Quality considerations with high pressure processing of fresh and value added meat products

Pressure can be applied by high hydrostatic pressure, better known as high pressure processing (HPP), or by hydrodynamic pressure (HDP) in the form of shockwaves to alter quality parameters, such as shelf-life and texture of meat and meat products. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the use of pressure in the meat industry and to highlight its usage as a method to inactivate microorganisms but also a novel strategy to alter the structure and the quality parameters of meat and meat products. Benefits and possibilities of the technologies are presented, as well as how to overcome undesired product changes caused by HPP. The use of hydrodynamic shockwaves is briefly described and a promising newly developed industrial prototype for the generation of shockwaves by underwater explosion is presented.     

Effect of high pressure processing on yield,quality and storage stability of peanut paneer

Paneer was prepared from peanuts by soaking the nuts for 8 h followed by removal of skin, grinding, extraction of milk and coagulation using calcium sulphate (1% solution). In another method the peanut milk was high pressure processed at 600 MPa for 5 min before coagulation. The obtained paneer samples were vacuum packed and kept at refrigerated temperature (6 ± 1 °C) for storage and evaluated for physico‐chemical, sensory and microbial attributes. High pressure processing of milk before coagulation resulted in increase in paneer yield significantly (P < 0.05) as well as maintained the quality of the paneer to a better extent as compared to control during refrigerated storage for a period of 45 days.     

Effect of high pressure on the microbiological quality of cooked chicken during storage at normal and abuse refrigeration temperatures

Vacuum-packaged cooked poultry meat was treated at a range of pressures (400–600 MPa) and hold times (1, 2 and 10 min), followed by storage at 4°, 8° or 12 °C for up to 35 days. Weissella viridescens was found to be the dominant microorganism in the pressure-treated meat, constituting 100% of the microflora identified at 500 and 600 MPa. None of the pressure-treated samples had obvious signs of spoilage during the 35 day storage period, even when the Weissella count was >7 log₁₀ cfu/g. Studies on a typical W. viridescens isolate showed it to be relatively pressure-resistant in poultry meat, with <1 log reduction in numbers after a treatment of 2 min at 600 MPa. Agar diffusion assays showed that the isolate also caused the inhibition of a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including strains of Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. The selection of a pressure-resistant organism, such as this Weissella sp. could be advantageous in extending the shelf-life, and also microbiological safety, of the cooked meat, as it could give protection in addition to the pressure treatment itself.     

The effects of high pressure processing on pork quality, palatability, and further processed products

The objective was to evaluate high pressure processing (HPP) on postmortem metabolism and pork quality. Six pigs were randomly selected immediately after slaughter. After splitting, one side was randomly designated for HPP of 215 MPa for 15 s with water temperature at 33 °C and the other side (non-pressure treated) served as the control. Chilled sides were fabricated into loins, boneless picnic, boneless Boston butt, and ham. Samples were cut from the loin, inside portion of the ham and cushion (M. triceps brachii). Pork quality, lipid oxidation, connective tissue solubility, protein functionality, sensory analysis, and processed characteristics of restructured hams were evaluated. HPP partially inhibits postmortem metabolism, indicated by lower muscle lactate levels and higher ultimate pH values. Cook and drip loss were both reduced in HPP treated muscles compared to controls. HPP treated sides were more tender than controls. Collagen content was not different between HPP and control groups.     

Conventional freezing plus high pressure-low temperature treatment: Physical properties, microbial quality and storage stability of beef meat

