PHYSICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF LEAN GROUND BEEF PATTIES CONTAINING METHYLCELLULOSE AND HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYLCELLULOSE1

Broiled, lean ground beef patties containing no additives, two levels of methylcellulose (MC, 0.5 or 1.0%) and two levels of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC, 0.5 or 1.0%) were evaluated for raw and cooked composition, cooking losses, sensory attributes and Instron compression measurements. MC or HPMC addition did not significantly affect the fat, moisture or protein content of the raw and cooked patties. Patties containing HPMC received greater tenderness, juiciness and off-flavor sensory scores when compared with patties containing MC or no additive. MC or HPMC addition increased patty gumminess sensory scores and decreased Instron compression values. Sensory cooked meat flavor decreased with gum addition.     

Enhancement of the nutritional status of beef patties by adding flaxseed flour

Flaxseed flour was used as a functional ingredient in the production of beef patties. Beef patties were produced with five different formulations; the addition of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15% flaxseed flour. Control samples were formulated with 10% and 20% fat addition. Raw and cooked beef patties were analyzed for moisture, protein, fat, ash, pH, color parameters and fatty acid profiles. Beef patties were evaluated for cooking loss and sensory properties. Fat and ash content of raw patties increased, while moisture and protein content decreased with increased flaxseed flour. The same trend (except fat content) was also observed after cooking. The addition of flaxseed flour did not affect pH values of raw and cooked beef patties. The addition of flaxseed flour improved the cooking loss but, increased the energy value (as kcal/100 g). L and a values of raw beef patties containing flaxseed flour were close to controls with 10% fat. α-linolenic acid content of raw and cooked beef patties increased as the level of flaxseed flour increased. The PUFA/SFA ratio increased from 0.04 in the control with 10% fat to 0.62 in the raw beef patties with 15% flaxseed flour. The n-6/n-3 ratio decreased from 5.76 in the control with 10% fat to 0.36 in the raw beef patties with 15% flaxseed flour. The nutritional status of beef patties was enhanced with minimal composition and sensory changes with 3% or 6% flaxseed flour addition.     

Low Fat Level Effects on Sensory, Shear, Cooking, and Chemical Properties of Ground Beef Patties

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of targeted fat level (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20%) on sensory, shear, cooking and chemical properties of ground beef patties. Frozen patties from all fat levels were cooked to achieve similar cooking yields. As fat levels decreased, tenderness, juiciness and flavor ratings decreased and shear force increased, with more pronounced differences at lower fat levels. Patties processed with 0% fat were rated lower in juiciness and flavor compared to all other fat levels. These studies suggested that alterations in processing and cooking would probably be necessary to achieve acceptance of extremely low-fat beef patties.     

FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF SORGHUM FLOUR AS AN EXTENDER IN GROUND BEEF PATTIES 1

Patties were formulated with 20% fat ground beef and sorghum flour (SF) at 2, 4, and 6% levels (10, 20, and 30% as rehydrated 1:4 with water). Beef patties containing SF had higher pH, greater yield, less total cooking loss, less shrinkage in diameter, and less increase in thickness than those without SF. Water activity of cooked patties was not affected by addition of SF. Fat and water retentions of beef patties increased as the level of SF increased. Hunterlab a values (redness) for raw patties decreased as the level of SF increased, but a values for cooked patties were not influenced by level of SF. Shear force and compression of cooked patties decreased as the level of SF increased. Meat aroma and flavor decreased, but sorghum aroma and flavor of cooked patties increased as the level of SF increased. Tenderness of cooked patties increased as the level of SF increased, but juiciness of cooked patties was not affected.     

Fat Level, High Temperature Cooking and Degree of Doneness Affect Sensory, Chemical and Physical Properties of Beef Patties

Ground beef patties containing either 4 or 20% fat were cooked by electric grill (G) alone or in combination with overhead broiler unit (BG) to be (visually) either medium or well-done. Patties with 20% fat had higher beef flavor intensity, juiciness and tenderness scores, lower Instron shear and compression values, and lower cooking yields than 4% fat patties. However, 4% fat patties cooked to medium, had similar sensory ratings to 20% fat patties cooked well-done. About 20% of patties cooked to medium did not reach recommended internal temperatures and holding times for food safety.     

