Certified Angus Beef (CAB) strip loin steaks were sold in Lubbock, TX to determine consumer acceptability. A home survey was attached to each package of steaks (return = 191 steak evaluations). Consumers did not detect differences in tenderness or flavor, but rated CAB steaks juicier (P < 0.05) than Select or Choice. However, 68% of CAB consumers rated steaks as extremely or very tender, but less than half rated Choice and Select steaks the same way. Consumer tenderness and flavor scores for Select steaks were more variable, but consumer satisfaction and tenderness acceptability did not differ (P > 0.05) between grades. Trained sensory panelists rated CAB steaks higher (P < 0.05) than Choice or Select for all palatability traits except flavor intensity. Shear force decreased (P < 0.05) by quality grade as CAB steaks sheared with the least resistance. These results showed marbling influenced objective palatability measures and decreased the variation in both objective and consumer measures of palatability.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Quality grades were established to predict beef palatability, but marbling can be an unreliable predictor of tenderness. Branded beef programs, such as Certified Angus Beef (CAB), have been developed to distinguish higher palatability products and provide more consistent products for consumers. Consumers can distinguish between levels beef tenderness and are willing to pay a premium for tender beef. Moreover, consumers find product consistency is moderately important when purchasing fresh beef. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine consumer acceptability based on in‐home evaluations of strip loin steaks from United States Department of Agriculture Select and Choice grades and CAB purchased from a retail supermarket environment.

     

AGING AND COOKING EFFECTS ON SENSORY TRAITS OF PORK FROM PIGS OF DIFFERENT BREED LINES

The effects of postmortem aging time (2, 9, and 16 days) and endpoint cooking temperature (60, 70, and 80C) on the eating characteristics of pork longissimus (LD) muscle were evaluated. Gilts (n=60) were from 4 different commercial hybrid genotypes (15 pigs/genotype) selected to produce a range of intramuscular fat. Results suggest that LD muscle from genotype 2, which was selected for its propensity to increase marbling had higher intramuscular fat content, tenderness and juiciness scores than that from the other genotypes (P < 0.05). Increasing aging time from 2 to 16 days increased sensory juiciness and tenderness, and decreased instrumental shear force and cooking loss (P < 0.05). Aging for nine days decreased shear force (P < 0.05) but had no effect on tenderness and juiciness scores and cooking loss when compared to 2 days aging. Increasing endpoint temperature increased cooking loss and shear force, and decreased tenderness (P < 0.05) and juiciness.     

EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AND BLADE TENDERIZATION ON PALATABILITY OF BEEF LONGISSIMUS AND SEMIMEMBRANOSUS MUSCLES

The effect of electrical stimulation (ES) and/or blade tenderization (BT) on palatability of longissimus (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles from range-grazed and concentrate-fed steers were compared. Range-grazed steers graded lower and the steaks contained less fat and more moisture (P<0.05) than those from concentrate-fed steers. Broiled steaks from the range-grazed steers were less flavorful, less juicy, and less desirable overall than those from concentrate-fed steers (P<0.05). Nevertheless, tenderness of ES and BT treated steaks from range-grazed steers was comparable to steaks from concentrate-fed animals that had not been tenderized. Flavor and juiciness of LD muscle did not change with ES or BT treatments but flavor and juiciness of SM muscle decreased when combined ES and BT treatments were used.     

Effects of dry,vacuum, and special bag aging; USDA quality grade; and end-point temperature on yields and eating quality of beef Longissimus lumborum steaks

This study evaluated the effects of three aging methods: (dry (D), wet (W), and special bag (SB)); two quality grades [USDA Choice((≥ Small⁵⁰ marbling) and Select); and two cooked end-point temperatures (62.8 °C and 71.1 °C) on physico-chemical traits of instrumental tenderness, color, and sensory properties of Longissimus lumborum beef muscle. Dry-aged loins had higher (P < 0.0001) weight loss than W or SB aged loins. However, D and SB aged loins had similar (P > 0.05) combined losses. W aged loins had higher (P < 0.01) L* values than D or SB aged loins. Warner–Bratzler shear force of steaks was not affected (P > 0.05) by aging method or quality grade but increased (P < 0.0001) as end-point temperature increased. Sensory panel evaluation also showed no effect (P > 0.05) of aging method or quality grade on myofibrillar tenderness, juiciness, connective tissue amount, overall tenderness or off flavor intensity. Steaks cooked to 62.8 °C were juicier (P < 0.05) than those cooked to 71.1 °C. Neither D nor SB aging had advantages over W aging.     