Meat high-hydrostatic pressure treatment causes severe decolouration, preventing its commercialisation due to consumer rejection. Novel procedures involving product freezing plus low-temperature pressure processing are here investigated. Room temperature (20 °C) pressurisation (650 MPa/10 min) and air blast freezing (−30 °C) are compared to air blast freezing plus high pressure at subzero temperature (−35 °C) in terms of drip loss, expressible moisture, shear force, colour, microbial quality and storage stability of fresh and salt-added beef samples (Longissimus dorsi muscle). The latter treatment induced solid water transitions among ice phases. Fresh beef high pressure treatment (650 MPa/20 °C/10 min) increased significantly expressible moisture while it decreased in pressurised (650 MPa/−35 °C/10 min) frozen beef. Salt addition reduced high pressure-induced water loss. Treatments studied did not change fresh or salt-added samples shear force. Frozen beef pressurised at low temperature showed L, a and b values after thawing close to fresh samples. However, these samples in frozen state, presented chromatic parameters similar to unfrozen beef pressurised at room temperature. Apparently, freezing protects meat against pressure colour deterioration, fresh colour being recovered after thawing. High pressure processing (20 °C or −35 °C) was very effective reducing aerobic total (2-log₁₀ cycles) and lactic acid bacteria counts (2.4-log₁₀ cycles), in fresh and salt-added samples. Frozen + pressurised beef stored at −18 °C during 45 days recovered its original colour after thawing, similarly to just-treated samples while their counts remain below detection limits during storage.     

The use of β-glucan as a partial salt replacer in high pressure processed chicken breast meat

The effect of various ingredients such as sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and β-glucan (BG) on the biochemical properties of chicken breast proteins during temperature assisted high pressure processing was studied. Total protein solubility revealed that 600 MPa pressure and 40 ^oC are critical for the denaturation of proteins in STPP samples. Increase in reactive sulfhydryl groups with pressure indicate the exposure of buried sulfhydryl groups. Hydrophobicity and sulfhydryl contents revealed that hydrophobic interaction and disulphide bond formation are responsible for gel formation. The study revealed that 40 ^oC and 400/600 MPa pressure is optimum for high pressure processing of chicken breast meat. Addition of β-glucan with reduced NaCl and in the absence of sodium tripolyphosphate could produce gels with similar properties to those with 2.5% NaCl addition. Hence it is proposed that β-glucan can be used to reduce NaCl content of chicken products produced by temperature assisted high pressure processing.     

Antioxidant active packaging for chicken meat processed by high pressure treatment

Patties made of minced chicken breast and thigh packed in standard vacuum-packaging (C) or in antioxidant active packaging (AP) were subjected to high pressure treatment (800 MPa, 10 min, 5 °C) and subsequently stored for 25 days at 5 °C. Lipid oxidation was studied at the surface (S) and the inner (I) parts of the meat patties. The lipid oxidation was higher in the surface part and the active packaging was able to delay it up to 25 days. The lipid oxidation was limited in the inner part of the meat patties and restrained at the surface of the active packaging. It was found that the effect on lipid oxidation by high pressure may not be explained solely by cell membrane damage, as radicals were formed in the meat during the pressure treatment.     

Effect of different ingredients on color and oxidative characteristics of high pressure processed chicken breast meat with special emphasis on use of β-glucan as a partial salt replacer

Color characteristics and oxidative stability of high pressure processed chicken breast meat were studied as a function of various added ingredients such as sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and β-glucan (BG). There was an increase in L* value and a decrease in a* value for samples with increase in applied pressure. The additives had little impact on color characteristics in most of the combinations studied. At 40 °C and 600 MPa pressure, expressible moisture of all the samples were not statistically different. SDS PAGE profile of sarcoplasmic proteins revealed a decrease in number of bands in high molecular weight region and an increase in low molecular weight region with increase in applied pressure. Simultaneous application of high pressure and temperature cause breakdown of myosin into its subunits. Carbonyl content of BG samples was lower while treating at 60 °C. Samples with β-glucan showed significantly lower lipid oxidation levels.

Industrial relevance

Preparation of ready to eat gel-type meat products using temperature assisted high pressure processing is still not commercialized. This is basically due to lack of information on the chemistry of food undergoing this process. Increased salt content in modern convenient foods is a major drawback. The results of this experiment showed that high pressure processing and addition of β-glucan can help to partially replace salt addition. In addition, anti-oxidative property of β-glucan in meat system was revealed. This information will help industry to adopt temperature assisted high pressure processing to prepare ready to eat chicken products.     