Thawing Prior to Cooking Affects Sensory, Shear Force, and Cooking Properties of Beef Patties

Patties from 6 commercial formulations were cooked to 71°C from either the frozen state or after thawing for 24 to 27 h at 4 °C to eliminate the pink/red color exhibited when cooked to 71 °C from the frozen state. Thawed patties had shorter cooking times, higher cooking yields, and lower shear force peak load and peak energy values. Patties cooked from the thawed state increased in thickness during cooking, while patties cooked from the frozen state decreased in thickness during cooking. Thawing prior to cooking increased sensory evaluation scores except for patties made with carrageenan. Thawing not only eliminated the problem of pink/red color after cooking but also improved sensory, shear force, and cooking properties of beef patties.     

EFFECTS OF SOY PROTEIN AND FREEZING TREATMENTS ON COOKING LOSS AND COMPOSITION OF BEEF PATTIES

All-beef and soy-extended patties were frozen to −18°C in either 24, 48, 72 or 96h and stored at −23, −18 or −7°C for 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24 months. The addition of soy resulted in a substantial reduction in cooking loss for patties cooked from the frozen state with a greater retention of moisture in cooked patties. Freezing reduced cooking loss for soy-extended patties, but increased cooking loss for all-beef patties. Faster freezing (-18°C in 24 h vs. −18°C in 96 h) reduced cooking loss and produced higher moisture values in all-beef patties. Patties stored at –7°C lost more moisture during cooking. Increased frozen storage time had a minimal effect on cooking losses, moisture and fat levels. Where it is essential for frozen patties to sustain minimal cooking losses with maximal moisture in cooked patties, the inclusion of soy protein concentrate, faster freezing, and storage at –18°C or colder are suggested.     

Effects of red-wine grape pomace on the quality and sensory attributes of beef hamburger patty

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of red-wine grape pomaces on the quality and sensory attributes of beef hamburger patties. Both phenolic content and antioxidant activity were assessed using Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon pomaces. Following the assessment, hamburger patties were prepared with Merlot pomace at 0%, 2% and 4% for the patty quality and sensory attributes. Grape seeds possessed significantly higher phenolics and antioxidant activities over the seedless pomace (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found for phenolics and antioxidant activities within the seeds and seedless pomaces. The patty pH decreased as the pomace was added for 2% and 4%. Colour values (L*, a* and b*) of patties lowered as the pomace was added. Allo-Kramer shear force and hardness values increased while cooking yield decreased (P < 0.05) with the addition of pomace. No significant difference between control and Merlot patties was found for flavour, juiciness and colour, whereas lower sensory attributes were observed for texture, taste and overall acceptability. It is observed that the addition of fermented red-wine grape pomace provides hamburger patties with health promoting factors such as antioxidant and other functional components, but it also provided darker, sourer and lower cooking yield.     

ffect of Initial Fat Level and Cooking Method Cholesterol Content and Caloric Value of Ground Beef Patties

Ground beef patties were formulated to contain 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30% fat. The patties were either broiled or pan-fried for a predetermined time, then frozen. A sample from each treatment was thawed and reheated by a microwave oven and then refrozen. Fat, moisture, protein, ash, and cholesterol content, were determined for patties from each treatment. Cholesterol content of cooked patties was not related (P>0.05) to initial fat content. Caloric content of cooked patties was curvilinearly related to fat content of original (raw) patties due to the increased loss of fat during cooking as initial fat level increased.     

