Evaluation of Antioxidant Effects and Sensory Attributes of Chinese 5-Spice Ingredients in Cooked Ground Beef

ABSTRACT This study determined antioxidant and sensory characteristics of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, pepper, and star anise (Chinese 5‐spice ingredients) in cooked ground beef. Total aerobic plate counts were also measured. Mean thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were high (3.4 ppm) for control cooked ground beef samples. With 1% use level, all spice treatments had lower pooled mean TBA values than controls. At the lowest use level of 0.1% of meat weight, all spices except pepper had lower TBA values than controls. Treatments with 0.1% cloves had lower (P < 0.05) TBA values than 0.1% levels of other individual spices. Star anise, fennel, pepper, and cinnamon samples at 0.5% use level had lower mean TBA values than controls, but not different from 1.0% levels, respectively. Thus, the lowest effective spice level for cloves was 0.1% and 0.5% for the other spices. There was a high correlation (P < 0.01) between TBA values and panel scores for rancid odor and flavor (0.83 and 0.78, respectively). Spice flavor was inversely correlated (P < 0.01) with rancid odor and flavor (‐0.57 and ‐0.61, respectively). The 5‐spice blends did not affect microbial load of cooked samples compared with controls. In conclusion, all spices and blends had a dual effect, reducing rancid odor/flavor and imparting a distinctive flavor to cooked ground beef.     

Effect of erythorbate, storage and high-oxygen packaging on premature browning in ground beef

Premature browning (PMB) was investigated in ground beef patties with (0.04%, w/w) and without erythorbate. In Experiment 1, patties were stored at 4 °C for 48 h; at -18 °C for 21 days; or at -18 °C for 21 days, thawed at 4 °C for 24 h; and cooked. Bulk ground beef was stored at -18 °C for 24 days, thawed for 24 h at 4 °C, and patties prepared and cooked immediately. In Experiment 2, fresh patties were overwrapped with oxygen-permeable film or packaged in 80% O(2)/20% N(2) (MAP), and stored for 48 h at 4 °C, or at -18 °C for 21 days, and cooked. Total reducing activity and color (L*, a* and b* values) were measured immediately prior to cooking. Patties were cooked to internal temperatures of 60, 66, 71 and 77 °C and internal cooked color was measured. Total reducing activity was higher for the erythorbate treatment than controls for all storage conditions (P<0.05). a* Values of cooked patties were higher for erythorbate than control treatments under all storage and packaging conditions at 60 and 66 °C (P<0.05). The presence of erythorbate in ground beef patties appeared to maintain red color at cooked internal temperatures of 60 and 66 °C. Frozen bulk storage appeared to increase the susceptibility of ground beef to PMB when compared to fresh and frozen patties. Patties cooked directly from frozen state appeared less susceptible to PMB than frozen-thawed and bulk storage. Ground beef appeared predisposed to PMB when stored in high-oxygen MAP at 4 °C for 48 h.     

Evaluation of Garam Masala Spices and Phosphates as Antioxidants in Cooked Ground Beef

ABSTRACT:  This study determined antioxidant effects and sensory attributes of individual ingredients (black pepper, caraway, cardamom, chili powder, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, fennel, ginger, nutmeg, salt, star anise) of an Indian spice blend (garam masala) in cooked ground beef. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were measured as an indicator of rancidity for cooked samples on 1-, 8-, or 15-d refrigerated storage. Cooked samples were evaluated by a trained panel ( n = 13) for the intensity of rancid odor/flavor, beef flavor, and spice flavor and correlated with TBA values of same day samples. We also investigated possible additive effects between spice antioxidants and iron binding (type II) antioxidants on lipid oxidation by measuring TBA values. All spices had antioxidant effects on cooked ground beef, compared to controls. Among spices, cloves were the most effective in controlling lipid oxidation, with TBA values of 0.75, after 15-d refrigerated storage. All spices at their recommended levels lowered rancid odor and flavor in cooked ground beef, compared to controls. As expected, most spices also imparted distinctive flavors to cooked ground beef. There was a positive correlation (0.77) between TBA values on 15-d refrigerated storage and rancid odor/flavor. Type II antioxidants (iron-binding phosphate compounds) were more effective than individual type I antioxidants (spices and butylated hydroxytoluene; BHT) for maintenance of low TBA values in cooked ground beef during storage. Additive effects were observed with rosemary + milk mineral or sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) compared to rosemary alone.     