Sous Vide加工方法对牦牛肉品质的影响

以牦牛肉背最长肌为原料,采用Sous Vide加工方法,研究不同热处理温度、热处理时间和肉块厚度对牦牛肉感官品质、蒸煮损失率、质构及微观结构的影响。在单因素试验基础上,进行正交优化试验,确定Sous Vide加工牦牛肉的最佳工艺条件。结果表明：Sous Vide加工方法对牦牛肉感官品质、剪切力、蒸煮损失率影响较大,通过正交试验得到Sous Vide加工牦牛肉的最佳工艺条件为热处理温度70 ℃、热处理时间135 min、肉块厚度3.0 cm;经Sous Vide处理的牦牛肉肌纤维束结构变得松散,肌纤维密度降低,肌束膜部分结构被破坏,牦牛肉嫩度和感官品质均优于对照组。     

超高压技术在肉类加工中的应用研究

超高压术是一项具有广阔应用前景的食品加工新技术。本文主要从五个方面介绍超高压技术在肉类加工中的应用,同时提出目前我国超高压技术存在的问题并且对发展前景进行了展望。     

Kinetics of the formation of radicals in meat during high pressure processing

The kinetics of the formation of radicals in meat by high pressure processing (HPP) has been described for the first time. A threshold for the radicals to form at 400 MPa at 25 °C and at 500 MPa at 5 °C has been found. Above this threshold, an increased formation of radicals was observed with increasing pressure (400–800 MPa), temperature (5–40 °C) and time (0–60 min). The volume of activation (ΔV^#) was found to have the value −17 ml mol⁻¹. The energy of activation (E_a) was calculated to be 25–29 kJ mol⁻¹ within the pressure range (500–800 MPa) indicating high independence on the temperature at high pressures whereas the reaction was strongly dependent at atmospheric pressure (E_a = 181 kJ mol⁻¹). According to the effect of the processing conditions on the reaction rate, three groups of increasing order of radical formation were established: (1) 55 °C at 0.1 MPa, (2) 500 and 600 MPa at 25 °C and 65 °C at 0.1 MPa, and (3) 700 MPa at 25 °C and 75 °C at 0.1 MPa. The implication of the formation of radicals as initiators of lipid oxidation under HPP is discussed.     

High pressure induced changes on sarcoplasmic protein fraction and quality indicators

The combined effect of pressure and mild temperature treatments on bovine sarcoplasmic proteins and quality parameters was assessed. M. longissimus dorsi samples were pressurised in a range of 200–600 MPa and 10–30 °C. High Pressure Processing (HPP) induced a reduction of protein solubility (p < 0.001) compared to non-treated controls (NT), more pronounced above 200 MPa. HPP at pressures higher than 200 MPa induced a strong modification (p < 0.001) of meat colour and a reduction of water holding capacity (WHC). SDS–PAGE analysis demonstrated that HPP significantly modified the composition of the sarcoplasmic protein fraction. The pressurisation temperature mainly affected protein solubility and colour; a smaller effect was observed on protein profiles. Significant correlations (p < 0.001) between sarcoplasmic protein solubility and both expressible moisture (r = −0.78) and colour parameters (r = −0.81 to −0.91) suggest that pressure induced denaturation of sarcoplasmic proteins could influence to some extent WHC and colour modifications of beef. Changes in protein band intensities were also significantly correlated with protein solubility, meat lightness and expressible moisture. These results describe the changes induced by HPP on sarcoplasmic proteins and confirm a relationship between modification of the sarcoplasmic protein fraction and alteration of meat quality characteristics.     