Microwave Cooking Properties of Ground Pork Patties as Affected by Various Fat Levels

ABSTRACT: Ground pork patties were processed from pork hams to achieve fat levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. Each patty was cooked in a microwave oven to 75 °C from a thawed state. As fat levels increased, cooking time decreased. Total cooking loss and drip loss were highest for 25% fat patties and lowest for 5% fat patties. High-fat patties (20% and 25%) had greater reductions in dia than did 5% to 15% fat patties, but had less change in patty thickness. Shear force values decreased as fat levels increased. Visual evaluations also indicated a greater presence of air pockets in high-fat patties. In raw patties, low-fat samples were darker (had lower L * values) and were redder (had higher a * values) than patties with more fat. However, these differences were relatively smaller when the patties were cooked. As fat levels increased, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, and oiliness ratings increased. These differences were not as apparent when comparing among low-fat patties or high-fat patties. Keyword: microwave, cooking, fat, pork patty     

Effect of Cooking on Cholesterol Content of Patties Containing Different Amounts of Beef, Textured Soy Protein and Fat

Ground beef patties were prepared to contain 0, 10, 20 or 30% rehydrated textured soy protein (TSP) and 8, 16 or 27% fat. Patties were cooked from the frozen state on a rack in a preheated oven at 177°C to an endpoint internal temperature of 75°C. The cholesterol content of raw ground beef patties decreased as the amount of TSP increased and also decreased as the fat content decreased from 27 to 16 or 8%. At initial fat levels of 8 and 16%, there were no significant differences in cholesterol retention (per-patty basis) during cooking among patties with initial TSP (rehydrated) levels of 0, 10, 20 and 30%; at an initial fat level of 27%, however, patties containing TSP (10, 20 or 30%) retained substantially higher (P < 0.05) amounts of cholesterol when cooked than did those without TSP.     

RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CHEMICAL, COOKING AND COLOR PROPERTIES OF BEEF PATTIES COOKED TO FOUR INTERNAL TEMPERATURES

A study involving five laboratories and nationwide sampling of ground beef was undertaken to determine cooking and color properties of patties cooked to 52.7, 65.6, 71.1 and 79.4C. The design of the study included purchase location (local, distant) and patty handling prior to cooking Pesh, thawed either as patties or bulk ground beef). Purchase location was not a statistically significant influence on cooking and color properties. Patties processed from bulk thawed product had a higher amount of brown cooked color. A strong relationship existed between visual and instrumental measures of red color in cooked patties. However, correlations among other cooking properties were low. Patties with higher fat content were associated with shorter cooking times, lower cooking yields and more brown cooked color. The low relationships between raw and cooked patty properties limits the use of raw ground beef properties as predictors of food safety in cooked beef patties. This further supports the use of instant read meat thermometers in cooking beef patties to at least 71C.     

The storage stability and textural, physico-chemical and sensory quality of low-fat ground pork patties with Carrageenan as fat replacer

Low‐fat ground pork patties (<10% total fat) made with carrageenan added at either 0.25, 0.50 or 0.75% final concentration were processed and the compositional and sensory characteristics compared with control patties which contained 20% fat. The moisture content of raw and cooked low‐fat patties was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than control patties because of greater amounts of water added during formulation. Cooking yield, fat and moisture retention also improved significantly (P < 0.05) in low‐fat patties that had carrageenan incorporated when compared to a control product. The dimensions of the low‐fat patties were maintained better than those of the control product during cooking. The sensory attributes of low‐fat patties with 0.5% carrageenan were similar to those of the high‐fat control. The lipid profile revealed as much as a 47.7 or 44.1% decrease in total lipids and cholesterol content respectively, compared with the controls. The calorie content was reduced by 31.1% in low‐fat cooked patties compared with the controls. The texture profile of low‐fat patties that had been made with 0.5% carrageenan were similar to control patties with only a slight increase in hardness and gumminess in the low‐fat product. The low‐fat ground pork patties made in the present study remained stable without any appreciable loss of physico‐chemical, microbiological and organoleptic quality during refrigerated storage (4 ± 1 °C) for 21 and 35 days in aerobic and vacuum packaging respectively.     

