Processing characteristics of beef roasts made from high and normal pH bull inside rounds

The processing characteristics of roasts manufactured from either high or normal pH bull inside rounds (semimembranosus and adductor muscles), which had been stored chilled or frozen, were investigated. Roasts were injected with a salt/phosphate brine and cooked to an internal temperature of 63 °C in a 70 °C water bath. High-pH meat that had been frozen had less purge than normal pH meat. However, pH did not affect purge from chilled meat. Meat pH and storage conditions did not affect retention of pumped brine. Cook yields were significantly (P<0.05) higher for roasts made from high pH meat (103.8 vs 98.8%). Raw and cooked meat colour was affected by meat pH but not storage condition. Cooking reduced the effect of pH on meat colour but cooked roasts manufactured from high pH meat were redder than roasts manufactured from normal pH meat.     

Marination with natural curing ingredients, storage time, and serving temperature effects on the sensory characteristics of forage-finished or commercially-sourced beef roasts

Beef inside round roasts (n = 144) were cut from rounds obtained from both forage-finished cattle (n = 72) and commercially-sourced beef (n = 72). Roasts were portioned to weigh 0.45-0.68 kg each. Each roast was then randomly assigned one of the following treatments: control, injected-no cure, or injected-cured. Additionally, roasts were assigned a serving temperature (hot or cold) and storage treatments (0 d or 28 d post cooking). Roasts from forage-fed beef had a more red interior color and higher shear values, and also retained more brine than commercially-sourced beef (P < 0.05). Curing roasts improved TBARS values in roasts served hot and significantly reduced sensory warmed-over and grassy flavors (P < 0.05). Marinating forage-finished beef roasts significantly improves tenderness and flavor characteristics.     

Processing and sensory characteristics of cooked roast beef: effect of breed, age, gender and storage conditions

Two separate experiments investigated the effect of breed (Bos indicus, Bos indicus×and Bos taurus), gender/age and chilled and frozen storage on the processing characteristics of roasts made from inside rounds (semimembranosus, adductor and gracilis muscles). Roasts were injected with a salt/phosphate brine and cooked to an internal temperature of 63 °C. Freezing the meat increased purge lost from the raw meat. Country of origin had no significant effect on cook yield. Sensory evaluations with a US consumer panel indicated only slight sensory differences due to country of origin and breed but a significant effect from storage regime. Tenderness comparisons between breeds were confounded by country of origin and indicated that roast beef from inside rounds from Brahman cattle had lower WBS values than roast beef made from inside rounds from British cattle. Although breed and age/gender often significantly affected processing characteristics of the roasts, differences were small and would have little practical or economic importance for selecting the type of meat for this market sector.     

ATTRIBUTES OF BEEF SAUSAGE BATTERS, PATTIES AND RESTRUCTURED ROASTS FROM TWO BONING SYSTEMS

Sausage batters, patties, hot-set (HS) and cold-set (CS) roasts were processed from electrically stimulated hot-boned or nonstimulated cold-boned beef (two of the boning systems used in New Zealand) that had been held for 1 month at-18C (ESHBF or NSCBF) or at 0 to 1 C (ESHBC or NSCBC). Also, patties were made from 50:50 mixes of frozen and chilled ESHB or NSCB beef. Meat treatment did not affect the cook yield or shear stress and strain of sausage batters or the bind and extension of HS roast. Cook yield (P<0.001) and compressive strength were higher (P<0.05) for patties made from chilled or a mix of frozen and chilled meat than for those made solely from frozen beef. Cooking increased the bind strength but decreased the extension (P<0.001) ofCS roast. Meat storage temperature had more effect on beef products attributes than the boning systems.     

EVALUATION OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SPICE MARINATION ON THE SENSORY AND TEXTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PRECOOKED SEMITENDINOSUS ROASTS

Roasts from mature cows were used to evaluate the effects of calcium chloride (Cacl₂) injection on sensory and textural characteristics and of spice marination to overcome potential off‐flavors associated with CaCl₂ treatment. The roasts appeared lighter(P<0.05), less red(P<0.05), and less yellow(P<0.05) with increases in CaCl₂, the inclusion of spice, and the progression of storage time. Roasts with spice had less (P<0.05) cooking and total loss than nonspice and noninjected roasts. The CaCl₂ treatment did not significantly effect either shear force values or sensory tenderness. Roasts with spice were more (P<0.05) tender and juicier than nonspiced and noninjected roasts. Roasts with spice had fewer (P<0.05) off‐flavors than nonspiced roasts. The injection of spice can overcome off‐flavors; however, CaCl₂ injection is not efficacious as a tenderizing agent in the semitendinosus muscle of mature cows.     