Effect of high pressure processing on the gel properties of salt-soluble meat protein containing CaCl2 and κ-carrageenan

The effects of high pressure processing (HPP) on the water-binding capacity and texture profile (TPA) of salt-soluble meat protein (SSMP) containing 0.2% CaCl₂ and 0.6% κ-carrageenan (SSMP-CK) gels were investigated. The results showed that 300–400 MPa improved water-binding capacity and decreased TPA parameters of SSMP-CK gels (P < 0.05), while 100 MPa could increase hardness and chewiness of the gels. The thermal transition temperature peak for the myosin head (T_peak1) of SSMP disappeared on addition of CaCl₂ and κ-carrageenan. 300 MPa produced a new peak, and caused a shift of the NH-stretching left peak and amide I and the disappearance of NH-stretching right peak. The destruction of network structure and the weakening of molecular interaction within the pressurized gels could result in the decrease of TPA parameters. Thus gelling properties could be modified by HPP, κ-carrageenan and Ca^2 +. It is of interest to develop low-fat and sodium-reduced meat products.     

超高压对肉制品中微生物及品质的影响

超高压技术凭借其明显的诸多优点应用于肉制品加工中越来越多,它能够有效地延长食品的贮藏期,这与其能够杀死肉中的微生物有关。同时,经高压处理后的肉制品的品质会有所变化,不同动物的肉经过高压处理后的颜色变化不同;代表肉嫩度的剪切力也会改变,适当的高压会提高肉品的嫩度,用不同的压力水平和时间处理肉制品时,肌肉蛋白所产生的凝胶的硬度也不同。超高压技术也存在一些缺点,诸如肉制品在经过不同的压力水平和持续时间的高压处理时会引发脂质氧化,导致肉制品的货架期变短。本文从超高压技术在肉制品加工中对于肉制品中微生物以及肉制品品质方面的影响进行综述,为超高压技术可以更好地应用于肉制品加工提供一定的理论依据。     

超高压处理对冷藏鲍鱼保鲜效果与品质变化的影响

本文以鲍鱼为材料,研究了超高压处理对鲍鱼体内微生物的消减作用和不同压力超高压处理后的鲍鱼在冷藏过程中挥发性盐基氮值、p H、脂肪氧化值、肌肉组织与硬度的变化情况,对比了热加工和超高压处理对鲍鱼品质变化的影响。研究结果显示,超高压具有良好的杀菌效果,鲍鱼经400 MPa和500 MPa处理10 min,体内菌落总数达到未检出状态,贮藏20 d后,仍符合生食标准。超高压处理能有效抑制鲍鱼挥发性盐基氮的产生,在4℃条件下保存30 d后TVB-N值仍小于35 mg/100 g。经超高压处理后的鲍鱼p H显著高于未加工鲍鱼,但4℃贮藏30 d后,超高压处理后的鲍鱼p H反而显著低于未加工鲍鱼;相比热加工和未加工的对照条件,超高压处理能延迟TBA值的升高,抑制脂肪氧化;组织切片和质构实验发现经超高压处理的鲍鱼肌肉纤维凝聚,肉质硬度升高,但随着贮藏时间的延长,硬度逐渐下降。结果表明,鲍鱼经400 MPa压力处理10 min,冷藏20 d后仍可生食,同时品质得到良好的提升。      

High pressure/thermal treatment of meat batters prepared from freeze-thawed pork

Various meat batters were prepared from pork subjected to different freeze–thaw cycles. These batters were pressurized (300 MPa, 30 min) at low, non-denaturing temperature (10°C) followed by heating (70°C) (PLT+H) and at high, denaturing temperature (70°C) (HUPC). Nonpressurized (NP), heated-only (70°C) sample were also produced. Freezing of meat influenced water binding and textural properties of meat batters; the influence on texture was affected by thermal and pressure conditions. Pressure prior to heating produced a coarse, irregular and loose protein matrix, favoring the formation of weaker gel structures than were found in non-pressurized samples. Pressurization at denaturing temperatures reduced the level of protein denaturation induced by the thermal treatment. The resulting gel structures had better water binding properties but were weaker than non-pressurized samples and samples pressurized prior to heating.