MODIFIED PREGELATINIZED POTATO STARCH IN LOW-FAT GROUND BEEF PATTIES

Effects of modified pregelatinized potato starch (MPPS) in 5 and 20% fat ground beef patties were evaluated. In formulas containing starch, MPPS comprised 3.0% and added water 5.0% of the raw mixture. Use of 20% rather than 5% fat in the ground beef improved sensory tenderness measured early in chewing, while lowering many Instron measurements. The 20% fat patties had more intense beef flavor. MPPS increased tenderness, but reduced juiciness and beef flavor. The addition (1% of formulation) of concentrated butter flavor to ground beef with MPPS produced beef flavor equivalent to all-beef patties. The use of MPPS increased cooking yields and moisture content following cooking and reduced fat retention of 20% patties. MPPS increased heating rate while retaining substantial moisture during cooking. Inclusion of MPPS in beef patty formulations offers improvements in tenderness and cooking yield, while reducing fat retention during cooking.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF BEEF PATTIES USING OKARA POWDER

Four different levels of okara powder (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10%) were used to obtain beef patties that were compared with controls with 10 and 20% fat. Okara addition affected some quality parameters of beef patties. Although the protein, fat, ash and carbohydrate contents of raw beef patties increased by the addition of okara, moisture content decreased. The same trends (except protein content) were observed after cooking. The addition of okara reduced the cholesterol content by about 2–28% for raw beef patties and 6–23% for cooked beef patties. However, addition of okara increased the energy values for raw and cooked beef patties with respect to control with 10% fat. The WHC, cook loss and shrinkage of beef patties improved by the addition of okara. The addition of okara increased the pH, L* and b* values of raw beef patties, but did not affect a* value. The effect of okara on the sensory properties was statistically significant and the overall acceptability scores of samples decreased after more than 7.5% okara powder addition . According to these results, addition of okara powder up to 7.5% can be recommended as an extender in beef patties production to improving certain quality parameters.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Okara is an abundant by-product of the soy and tofu industries and contains valuable components, including proteins, lipids, fibers and isoflavonoids. The addition of okara powder to beef patties reduces the cholesterol content and improves WHC, cook loss, shrinkage and sensory quality of the products. Okara powder can be added up to 7.5% for the production of patties.     

Effect of age and cut on cooking loss, juiciness and flavour of South African beef

The juiciness and flavour characteristics of 15 aged primal beef cuts of electrically stimulated carcasses, from three different age groups, were assessed (n=61). Cooking losses were determined and proximate analyses (moisture, fat, nitrogen and ash) were performed. Tender cuts were cooked by a dry heat method, and less tender cuts were cooked by moist heat methods. A trained panel (n=10) evaluated sensory quality characteristics including initial and sustained juiciness, aroma and flavour. Flavour intensity was the biggest discriminant between the three age groups and declined with an increase in age. Initial impression of juiciness decreased with increased age of the animal and cooking losses increased nonlinearly with age, irrespective of the muscle. In contrast sustained juiciness increased with increased age. Cuts cooked according to a dry heat cooking method were reported juicier (both initial and sustained) than those cooked by moist heat methods.     

EFFECTS OF COOKING AND SUBSEQUENT REHEATING ON THE PROPERTIES OF LOW-FAT BEEF PATTIES

Low-fat (10%) beef patties manufactured with 0.5% iota carrageenan, were subjected to one-time cooking from the raw to fully cooked state or precooking and later reheating before evaluating sensory, shear force and cooking properties. The samples were reheated in a convection oven or in a simultaneous top and bottom contact grill set either at 121 or 191C. Precooking followed by reheating produced only slight changes in sensory properties (reduced tenderness, increased juiciness and increased beef flavor). Convection oven cooking improved tenderness only for one-time cooked patties. With the double contact grilling system, the 121C surface temperature enhanced tenderness (sensory and shear force) and cooking yields of precooked-reheated patties. Low-fat beef patties formulated with iota carrageenan appear capable of being subjected to a variety of cooking approaches and temperatures without major changes in cooked patty properties.     