Palatability of Chilled and Frozen Beef Steaks

The effects of a split, split plot design, with marbling degree within USDA Choice quality grade as the whole plot, and storage system (chilled with 13 or 20 days postmortem aging or frozen with 7 or 14 days postmortem aging) and blade tenderization (once or twice) as the split plots on palatability and cooking characteristics of beef top loin (TL) and center-cut, top sirloin (TS) steaks were determined. Marbling degree within the Choice quality grade had no effect on sensory or cooking characteristics of either steak. Storing TL steaks frozen rather than chilled adversely affected flavor intensity and cooking losses. Palatability of TS steaks was much lower than for TL steaks. These data will provide the foodservice industry with more specific guidelines for product processing specifications.     

Benchmarking value in the pork supply chain: Characterization of US pork in the retail marketplace

Retail pork from eight US cities was obtained for quality and palatability evaluations. Boneless pork loin chops were classified into one of three quality categories - "high," "average," or "low" - with higher quality chops possessing more desirable color, marbling, juiciness, and shear force characteristics than lower quality chops. Loin chops that were enhanced (injected with solution to improve juiciness and/or tenderness) had higher (P<0.05) pH, less purge and cook loss, and higher palatability ratings compared to non-enhanced chops. Hams compared by their protein fat free (PFF) classifications showed that ham and water product received the highest (P<0.05) ratings for juiciness and tenderness, and ham with natural juices received the highest (P<0.05) texture, ham flavor intensity, and smoke flavor ratings. Bacon was compared by price/brand categories; however, the highest priced, national branded bacon (US$12.03/kg) was similar (P>0.05) for most quality and all palatability traits to the lowest priced, national branded bacon (US$6.47/kg) and the store branded bacon (US$8.30/kg) even though retail prices differed widely. Overall, there were tremendous ranges in values for these products indicating that retail pork is quite variable and that efforts to improve the quality and consistency of it must continue.     

Consumer sensory evaluations of aging effects on beef quality

ABSTRACT:  The most important sensory attribute affecting consumer acceptability is tenderness, which is a complex trait. Aging is the practice of holding meat at low temperatures to improve tenderness. In order to assess consumer quality attributes, cattle were selected to represent a range of quality grades from Utility to Prime. Steaks from these cattle were aged in vacuum bags for 0, 7, or 14 d, cut, and cooked on open hearth grills to 70 °C. Sensory evaluation was completed by consumers ( n = 522). Warner–Bratzler (WB) shear and various physical characteristics were also determined. Shear values decreased with aging time and tenderness increased. Consumers perceived the majority of change in tenderness occurred during the first 7 d of aging while change in WB shear was similar during the first 7 d and the second 7 d of aging. Aging had no effect ( P > 0.05) on juiciness, flavor, pH, lipid content, or water content of steaks.     

Reducing Postmortem Aging Time of Beef with Electrical Stimulation

Two studies (Study 1 = 23 forage-fed steers; Study 2 = 20 grain-fed steers and heifers) were conducted to determine relationships of electrical stimulation (ES) and/or postmortem aging (PA) to tenderness of beef. For Study 1, steaks from ES sides had lower (P < 0.05) Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) values than steaks from not-ES sides for each PA period. In addition, the percentage reduction in WBS values was greater for the steaks from the ES-Day 2 group (–29.5%) than for steaks from even the longest PA period (14 days) from the not-ES group (–25.8%). For Study 2, during the fist three PA periods (1, 2 and 5 days), ES resulted in more desirable (P < 0.05) flavor ratings (Day l), higher (P < 0.05) tenderness ratings and lower (P < 0.05) WBS values (Day 1, 2, 5) and more desirable (P < 0.05) overall palatability ratings (Day 1, 2). During the last three PA periods (8, 11 and 14 days), ES resulted in higher (P < 0.05) tenderness ratings (Day 8), lower (P < 0.05) juiciness ratings (Day 11, 14) and lower (P < 0.05) WBS values (Day 8). Based on these results, ES had the greatest impact on beef palatability if the period of aging was 8 days or less; with additional aging time, ES effects on palatability were negated. When each treatment (ES, not-ES) was divided into two groups based on median tenderness ratings for the not-ES group, ES had the greatest impact on those carcasses in the “tough” group while ES had little impact on those carcasses in the “tender” group. ES will accelerate the postmortem aging of beef but the aging time reduction and extent of ultimate tenderization appears to be affected by the inherent tenderness of the beef.     

