Effects of onion on physicochemical properties,lipid oxidation and microbial growth of fresh pork patties

Onions with or without heating (100 °C, 30 min) were extracted with water or methanol, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of onion extracts were evaluated. Product characteristics of fresh pork patties containing various onion extracts were measured during refrigerated storage. Water extracts of onions showed higher extraction yield and iron chelating ability than methanol extracts (P < 0.05), whereas, the latter was more effective than the former in phenolic compounds and reducing power (P < 0.05). The addition of onion extracts [water extract from fresh onion (WEFO), methanol extract from heated onion (MEHO) and their combinations (WEFMEHO)] to pork patties decreased redness, increased yellowness, and inhibited lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). One per cent of WEFMEHO in pork patties had antioxidant activities as effective as butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT, 0.01%). Redness and yellowness decreased and increased with the addition of onion extract, respectively (P < 0.05).