Oxidative Stability of Restructured Beef Roasts As Affected by Cooking Temperature

Restructured beef roasts (2.5 kg) were cooked in a water bath at 70, 85, and l00°C to an internal temperature of 65°C, then stored at 4°C for 0 and 3 days. Storage increased (p ≤ 0.05) oxidation; after 3 days storage, roasts cooked at higher temperatures had higher (p ≤ 0.05) TBA values. Sensory panelists detected more (p ≤ 0.05) warmedover flavor (WOF) due to storage; however, after 3 days there was less (p ≤ 0.05) WOF in samples cooked at 70°C than in samples cooked at 85 or 100°C. Interaction (p ≤ 0.05) between cooking temperature and storage indicated oxidation proceeded more rapidly with higher cooking temperatures during refrigerated storage. Cook yield decreased as cooking temperature increased and expressible moisture was lower (p ≤ 0.05) at 100°C than at 70°C.     

The effect of low-intensity ultrasound treatment on shear properties, color stability and shelf-life of vacuum-packaged beef semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles

A series of experiments were conducted to assess the impact of low-intensity ultrasound treatment on shear properties, color and shelflife of packaged beef muscles. For the first experiment, 15 beef semitendinosus muscles were sliced (6.4 × 2.5 × 70.2 cm) weighed, vacuum packaged, subjected to a 1.55 W/cm(2) intensity ultrasonic field for 8, 16 or 24 min then stored at 3 °C for 4 days; controls were not sonicated. Muscles were then removed from vacuum bags, weighed, cooked to 70 °C internal temperature in a convection oven and evaluated for cooking and shearing properties. For the second experiment, 14 beef semitendinosus muscles were sliced (2.5 × 5.1 × 10.2 cm), vacuum packaged and allocated to either a simultaneous ultrasound/water-bath-heating treatment or water-bath-heating treatment only. Muscles were removed from the water-bath when the water temperature reached 70 °C, removed from the vacuum bags, cooked further to an internal temperature of 70 °C in a convection oven and evaluated for instrumental shear. For the third experiment, 30 beef biceps femoris pieces (1.3 × 7.6 × 10.2 cm) were mixed together to more evenly distribute native microflora, vacuum packaged and allocated to either ultrasound (1.55 W/cm(2), 3 °C, 30 min) treatment or control (no ultrasound treatment). Vacuum-packaged muscles were stored in a retail display case (3 °C) and evaluated at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 days for microbial count and instrumental color (CIE L (?)a (?)b (?)). Ultrasound had no effect (p > 0.05) on storage purge loss, cooking loss, or textural properties (Experiments 1 and 2). Microbial levels were initially reduced (p < 0.05) by the ultrasound treatment (0 days), but differences in microbial numbers between ultrasound-treated samples and controls disappeared (p > 0.05) during storage (Experiment 3).     

Effect of erythorbic acid on cooked color in ground beef

Consumers often use the color of cooked ground beef as an indicator of doneness. For safety reasons, it is recommended that the center of ground beef products be heated to 71°C. In some instances beef may appear done before reaching 71°C, a condition termed premature browning (PMB). Ground beef (15% fat), with added erythorbic acid (ERY) at 0.04 and 0.06% was formed into patties, wrapped in oxygen permeable film, and stored in the dark at 4°C. Patties were stored for either 10 h or 58 h and then cooked to internal end point temperatures of 60, 66, 71 or 77°C. Internal cooked color L(?), a(?) and b(?) values were measured. For beef patties stored 10 h, there was no effect of ERY on internal cooked color. After 58 h storage, ground beef with 0.04 and 0.06% ERY had higher a(?) values than controls at 60°C (P<0.05). Beef with 0.04% ERY cooked to an internal temperature of 66°C had higher a(?) values than 0.06% ERY and controls (P<0.05). There was no effect of ERY on color of beef patties cooked to 71 or 77°C. The presence of 0.04% ERY in ground beef patties stored 58 h appeared to maintain red color at internal temperatures of 60 and 66°C.     