Influence of Hot and Cold Boning on the Palatability, Textural and Economic Traits of Restructured Beef Steaks

Steaks containing 0.01% BHA, 0.75% NaCl and 10% fat were fabricated from hot- and cold-boned sides of four U.S. Standard, seven U.S. Good and one U.S. Choice steer carcasses. Carcasses were electrically stimulated (550 volts, 2.2 amps) ca 37 min postmortem. One side from each carcass was boned 4 hr postmortem (HB) while the other was placed in a 5°C cooler and boned 96 hr postmortem (CB). Hot boned sides required 29% less time to bone and yielded more (P<0.01) restructurable meat, less (P<0.05) lean trim and a heavier boneless loin. Cold-boned steaks had higher (P<0.05) bonding strength than hot boned steaks. No differences were found in juiciness, tenderness, flavor desirability, amount of connective tissue or cooking loss due to boning time. Restructured steaks produced from HB sides had a lower breakeven cost than steaks from the CB side. This was attributed to the higher yield of restructurable meat and more expedient boning.     

Effects of cooking beef muscles from frozen or thawed states on cooking traits and palatability

Biceps femoris and longissimus lumborum steaks were cooked from either a frozen or thawed state on an electric belt grill (TBG-60 MagiKitch'n Inc., Quakertown, PA) at 93?°C to the endpoint temperature of 70?°C. Cooking loss, cooking time, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and color (Illuminant A, L(?), a(?), b(?)) were evaluated. Trained panelists (n=6) evaluated palatability attributes on an eight-point scale for myofibrillar tenderness, juiciness, flavor, overall tenderness, and connective tissue amount (1=extremely tough, dry, bland, tough, and abundant; 8=extremely tender, juicy, intense, tender, and none). L(?), a(?), WBSF, juiciness, flavor, connective tissue amount, and overall tenderness did not differ (P>0.05) between steaks cooked from frozen and thawed states. However, thawed steaks cooked faster and had lower cooking losses than frozen steaks. The biceps femoris had higher WBSF values than the longissimus lumborum and was rated less tender by trained panelists. L(?), a(?), or b(?) values did not differ (P>0.05) between muscles. The biceps femoris needed more time to cook and had greater cooking losses than longissimus lumborum. Dimensional changes of steaks cooked to either 60 or 70?°C were studied. The width of biceps femoris steaks decreased 12.2%, and width of longissimus lumborum decreased 6.3%. Longissimus lumborum steaks became shorter (P<0.01) than biceps femoris steaks. Thickness of biceps femoris steaks decreased 25.6%, and thickness of longissimus lumborum steaks decreased 23.3%. Muscle type had a more pronounced effect on dimensional changes of steaks than endpoint temperature.     

Effects of Rapid Processing on the Chemical and Sensory Properties of Restructured Steak Made From Bull and Steer Meat

South Devon cattle (10 bulls, 10 steers) were slaughtered to determine effects of sex condition and postmortem temperature conditioning on the chemical and sensory properties of restructured beefsteak. Chucks from each left side were boned following a 4 hr delayed chill (DC, 13°C) period, while chucks from right sides were boned following a 48 hr conventional chill (CC. 2°C). Chucks were mechanically tenderized and formulated into restructured steaks. Bulls produced restructured steaks less prone to oxidative rancidity. Restructured steaks from bulls exhibited higher (P<0.01) cooking losses and Kramer Shear values. There were no differences between treatments in tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and connective tissue residue ratings; however, DC restructured steaks had lower (P<0.05) bind values than CC restructured steaks.     

