Effect of Chloride Salts and Antioxidants on Sensory and Storage Traits of Restructured Beef Steaks

The effects of antioxidants (0.01 or 0.02% of total fat), salt level (0.375 or 0.750%) and salt type (NaCl, KCl or a 65% NaCl + 35% KCl combination) in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement on the quality of restructured beef steaks were determined. Meat blends with 0.02% antioxidant had lower thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values than those with 0.01% after 85 to 155 days of frozen storage. Steaks with no salt (pooled across antioxidant levels) had lower TBA values than steaks with any salt type after 85 days storage or either level of salt after 155 days storage. Steaks with either level of added salt resulted in higher ratings for juiciness, saltiness and overall palatability than steaks with no added salt. Juiciness, flavor desirability, saltiness and overall palatability ratings generally were higher for restructured steaks made with NaCl or NaCl + KCl compared to those made with KCl. KCl at 35% of total salt could serve as a NaCl substitute in restructured beef steaks.     

Effects of Chloride Salts on Appearance, Palatability, and Storage Traits of Flaked and Formed Beef Bullock Restructured Steaks

Restructured steaks made with 0.5 or 1.0% KCl, 0.5% MgCl₂ and 0.5% CaCl₂ were more desirable and darker red in raw color than blends formulated with 0.5 or 1.0% NaCl. Visual properties of raw steaks containing 0.5 or 1.0% chloride salt were scored higher than the control (no salt added) in 14 of 16 orthogonal contrast mean comparisons. Steaks made with 1.0% CaCl₂ or MgCl₂ were rated lower than the control in flavor desirability and overall satisfaction ratings. Control, 0.5 or 1.0% NaCl or 0.5 and 1.0% KCl steaks were not different in juiciness, tenderness, flavor desirability or overall satisfaction ratings. Steaks made with chloride salts were rancid after 70 days frozen storage. Results showed steaks made with KCl were superior to steaks formulated with CaCl₂ or MgCl₂.     

Effects of Various Phosphates on the Palatability, Appearance and Storage Traits of Flaked and Formed Restructured Beef Steaks

Seven blends (9.1 kg raw meat) were formulated with 0.75% NaCl and 0.25% or 0.5% sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), sodium hexa-metaphosphate (SHMP) or sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP). Steaks from all blends were “slightly” to “moderately” desirable in flavor and overall satisfaction scores. Steaks made with STP had higher shear force values and work required to shear values than all other restructured steaks indicating an increase in binding occurred with added STP. Restructured steaks formulated with 0.5% STP or SHMP had more desirable raw color scores than the control or steaks made with SAPP. Storage life of all phosphate added restructured steaks was past 90 days frozen storage, and steaks containing STP had thiobarbituric acid values below 1.0 at 120 days storage.     

Frozen storage stability of antioxidant-treated raw restructured beef steaks made from mature cows

Previous research has shown that beef quality decreased with the age of cattle. In this study, beef trimmings from nine mature cows (n = 9), equally representing three animal age groups (2–4, 6–8, and 10–12 yr), were restructured into steaks formulated with propyl gallate, alone or in combination with a beefy flavoring agent, to enhance palatability and stability during 6 months of frozen storage at −29 °C. Lipid oxidation, rancidity, and loss of beefy flavor in restructured steaks during extended storage were reduced by propyl gallate. The beefy flavoring agent inclusion masked mature, forage-fed beef off-flavors, intensified beefy flavor, and improved steak tenderness, juiciness and cooking yield. Thus, the combination of propyl gallate and beefy flavoring offers an effective means to enhance the palatability and storage stability of restructured beef prepared from mature cows.     

ACCELERATED PROCESSED RESTRUCTURED BEEF STEAKS

Muscles from ungraded (no roll) beef arm chucks of A maturity steer carcasses were removed at 1 and 24 h postmortem. High connective tissue and fatty portions were reduced to 3.0 mm particle size and other muscles were comminuted to 9.9 mm. These materials were formulated with 1.0% NaCl and 0.25% sodium tripolyphosphate, converted into 25 mm thick restructured steaks and packaged. Subjective evaluations were conducted after 3 and 7 days of storage for appearance and taste attributes by seven trained panelists. Objective measurements were taken for color and tenderness traits, collagen solubility and oxidative rancidity. Postrigor steaks experienced less (P < 0.05) oxidative rancidity development with superior tenderness ratings after 7 days of storage. Rigor state of raw materials had no effect (P > 0.05) on microbial growth, peak break force, color, overall appearance, flavor, and collagen solubility of samples with the same storage periods. Oxidative rancidity of prerigor samples increased (P < 0.05) with additional storage time.     