Effect of Low‐Dose Electron Beam Irradiation on Quality of Ground Beef Patties and Raw,Intact Carcass Muscle Pieces

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a low‐dose (≤1 kGy), low‐penetration electron beam on the sensory qualities of (1) raw muscle pieces of beef and (2) cooked ground beef patties. Outside flat, inside round, brisket and sirloin muscle pieces were used as models to demonstrate the effect of irradiation on raw beef odor and color, as evaluated by a trained panel. Ground beef patties were also evaluated by a trained panel for tenderness, juiciness, beef flavor, and aroma at 10%, 20%, and 30% levels of fat, containing 0% (control), 10%, 20%, 50%, and 100% irradiated meat. With whole muscle pieces, the color of controls appeared more red (P < 0.05) than irradiated muscles, however, both control and treatments showed a gradual deterioration in color over 14 d aerobic storage at 4 °C. Off‐aroma intensity of both control and treatments increased with storage time, but by day 14, the treated muscles showed significantly (P < 0.05) less off‐aroma than the controls, presumably as a result of a lower microbial load. It was found that a 1 kGy absorbed dose had minimal effects on the sensory properties of intact beef muscle pieces. Irradiation did not have a significant effect (P > 0.05) on any of the sensory attributes of the patties. Low‐dose irradiation of beef trim to formulate ground beef appears to be a viable alternative processing approach that does not affect product quality.     

Effect of Antioxidants on Lipid Stability in Restructured Beef Steaks

Two natural antioxidant formulations–containing mixed tocopherols, ascorbyl palmitate and citric acid–and TBHQ were evaluated in restructured beef steaks formulated to contain 18% fat and 0.75% NaCl. Lipid oxidation was monitored over 12 months of frozen storage. TBHQ significantly (p < 0.05) lowered TBA numbers in raw and freshly cooked samples and in samples that were cooked and held 4 hr at 4°C. Natural antioxidants provided significant (p <0.05) protection in freshly cooked meat and were as effective as TBHQ in retarding lipid oxidation. Sensory evaluation and GC quantitation of hexanal were also used to monitor oxidation but the correlation between the three methods was not significant.     

Ground Beef Characteristics after Browning or Oil Extraction Preparation

Ground beef with 26.3% fat was cooked by browning/draining (BD), browning/rinsing (BR), and an oil-extraction method with (OA) or without (ON) meat broth added back. BR caused the most reduction of total fat and cholesterol, whereas ON and OA yielded less cooked meat than BD and BR. ON and OA cooked samples, compared to BD and BR samples, contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids and nonheme iron and had higher TBA values unon extended storage at 4°C. Trained sensory panelists rated BD or BR cooked ground beef more intense in positive flavor note (“cooked beef/brothy”) than ON or OA meat. Likewise, consumers tended to prefer meatloaf, spaghetti sauce, and chili prepared with BD or BR cooked ground beef to those prepared with ON or OA cooked meat.     

Acceptability and functional properties of restructured roast from frozen pre-rigor injected beef

Restructured beef roasts, made to a standardized formulation, were prepared using the following types of meat that had been stored at - 18 °C for 5 or 10 weeks: grass-fed bull beef pre-rigor injected with a salt/phosphate brine; uninjected grass-fed bull beef; uninjected grain-fed beef; a 50:50 blend of pre-rigor injected grass-fed bull beef and grain-fed beef; and a 50:50 blend of uninjected grass-fed bull beef and grain-fed beef. After frozen storage, pre-rigor injected beef had a higher (p < 0.05) ultimate pH than uninjected beef . Grain-fed beef had the lowest ultimate pH. Roasts made from pre-rigor injected beef were redder (higher Hunter a(?) values) than roasts made with uninjected beef (p < 0.05). Roasts made from grain-fed beef were lighter and looked more cooked (higher L(?) and lower a(?) values respectively) than those made with grass-fed beef. Extending frozen storage to 10 weeks decreased the cook yield (p < 0.05), peak force (p < 0.001) and extensibility (p < 0.05). Consumer panellists preferred (p < 0.05) roasts made from pre-rigor injected beef for tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability compared with roasts made from uninjected beef.     

Soy Protein and Oil Effects on Chemical, Physical and Microbial Stability of Lean Ground Beef Patties

Effects of isolated soy protein (ISP), frozen, textured isolated soy protein (FTISP), soybean oil (SO), and hydrogenated soybean oil (HSO) addition on chemical, color, sensory, and microbial stability of lean (>90%) ground beef patties (LGBP) were evaluated. Soy oil was incorporated as an emulsion (SE). Nine treatments, including two all beef controls (20 and 10% fat), were formulated to contain combinations of SE, HSO and FTISP. Sensory panelists found LGBP with 25% FTISP (10% fat from beef) to have as intense beef flavor (P>0.05) as all beef controls. Lipid oxidation and pigment discoloration rates were slowed by fat adjustment to 10% with SO and/or HSO. Soy had no effect (P>0.05) on microbial stability.     