Dry-Aging Effects on Palatability of Beef Longissimus Muscle

ABSTRACT: Beef strip loins and short loins were vacuum aged for 7 or 14 d, then these cuts were dry aged for 7, 14, or 21 d. At 2, 9, and 16 d of post-dry-aging vacuum storage, strip steaks were analyzed for sensory, physical, and microbial differences. Controls were vacuum aged for 14 d. Dry aging for 14 and 21 d produced steaks with greater (P < 0.05) dry-aged flavor, tenderness, and juiciness than controls or steaks dry aged for 7 d. Shear forces were lower (P < 0.05) for steaks dry aged for 21 d. Time of vacuum storage before and after dry aging had minimal effects on development of dry-aged flavor attributes.     

Consumer responses for tenderness and overall impression can be predicted by visible and near-infrared spectroscopy,Meullenet–Owens razor shear,and Warner–Bratzler shear force

Beef ribeye rolls (n = 40) from Select, low Choice, top (upper 2/3) Choice, and Prime quality grade carcasses were used to determine the relationship of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIR) reflectance, Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and Meullenet–Owens razor shear (MORS) with consumer responses for tenderness and overall impression. Steaks (2.54 cm) were cut and assigned to either 14 or 28 d aging (n = 4/aging period). Reflectance in the VNIR spectrum was measured 1 d from the box-date no less than 30 min after cutting, and prior to aging. The steak used for VNIR measurement was designated for WBSF and MORS measurement, whereas three adjacent steaks were cooked for evaluation by a consumer panel (n = 240 members). Steaks from the Select-grade ribeye rolls had the greatest (P = 0.06) WBSF values and lower (P < 0.05) overall impression scores than those from top Choice and Prime quality grades. Consumer panelists evaluated steaks aged 28 d as more tender (P < 0.05) than those aged 14 d. The relationship of mechanical tenderness measurements were higher with consumer panel responses for tenderness than with overall impression, and those relationships were stronger for the Select grade than for quality grades with higher degrees of marbling. The 2nd derivatives of VNIR measurements were more successful at predicting consumer panel responses of tenderness and overall impression than WBSF and MORS; thus, VNIR methodology was less invasive and more predictive than other, more traditional tenderness measurements.     

A Comparison of the Meat Qualities from the Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle) and Holstein Steer

This study was conducted to compare the meat qualities from the Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) and Holstein steer. A total of 48 Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) and Holstein steers (20 months old and averaging 500 kg in weight) were allotted into one of four groups (T1, B1+ meat grade Hanwoo; T2, B1 meat grade Hanwoo; T3, B1+ meat grade Holstein; T4, B1 meat grade Holstein). Meat grade were estimated by the Korean carcass grading system (National Livestock Cooperatives Federation, NLCF, 1998). Water content was higher in both of B1+-grade Holstein and B1-grade Holstein sample. B1+-grade Holstein sample was also higher in crude protein content, whereas ash content was higher in both B1+- and B1-grade Hanwoo samples. Shear force value was significantly lower in Holstein samples compared with Hanwoo samples. In fatty composition, the ratio of unsaturated fatty acid was higher, and saturated fatty acid was lower in Holstein samples. In sensory evaluation, aroma was higher in B1-grade Hanwoo sample than those of other samples, whereas flavor was highest in B1+-grade Hanwoo sample. Tenderness was significantly higher in Holstein samples compared with Hanwoo samples. In conclusion, Hanwoo beef had higher ash contents, aroma, and flavor, whereas meat tenderness was higher in Holstein samples.     

Influence of particular breed on meat quality parameters, sensory characteristics, and volatile components

The present study demonstrates the effect of breed on meat quality, sensory characteristics, and flavor components. Longissimus dorsi of ‘Angus’ and ‘Hanwoo’ breeds aged for 29 days were used for investigation of the aforementioned characteristics. Our results revealed that intramuscular fat (IMF) was higher for ‘Hanwoo’ beef as compared to ‘Angus’ (p<0.05). A total of 62 flavor compounds were identified, the amount of these compounds varied significantly among ‘Hanwoo’ and ‘Angus’ cattle. The ‘Hanwoo’ beef produced high level of pleasant flavor compounds such as octanal and nonanal derived from oleic acid. Also, the amount of unpleasant flavor compounds such as benzaldehyde derived from linolenic acid was lower than that of ‘Angus’ (p<0.05). Moreover, the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor scores were also higher for ‘Hanwoo’ beef when compared with ‘Angus’. In conclusion, our results clearly demonstrated that the breed had a potential impact on the meat quality, sensory, and volatile components.