Effects of Chloride Salts on Physical, Chemical and Sensory Properties of Frankfurters

Triplicate 4.5 kg batches of frankfurters formulated with either pork/beef or mechanically deboned turkey (MDT) were made to replace all (100%) or part (35%) of the sodium chloride (NaCl) with either potassium chloride (KCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) or lithium chloride (LiCl). Regardless of storage period or formulation, replacing all of the NaCl with either KCl or MgCl₂ was detrimental to flavor. This same replacement with LiCl was not detrimental to flavor in pork/beef formulations. Data suggest that MgCl₂ would not be a satisfactory substitute for NaCl in these formulations; however, replacing 35% of the NaCl with KCl may be possible. Because of its toxicity, LiCl is not GRAS-approved and we do not recommend its use but, its use in this study more closely approximated the sensory properties of NaCl than either KCl or MgCl₂.     

Effects of Hot-Boning and Particle Thickness on Restructured Beef Steaks

Restructured steaks were made using hot-boned or aged beef made from sliced particles (2.5 mm or 5.0 mm thick). Beef slices were formed to make restructured steaks. The steaks were evaluated for cooking characteristics, textural properties and sensory attributes. Restructured steaks made from hot-boned beef were generally considered less tender and received lower texture desirability, flavor desirability and overall palatability ratings as compared to steaks made from aged beef. Restructured steaks made from larger meat slices (5.0 mm) were less tender and received lower texture desirability ratings than restructured steaks made with thinner slices (2.5 mm).     

Properties of restructured beef steaks from forage- and grain-fed cattle as affected by antioxidant and flavoring agents

Beef trimmings from cattle finished on forage or grain were restructured into steaks to enhance palatability. Steaks were treated with propyl gallate with or without a beefy flavoring agent, stored at -29?°C, and analyzed after 0, 1, 3, and 6 months. The strong grassy flavor of forage-finished beef steaks, detected by a sensory panel, was masked by the beefy flavoring agent, rendering the beef more acceptable by consumers. Propyl gallate retarded lipid oxidation and rancidity development in steaks during extended frozen storage. Microbial populations decreased while color scores, cooking yield, and binding strength of steaks exhibited only minor changes during storage. Thus, the combination of antioxidant and flavoring agents with the muscle restructuring technology provides an effective means to enhance the palatability and storage stability of beef from forage-fed cattle.     

Effects of Blade Tenderization and Proteolytic Enzymes on Restructured Steaks from Beef Bullock Chucks

Three studies were conducted to determine the effects of blade tenderization (BT), fungal protease, ficin and papain on sensory ratings, textural properties and frozen storage life of restructured steaks from beef bullock chuck. Neither blade tenderizing of chuck muscles prior to incorporating it into restructured steaks nor the use of 0.05% or 0.10% fungal protease had an effect on the amount of connective tissue or textural properties of the cooked product. The addition of 0.10% fungal protease to restructured steaks increased the frozen storage life of the restructured steaks from 82 days (0%) to 149 days and over 157 days for 0.05%. The addition of ficin and papain had a detrimental effect on texture, flavor and overall satisfaction ratings. The methods tested in the present study are not suitable treatments for reducing the amount of detectable connective tissue in restructured steaks from beef bullock chucks.     

RESTRUCTURED BEEF WITH FAT VARIATIONS

Prerigor beef samples from U.S. Choice Yield Grade 3 beef forequarters were excised within 1 h postmortem and converted to restructured beef steaks containing 10, 15 or 20% fat. The blended samples, regardless of fat level, were formulated with 1.0% NaCl and 0.25% sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) and stored at -20°C until evaluation at 0 and 56 days. Appearance and taste attributes were measured objectively and subjectively. Results suggested that fat content variation of restructured beef steaks with 20% fat or less had a minimal effect on color degradation and other appearance traits. These attributes were affected more by storage time than fat level. Fat content had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the objective and subjective measurements for palatability. These data suggest that low-fat steaks can be produced without anticipation of reduced palatability as fat content decreases below 20%.     

Extending Beef Bullock Restructured Steaks with Soy Protein, Wheat Gluten or Mechanically Separated Beef

Nine blends were formulated from young bullocks to contain 0, 10 or 20% mechanically separated beef (MSB), textured soy protein (TSP) or vital wheat gluten (VWG), (Control = no extender). All blends were analyzed for chemical, sensory and visual properties. Control and extended, restructured steaks were not different in juiciness, tenderness or cohesiveness scores or for calcium content. Blends extended with TSP or VWG had a high incidence of off-flavor and all extended, restructured steaks had less desirable visual properties than control blends. Storage life was not affected by type or level of extender. Restructured steaks extended with MSB were not equal to the control, but were superior to TSP or VWG extended steaks.     