Residual triose phosphate isomerase activity and color measurements to determine adequate cooking of ground beef patties

The objectives were to (i) compare the use of triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) activity and internal color scores for determination of cooking adequacy of beef patties and (ii) determine the effect of frozen storage and fat content on residual TPI activity in ground beef. Ground beef patties (24.4% fat) were cooked to five temperatures ranging from 60.0 to 82.2 degrees C. TPI activity decreased as beef patty cooking temperature was increased from 60.0 to 71.1 degrees C; however, no difference (P > 0.05) in activity (6.3 U/kg meat) was observed in patties cooked to 71.1 degrees C and above. Degree of doneness color scores, a* values and b* values, of ground beef patties decreased as internal temperature was increased from 60.0 to 71.1 degrees C; however, temperature had no effect on L* values. TPI activity in raw ground beef after five freeze-thaw cycles did not differ from the control. Three freeze-thaw cycles of raw ground beef resulted in a 57.2% decrease in TPI activity after cooking. TPI activity of cooked beef increased during 2 months of frozen storage, but TPI activity in ground beef stored for 3 months or longer did not differ from the unfrozen control. While past research has shown color to be a poor indicator of adequate thermal processing, our results suggest that undercooked ground beef patties could be distinguished from those that had been adequately cooked following U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines using residual TPI activity as a marker.     

Effect of Mixture and Storage on the Palatability of Beef-Turkey Patties

Beef and turkey mixtures were formulated to contain 100/0, 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 20/80 or 0/100% lean beef/lean turkey with a constant fat content. Sensory parameters and physical characteristics were measured to evaluate the product during storage. There were no differences (p>0.05) in beef flavor between 80% and 100% beef products or between 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% beef patties. Juiciness scores were increased by adding turkey while texture scores were decreased. Similarly, 80% and 100% beef patties had greater (p<0.05) hardness than other mixtures. Off-flavor scores were not affected by mixture although malonaldehyde content of cooked patties increased markedly as the percentage of turkey increased. In general, ground beef products containing between 20% to 80% turkey had similar sensory, storage and physical characteristics.     

Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in moisture-enhanced nonintact beef by pan-broiling or roasting with various cooking appliances set at different temperatures

This study evaluated inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in moisture-enhanced restructured nonintact beef cooked to 65 °C using different cooking appliances set at different temperatures. Batches (2 kg) of coarse-ground beef (approximately 5% fat) were mixed with an 8-strain composite (100 mL) of rifampicin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (6.4 ± 0.1 log CFU/g) and a solution (100 mL) of sodium chloride plus sodium tripolyphosphate to yield concentrations (wt/wt) of 0.5% and 0.25%, respectively, in the final product. Beef portions of 2.54 cm thickness (15 cm dia) were prepared and were vacuum-packaged and frozen (-20 °C, 42 h). Partially thawed (-2.5 ± 1.0 °C) portions were pan-broiled (Presto electric skillet and Sanyo grill) or roasted (Oster toaster oven and Magic Chef kitchen oven) to 65 °C. The appliances were set at, and preheated before cooking to 149 or 204 °C (electric skillet), 149 or 218 °C (grill), 149 or 232 °C (toaster oven), and 149, 204, or 260 °C (kitchen oven). Temperatures of appliances and beef samples were monitored with thermocouples, and meat samples were analyzed for surviving microbial populations. In general, the higher the appliance temperature setting, the shorter the time needed to reach 65 °C, and the higher the edge and surface temperatures of the meat samples. Temperatures of 204 to 260 °C, regardless of appliance, resulted in greater (P < 0.05) pathogen reductions (3.3 to 5.5 log CFU/g) than those obtained at 149 °C (1.5 to 2.4 log CFU/g). The highest (P < 0.05) reduction (5.5 log CFU/g) was obtained in samples cooked in the kitchen oven set at 260 °C. The results should be useful to the food service industry for selection of effective nonintact beef cooking protocols, and for use in risk assessments for nonintact meat products. Practical Application: Results of this study should be useful for developing cooking recommendations to enhance the safety of nonintact beef products, and for use in risk assessments of such products.     