Effects of Sodium Tripolyphosphate on Physical and Sensory Properties of Beef and Pork Roasts

Six paired beef round and pork loin roasts were used to determine the effects of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) on fresh and reheated roasts. Roasts were pumped 10% of their weight with distilled water (control) or with distilled water containing 4.75% STPP. Roasts were cooked to internal temperatures of 70°C (beef) or 75°C (pork) and evaluated after 0, 1 or 3 days (roasts were reheated to cooked temperatures). This study indicates that phosphate in pork and beef roasts allowed them to be reheated after 1 and 3 days of refrigeration with minimal losses of juiciness, tenderness or flavor intensity, Phosphate injection reduced warmed-over flavor in reheated pork roasts but was not successful in decreasing the incidence of warmedover flavors in reheated beef roasts.     

Lipid stability and meat colour of beef from pasture- and grain-fed cattle with or without vitamin E supplement

Meat from pasture-fed cattle can have high contents of α-tocopherol and other anti-oxidants originating from naturally occurring compounds present in grasses. However, meat from pasture-fed cattle may have an increased demand for endogenous anti-oxidants because of its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which in turn, may affect its colour and lipid stability. In the work described, we evaluated the effects of pasture-feeding alone and with vitamin E supplementation and compared the findings with those obtained for grain-fed cattle (predominantly sorghum) with and without supplementation. Within each nutritional background, vitamin E supplementation did not alter meat colour or colour stability of fresh or 47-day aged muscle during 7-day aerobic storage. However, both control and supplemented grain-fed product had better meat colour (more redness) compared with meat from grass-fed cattle. These differences in redness between pasture- and grain-fed fresh beef were not apparent after ageing. The treatments did not affect the lipid stability of fresh meat during aerobic storage; however, supplementation reduced (P<0.01) lipid oxidation in grain-fed aged beef compared with pasture-fed aged beef, despite both having similar α-tocopherol contents. Pasture-fed beef had more linolenic acid, less linoleic acid and, overall, was more polyunsaturated than grain-fed beef (P<0.05). In summary, vitamin E supplementation of pasture-fed cattle did not alter muscle tocopherol contents but pasture-fed beef (both control and supplemented) was more susceptible to lipid oxidation following ageing than vitamin E supplemented grain-fed beef.     

Effects of Chloride Salt, Method of Manufacturing and Frozen Storage on Sensory Properties of Restructured Pork Roasts

Pork shoulders were used to make two replications of restructured roast by the following methods: (1) grinder with 3-hole “kidney shaped” plate and a conventional knife with four full-length arms; (2) grinder with 3-hole “kidney shaped” plate and a special knife with two half-length arms and; (3) Comitrol machine with a 6.35 mm headsize. Sodium chloride was replaced with an equivalent ionic strength of potassium chloride in one-half of the roasts made by each method. Frozen storage period (1 or 4 wk) did not (P7>0.05) affect sensory properties of cooked roasts. However, roasts made with potassium chloride had more off-flavor than roasts made with sodium chloride (P<0.05). Roasts made by the Comitrol method had more off-flavor and less whole muscle-like mouthfeel than those made by the grind-mix method using a knife with two half-length arms (P<0.05).     

Storage and Lipid Quality of Chunked, Formed Roasts Containing Mechanically Separated Lamb

Restructured chunked and formed roasts containing 10 or 30% mechanically separated lamb (MSL) were made with meat from ram or wether lambs. Roasts were either frozen immediately after formulation and stored at -30°C before cooking to 71°C, or precooked immediately to 63°C, chilled and reheated to 71°C before storage at 4 and -30°C. Storage periods varied depending upon treatment. Roasts with 10% MSL contained less total fat and less free fatty acids (FFA) than those with 30% MSL. There was little evidence of extensive lipid oxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid values and peroxide oxygen values in any of the roasts. There was an indication that pre-cooking and curing prior to storage increased glycerolipid hydrolysis because of increased levels of FFA. Apparently increased hydrolysis occurred in triglycerides since levels of phospholipids did not change.     

Meat cut and injection level affects the tenderness and cook yield of processed roast beef

The effect of muscle cut used and brine injection level on the processing characteristics of small pre-cooked roast beef was determined. Meat cuts (inside, outside, eye of round, knuckle, clod, chuck roll and brisket) were cut into small roasts (750 g) and injected at three levels (110, 125 and 150% over raw roast weight) with a non-injected control. Muscle cuts from the chuck can be used to successfully manufacture cooked mini roast beef. However, the use of small roasts resulted in cook yields that are considerably less than what was expected with large intact muscle roasts. Some variation in tenderness between the muscles was seen, but when muscles were injected there was a significant increase in tenderness and a reduction in the variability in tenderness within the muscle. Roasts injected to 125% above green weight resulted in the highest cook yields.     