EFFECTS OF ADJUNCTS ON RESTRUCTURED PORK

Boneless pork shoulders were excised 24h postmortem, frozen, tempered, flaked and blended with one of the four formulations: (1) 1% NaCl and .25% sodium tripolyphosphate (STP); (2) .5% NaCl, .5% KCl and .25% STP; (3) 1% NaCl, .25% STP and .125% lecithin; or (4) .5% NaCl, .5% KCl, .25% STP and .125% lecithin. The blended samples were converted to restructured chops and stored at - 18C until evaluated at 5, 14 and 56 days. Appearance and taste attributes were measured objectively and subjectively. Objective and subjective measurements of color and other visual traits revealed that storage time affected these traits more than the adjuncts; whereas, all treatments had a minimal effect on texture and juiciness. Increased frozen storage time and lecithin contributed to flavor degradation and increased TBA values. Further research is needed to determine the effect of varying amounts of lecithin on oxidative rancidity of restructured muscle foods.     

Solution Enhancement and Post-enhancement Storage Effects on the Quality, Sensory, and Retail Display Characteristics of Beef Triceps Brachii Muscles

Beef triceps brachii muscles (6 d postmortem; n= 15; muscle sections n= 45) were sectioned into 3rds and allocated to 1 of 3 treatments. The treatments were untreated (CNT), or injected at a 12% pump rate with either tap water‐only (H₂O) or a solution comprising tetrasodium pyrophosphate and sodium chloride (TSPP/ NaCl) at 0.4% and 1.0% target final product weight concentrations, respectively. Each muscle (comprising all 3 treatments) was then allocated to 2, 14, or 28 d of vacuum‐packaged 1°C storage. Purge losses during storage were greatest (P < 0.05) for H₂O muscles and least (P < 0.05) for TSPP/NaCl muscles. Purge losses also increased (P < 0.05) from 2 d to 14 d of storage. Steaks enhanced with TSPP/NaCl had less (P < 0.05) free water and lower (P < 0.05) cooking losses than either CNT or H₂O steaks. Storage duration did not affect (P > 0.05) Warner‐Bratzler shear force (WBS) or sensory tenderness, but juiciness decreased (P < 0.05) with increased storage duration. While storage duration did not impact (P > 0.05) instrumental color characteristics, aerobic plate counts generally increased during storage. The TSPP/NaCl steaks had lower (P < 0.05) WBS values and improved (P < 0.05) sensory tenderness and juiciness characteristics compared with CNT or H₂O steaks. While CNT steaks had greater (P < 0.05) L* values (lightness) than TSPP/NaCl steaks, TSPP/NaCl steaks had similar (P > 0.05) oxymyoglobin proportions (630/580 nm) and a* values (redness) as CNT steaks. These results suggest enhancement with TSPP/NaCl can improve triceps brachii yield and palatability characteristics. Increased post‐enhancement storage did not impact or worsened palatability while increasing purge losses, suggesting general deleterious effects of increased postmortem storage for this muscle.     

RESTRUCTURED STEAKS MANUFACTURED FROM PRE-RIGOR BEEF OF VARYING PARTICLE SIZE

Raw materials were removed from U.S. Choice Yield Grade 3 beef fore-quarters 1 h postmortem. Samples were flaked with an Urschel Comitrol 3600 as three sizes; small (head opening = 3.0 mm), medium (head opening = 6.1 mm) and large (head opening = 9.9 mm). Each flake size was formulated with 1.0% NaCl and 0.25% sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), converted into 25 mm thick restructured steaks and packaged. Subjective evaluations were conducted after 0 and 56 days of frozen storage for color, cohesiveness, muscle cut resemblence and overall appearance. A 7-member panel evaluated tenderness, juiciness, connective tissue amount and flavor. Objective measurements included Hunter Color values, shear force, percentage cooking loss and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) values. Small flake particles contributed to improved color, cohesiveness and overall appearance. Particle size had minimal effects on muscle cut resemblence, cooking loss, shear values and all sensory attributes. Color degradation and oxidative rancidity increased with storage time.     