Variability in temperature distribution and cooking properties of ground pork patties containing different fat level and with/without salt cooked by microwave energy

This study was carried out to evaluate the cooking effects of fat level (10% and 20%) with and without NaCl (1.5%) on the microwave cooking pattern and properties of ground pork patties. Each patty was cooked from a thawed state to 76.7°C in a microwave oven with full power (900W). Cooking rate in patties produced without salt was not affected by fat level, but the addition of salt in pork patties decreased cooking rate, regardless of fat levels. The temperatures at the edges of the patties increased faster than those at the center or the mid-way positions. In the patties with NaCl, the temperature of the center position was higher than that of the mid-way position. Patties containing salt within the same fat level had higher moisture content and lower fat content than those without salt, although no significant differences in compositional properties were observed between the center, midway, or edge positions. Total cooking loss, drip loss, and reduction in diameter and thickness were higher in patties with 20% fat compared to those with 10% fat, but the addition of salt resulted in reduction, regardless of fat level. Also, the addition of salt increased the redness and reduced yellowness of the cooked products.     

Cholesterol Content and Sensory Analysis of Ground Pork as Influenced by Fat Level and Heating

Eight treatment combinations for the formulation and heating of fresh ground pork were investigated: four raw fat levels (4, 9, 18, 23%) and two internal end point temperatures (71°C and 77°C). In the raw state, ground pork containing 4 or 9% fat contained less cholesterol, more moisture and was judged to be more red than samples containing 18 or 23% fat. Tenderness, juiciness and amount of mouthcoating increased as fat level in the cooked patties increased. Internal end point temperature (71°C or 77°C) did not affect sensory scores of cooked pork patties. Cooked patty cholesterol content (wet weight) did not differ among the four fat levels. High-fat ground pork retained less cholesterol than low-fat ground pork.     

Process optimization and consumer acceptability of salted ground beef patties cooked and held hot in flavored marinade

Food safety is paramount for cooking hamburger. The center must reach 71 °C (or 68 °C for 15 s) to assure destruction of E. coli O157:H7 and other food pathogens. This is difficult to achieve during grilling or frying of thick burgers without overcooking the surface. Thus, the feasibility of partially or completely cooking frozen patties in liquid (93 °C water) together with hot holding in liquid was investigated. Initial studies demonstrated that compared to frying, liquid cooking decreased (P < 0.05) patty diameter (98 compared with 93 mm) and increased (P < 0.05) thickness (18.1 compared with 15.6 mm). Liquid cooked patties had greater weight loss (P < 0.05) immediately after cooking (29 compared with 21%), but reabsorbed moisture and were not different from fried patties after 1 h hot water holding (61 °C). Protein and fat content were not affected by cooking method. However, liquid cooked patties were rated lower (P < 0.05) than fried patties for appearance (5.7 compared with 7.5) and flavor (5.9 compared with 7.5). An 8-member focus group then evaluated methods to improve both appearance and flavor. Salted, grill-marked patties were preferred, and caramel coloring was needed in the marinade to obtain acceptable flavor and color during liquid cooking or hot holding. Patties with 0.75% salt that were grill-marked and then finish-cooked in hot marinade (0.75% salt, 0.3% caramel color) were rated acceptable (P < 0.05) by consumers for up to 4 h hot holding in marinade, with mean hedonic panel ratings > 7.0 (like moderately) for appearance, juiciness, flavor, and texture. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Grill-marked and marinade-cooked ground beef patties reached a safe internal cooking temperature without overcooking the surface. Burgers cooked using this method maintained high consumer acceptability right after cooking and for up to 4 h of hot holding. Consumers and foodservice operations could use this method without specialized equipment, and instead use inexpensive and common equipment such as a soup pot or a restaurant steam table. Use of marinades (salt/caramel color or others) in this cooking and holding method provides a nearly endless culinary flavoring opportunity.