Proximate Analysis of Cooked Chuck and Round Roasts from Two Beef Breed-Types on Two Feeding Regimes

Cooked roast samples from two beef breed-types and from two feeding regimes were assayed for proximate composition. Three muscle roasts from the round primal cut (semimembranosus, SM; semitendinosus, ST; biceps femoris, BF) were similar to each other in composition. Roasts from chuck primal cut (shoulder clod roasts) differed considerably in composition from round roasts: clod roasts were higher in fat and lower in moisture, protein and ash. Breed-type had minimal effect on proximate composition, but feeding regime did significantly affect composition. Beef fed a higher energy regime produced roasted meat which was higher in fat and lower in moisture content.     

Sodium lactate and storage temperature effects on shelf life of vacuum packaged beef top rounds

Cooked, vacuum-packaged beef top rounds containing up to 4% sodium lactate (NaL) in the final product were stored at 0, 4, 10 or 16°C for 1, 7, 14 or 21 days. Aerobic plate counts (APCs) were lower for roasts containing 3 or 4% NaL and stored at 10°C for 7 days. At higher temperatures and longer storage times, only those treated with 4% NaL were lower than controls. Lipid oxidation, Hunter L* and b* values decreased and Hunter a* values, cooked yields and Ph increased with NaL addition. Beefy odor decreased with storage but was higher in roasts containing NaL. Roasts with added NaL had lower rancid odor scores.     

INFLUENCE OF NACL LEVEL AND FREEZING ON ACTIN AND MYOSIN CONTENT OF EXUDATE FROM CHUNKED AND FORMED LAMB ROASTS

The influence of NaCl levels and freezing on bind characteristics and protein exudate of chunked and formed lamb roasts were evaluated. Roasts prepared from frozen lean had lower shear values and Instron peak loads than did roasts prepared from fresh lean. Freezing of lean prior to processing lowered percentage actin in exudate but significant (P<.05) NaCl level × freezing interactions existed for percentage actin and myosin. Increasing NaCl levels from .5 to 2.0% decreased cook loss in all roasts made from fresh and frozen meat and increased Instron measures of bind in roasts made from fresh but not frozen meat. Effects of freezing and NaCl level on extractability and functionality of the myofibrillar proteins into the exudate at meat chunk surfaces is probably responsible for the observed differences in bind.     

Effects of brine ingredients and temperature on cook yields and tenderness of pre-rigor processed roast beef

In semimembranosus (SM) muscles removed pre- and post-rigor and injected 10% (wt/wt) with brines formulated to give 2% salt, 1.5% glucose, 0.3% phosphate, 0.15% calcium chloride or 3% sodium lactate in the finished product and cooked within 1 h of injection, cook yields were not significantly affected by processing pre- or post-rigor. Within treatments, however, brine composition had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on cook yields; highest yields were obtained using salt (although this was not significantly different from the water injected control) and lowest yields with calcium chloride. Adding phosphate resulted in lower peak shear force values, and less energy was required to break the sample. The most tender roasts from pre-rigor meat were produced using salt, phosphate or lactate brines and the least tender using calcium chloride. Brine temperature (0-12 °C) during injection had little effect on cook yields or tenderness of the roast beef manufactured pre-rigor. The results indicate that accelerated processing of roast beef can result in finished product with acceptable yields and tenderness if salt and phosphate brines are used.     

The effects of hot water pasteurizing treatments on the appearances of pork and beef