Effects of Boning Time, Mechanical Tenderization and Partial Replacement of Sodium Chloride on the Quality and Microflora of Boneless Dry-Cured Ham

SEVENTY-TWO HAMS were utilized to study the effects of KCl replacement level (100:0, 70:30, 50:50 ratios of NaCl and KCl), boning time and mechanical tenderization on the quality and microflora of boneless dry-cured hams. Boning time had no effect on palatability or final yield. Hotboned hames had higher levels of residual nitrite and slightly higher microbial counts. Mechanical tenderization improved tenderness and microbial quality. However, tenderized hams had lower flavor preference and overall satisfaction scores. The replacement of NaCl with KCl at a level of 30% had no effect on palatability or microbial quality. NaCl replacement at a level of 50% severely decreased palatability and increased microbial numbers.     

EFFECT OF FROZEN STORAGE AND PROTECTIVE WRAP UPON THE COOKING LOSSES, PALATABILITY, AND RANCIDITY OF FRESH AND CURED PORK CUTS

Of the fresh and cured pork cuts evaluated, ham steaks were the only cut consistently displaying increased cooking losses following frozen storage. Although the tenderness of fresh cuts tended to increase during frozen storage, the tenderness of cured cuts decreased; and the juiciness of both fresh and cured cuts decreased. In addition, flavor and overall palatability of both fresh and cured cuts decreased during frozen storage and such deterioration in these attributes appeared to result from rancidity development. The results of this study indicate that fresh chops and roasts, ham, and bacon can be stored for over 196, 196, and 112 days respectively, in any of the protective wraps evaluated without the loss of palatability.     

Antioxidants in Restructured Beef/Pork Steaks

The effects of added antioxidants on restructured combination (50:50) beef-pork steaks were studied. Steaks were formulated to contain 20% fat and 0.75% salt. Antioxidants used at a 0.02% level (based on fat content of meat) were butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), and a combination of BHA and TBHQ. Cooked steaks were evaluated for sensory properties and overall acceptability, initially and after 4, 8, 12, 16, an 20 wk of freezer storage. Steaks were also evaluated after the various storage times for 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values, subjective color by panel evaluation, objective color with the Hunter color difference meter, tensile strength, shear value and cooking loss. Flavor and overall acceptability were significantly better in treated samples as compared to control samples. BHA was more effective in protecting color and TBHQ was more effective in protecting flavor (P<0.05). All treated samples showed lower TBA values than control samples (P<0.05).     

Color and Color Stability of Frozen Restructured Beef Steaks: Effect of Processing Under Gas Atmospheres with Differing Oxygen Concentration

Restructured beef steaks were manufactured under gas atmospheres with differing oxygen concentration and subsequently vacuum-packaged. The effect of the different gas atmospheres on the color and color stability of frozen restructured beef steaks initially and at 1-month intervals for three months was investigated. Overall metmyoglobin concentrations for restructured beef steaks were not different (P > 0.05) from that of the intact steaks either initially or over storage time. The rates of overall metmyoglobin formation increased when oxygen concentration of the gas atmosphere was increased. Restructured steaks manufactured using pure carbon dioxide gas had the least amount of overall discoloration both initially and over storage time.     

Physicochemical and sensory properties of restructured beef steaks containing beef heart surimi

Summary Restructured beef steaks containing beef heart surimi were prepared. Changes in flavour, texture, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and compression force of the restructured steaks were evaluated after frozen storage (−29 °C) for 1, 30, and 90 days. Incorporation of propyl gallate-washed beef heart surimi improved the steak flavour score by 7%, texture score by 30%, and cooking yield by 4%, compared to non-surimi control steaks. Addition of water-washed surimi (without propyl gallate) also improved physical properties of restructured steaks, but it induced off-flavour and rancidity development.     

BALANCING MACROMINERAL COMPOSITION OF FRESH-PACK CUCUMBER PICKLES TO IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND MAINTAIN FLAVOR1

The macromineral nutritional balance of fresh-pack dill cucumber pickles was improved without loss of flavor quality. A product with flavor acceptability equal to the original product was obtained if NaCl was reduced by 40%, from 2.0% to 1.2%. To replace the 0.8% reduction in NaCl 0.8% KCl was added. CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ were added proportionately to match the daily value (DV) of the added KCl. In addition to changes in mineral composition, low levels of both citric acid and hot pepper sauce were added to improve flavor acceptability. The flavor acceptability of dill pickles was rated higher (P <0.05) than the 2.0% NaCl control when the NaCl concentration was reduced 20% from 2.0 to 1.6%, and 0.4% KCl was added to replace the NaCl. Again, CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ were added at a level which gave the same proportion of the DVs of these minerals as 0.4% KCl. The highest flavor acceptability in the product with 20% less NaCl was obtained when only citric acid was added as a flavor modifier.