Effect of γ-Oryzanol on the Flavor and Oxidative Stability of Refrigerated Cooked Beef

ABSTRACT: γ-Oryzanol and α-tocopherol were added to beef patties as natural antioxidants. Beef patties containing 100 ppm γ-oryzanol had higher oxidative stability ( P <0.05) during storage at 4 °C than did beef patties with other antioxidants and without antioxidant. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) values, warmed over flavor (WOF) scores, C-7 oxidized cholesterol derivatives (OCDs), and concentrations of both hydroperoxide and hexanal in the cooked beef containing γ-oryzanol were significantly lower than those of other treatments ( P < 0.05). All variables had similar trends during the refrigerated storage. Significant correlations were found between TBARS and C-7 OCDs, TBARS and WOF, hydroperoxide and hexanal, and hexanal and WOF ( P < 0.05).     

Effects of alpha-tocopherol on lactones in beef headspace during storage

We studied the effect of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) on the production of lactones, a desirable flavor in Wagyu beef (Japanese Black Cattle), in meat headspace. Fresh beef was minced and divided into 4 groups containing different alpha-Toc levels (1.9, 2.7, 6.1, and 10.7 mg/kg) or packed with oxygen absorber. After 10 d of storage at 2 °C, these samples were cooked in distilled water and rendered fat was collected. The headspace of the fat was analyzed with solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The DB-17MS capillary column led to good separation of aliphatic lactones. Oxygen was important for the development of all lactones during storage. The amounts of gamma-octalactone and gamma-nonalactone decreased linearly with increasing alpha-Toc levels. The effect of alpha-Toc on delta-decalactone, delta-undecalactone, and delta-tetoradecalactone was weaker, and that on delta-hexadecalactone was ambiguous. These observations suggest that oxidation was necessary to develop the flavor of Wagyu beef, and warn that an excessive increase of alpha-Toc could reduce levels of positive flavor components, gamma-octalactone and gamma-nonalactone, in the headspace of Wagyu beef.     

STORAGE STABILITY OF COMMERCIALLY PREPARED AND FROZEN POND-RAISED CHANNEL CATFISH (Ictalurus punctauts, rafinisque)

SUMMARY –The storage stability of frozen pond-raised channel catfish from five commercial processing plants was examined. Three distinct types of processing treatment were included in the five lots. Fish samples were evaluated initially and at regular intervals during frozen storage up to 270 days. The evaluations included changes in moisture, pH, fat stability (TBA value) and shear press values of the uncooked fish, and in sensory ratings for appearance, aroma, color, texture and flavor of the cooked products. Moisture losses and changes in pH during frozen storage were not statistically significant (P = 0.05). Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values indicative of changes in fat stability, incresed in all five lots of fish with prolonged storage but were not closely correlated with changes in flavor rating. Sensory ratings for quality of the cooked product decreased significantly with successive storage periods. The regression patterns representing changes in quality during storage varied among the different losts of fish. Certain variations were related to the processing treatments.     

Antioxidative activity of α-tocopherol in cooked and uncooked ground pork

The effect of α-tocopherol (0, 100, 200 ppm) on lipid oxidation either in cooked or uncooked ground pork was studied during aerobic storage at 4°C and -20°C. Lipid oxidation was measured using the 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method and rancidity development was scored by a trained sensory panel. Alpha-tocopherol slowed the rate of oxidation in cooked ground pork stored at either 4°C or -20°C and uncooked samples refrigerated for extended periods of time (12 days). In cooked product stored at 4°C where oxidation development was intense and off-flavors were strong, panelists did not detect flavor differences due to treatments. But in cooked product stored at -20°C sensory results were consistent with TBA analysis. Pre-rigor grinding, known to induce a high pH and inhibit lipid oxidation in uncooked fresh pork, had no protective effect on lipid oxidation as measured by TBA values in cooked ground pork, regardless of storage condition. TBA numbers increased during storage of cooked product at 4°C with an increase in internal cooking temperature between 50°C and 80°C. Internal cooking temperatures of 70°C or higher induced a rapid rate of oxidation when stored at 4°C.     

Flavor, Texture, Color, and Hexanal and TBA Values of Frozen Cooked Beef Packaged in Modified Atmosphere

Cooked beef loin slices were packaged with (1) vacuum, (2) 80% N₂ and 20% CO₂ gas mixture, or (3) air and stored at -20°C for 11 wk. Modified packaging of cooked beef improved flavor and odor. After storage and reheating, flavor and aroma of samples in vacuum and N₂/CO₂ packages were more meaty, less warmed-over, less cardboardy, and less oxidized and had lower TBA, less hexanal, and less pentanal than those in air-containing packages. Textural properties of beef were unaffected by packaging treatments. Vacuum-packaged beef slices had higher HunterLab a values than those in N₂/CO₂ and air packages.