Portions of post- and pre-rigor pork and beef were treated by immersion in water of 75 or 85 °C for 5, 10, 15 or 20 s. The appearances of untreated and treated cut muscle, fat, membrane covered and cut bone surfaces, and the overall appearances of treated and untreated meat pieces, were assessed by a 5-member panel 2 hr and 24 hr after each treatment. At those times, CIE L(?)a(?)b(?) values were obtained for cut-muscle surfaces. The appearances of surfaces covered by membrane, of fat and cut bone surfaces of pre-rigor pork and beef, and of fat and cut bone surfaces of post-rigor pork, were not persistently degraded by any treatment. However, the appearances of fat and cut bone surfaces of post-rigor beef were persistently degraded by the harsher treatments, apparently because of pre-treatment staining of fat and changes in the bone marrow. Panel scores for the overall appearance and for the appearance of cut muscle surfaces were generally the same for each meat piece. All treatments caused patchy bleaching of cut muscle. The degraded appearances of pre- and post-rigor pork and post-rigor beef muscle persisted at 24 hr, but the appearances of beef muscle treated pre-rigor improved between 2 and 24 hr. Most treated muscle gave increased CIE L(?) values and decreased a(?) and b(?) values as compared with untreated portions from the same primal cut. However, CIE b(?) values for pre-rigor beef muscle were higher than for untreated muscle 2hr after treatment, but lower than for untreated muscle 24 hr after treatment. It appears that pasteurizing treatments cannot be applied to meat without some degradation of the appearances of cut muscle surfaces, which will persist in pork treated pre- or post-rigor and in beef treated post-rigor, but which will partially resolve during the storage of beef treated pre-rigor.     

Palatability and Storage Characteristics of Precooked Beef Roasts

The palatability and storage characteristics of fresh, frozen and precooked beef chuck roasts prepared using added phosphate-salt and vacuum cooking bags were evaluated. Palatability attributes (tenderness, juiciness, beef flavor intensity, and off-flavor intensity) of precooked roasts prepared in vacuum cooking bags with phosphate-salt were as good or better than freshly cooked roasts. Precooked roasts in vacuum cooking bags had the lowest total bacterial counts after storage for 14 and 28 days. A palatable precooked roast beef product was developed that can be stored for 28 days at 4°C.     

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.     

Influence of Feeding Regimen on the Sensory Qualities and Fatty Acid Contents of Beef Steaks

Longissimus dorsi (loin) and gluteus medius (rump) muscles were obtained from twenty carcasses (ten grain-fed and ten forage-fed). A trained sensory panel rated longissimus dorsi steaks from grain-fed animals significantly (p < 0.05) more tender and more flavorsome than those from forage-fed animals. Fatty acid profiles indicated some significant differences due to feeding regimen. Forage-fed beef had a higher proportion of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids than grain-fed beef.     

Development of a beef flavor lexicon and its application to compare the flavor profile and consumer acceptance of rib steaks from grass- or grain-fed cattle

Ten panelists were selected from the local community to develop a meat lexicon composed of 18 terms that describe flavor attributes found in red meats. This flavor lexicon was used to compare the flavor profile of meat from beef cattle finished on grass or grain. Steaks from grass-fed animals were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in barny, bitter, gamey, and grassy flavor, and lower in juicy and umami notes. Gamey, barny, bitter and grassy were some of the attributes inversely correlated to the degree of liking of the meat and therefore can be classified as “negative” attributes. Brothy, umami, roast beef, juicy, browned, fatty and salty are some of the attributes positively correlated to the degree of liking of beef and therefore can be identified as attributes that drive consumers’ acceptance. Steaks from grass-fed cattle were rated by consumers as slightly liked (6.08 on a 9-point scale), while steaks from grain-fed animals were rated as moderately liked (7.05 on a 9-point scale).     

Effect of post-slaughter processing and freezing on the functionality of hot-boned meat from young bull

The effects of variation in the times of mincing post mortem (2, 4, or 6 h), pre-rigor salting (1.5% wt wt ) and freezing rate [fast (10 min, liquid nitrogen); medium (4-6 h at -40 °C and 0.8 m s(-1) air velocity); or slow (36-38 h at -10 °C and 0.1 m s(-1) air velocity followed by 12 h at -20 °C and 0.1 m s(-1) air velocity)] on the functionality of young bull meat were examined using hot-boned forequarters. At 52 h post packaging, the meat was thawed (72 h at 4 °C), its pH measured, and it was used to make finely comminuted batters. Cook yield and stress and strain of the cooked batters were measured. Time of mincing had no effect on meat pH, cook yield or stress and strain. There was a significant interaction (P < 0.05) between pre-rigor salting and freezing rate for pH. Freezing rate did not affect the pH of pre-rigor salted meat whereas the pH of unsalted pre-rigor meat was highest at the fastest freezing rate. Meat salted pre-rigor had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher pH than the post-rigor chilled control. Pre-rigor salting decreased the stress values of cooked batter whereas the slowest freezing rate increased stress. Stress and strain values for cooked batters from thawed meat were not significantly different from the values for batters made from the unfrozen control. Cook yields of batters made from pre-rigor frozen meat were higher than that of the postrigor control but not significantly so. The results indicate that suppliers can use pre-rigor salted and frozen meat when manufacturing comminuted products without major detrimental effects on the cook yield and texture of the finished product.