Rehydration kinetics at 5 and 15 °C of dry salted meat

The surface of meat products during intermittent drying is successively subjected to dehydration and rehydration processes. The aim of this paper was to study the rehydration kinetics at two temperatures (5 and 15 °C) of salted ground pork, (2% or 4% NaCl) dried to different water contents, (10%, 20% and 35%) using Peleg and Weibull’s models. Surface structure of dried samples was analyzed with electron microscopy and related to rehydration kinetics. The equilibrium water content decreased with temperature and increased with NaCl, but was not affected by the initial water content. The rehydration rate at the beginning decreased with water content and was significantly higher at 5 °C than at 15 °C, but it was not significantly affected by NaCl content. However, the equilibrium water decreased with temperature and tended to increase with NaCl content, but was not affected by the initial water content. High level of dehydration resulted in a more damaged and porous meat matrix. This microstructure may contribute to accelerating the rehydration process.     

Flavour differences of cooked longissimus muscle from Chinese indigenous pig breeds and hybrid pig breed (Duroc × Landrace × Large White)

The objectives of this study were to investigate the flavour quality and volatile aroma compounds of cooked longissimus muscle from five typical Chinese indigenous pig breeds: Lantang (LT), Dahuabai (HB), Laiwu (LW), Rongchang (RC), Tongcheng (TC) and typical hybrid pig breed Duroc × Landrace × Large White (DLW). The chemical compositions of the main meat flavour precursors of the longissimus muscle from all six breeds were also examined. Distinct differences in amino acid composition and fatty acid composition of longissimus muscle, between the breeds, were observed. Among all six breeds, LW and RC had the highest intramuscular fat content and the lowest crude protein content; DLW had the lowest longissimus muscle fat content and the highest crude protein content. One-way analysis of variance showed that 23 volatile compounds were significantly affected by breed. Sensory analysis indicated that cooked longissimus muscle from DLW had the lowest pork flavour intensity and flavour-liking, compared with the Chinese indigenous breeds. LW and HB showed the highest pork flavour intensity and flavour-liking in cooked longissimus muscle.     

Physico-chemical, textural and structural characteristics of sous-vide cooked pork cheeks as affected by vacuum, cooking temperature, and cooking time

This paper describes the influence of different factors on sous-vide cooked pork. Pork cheeks were cooked at different combinations of temperature (60 °C or 80 °C), time (5 or 12 h) and vacuum (vacuum or air packaged). Weight losses were lower and moisture content higher in samples cooked for a shorter time (P = 0.054) and at a lower temperature (P < 0.001). Samples cooked at 60 °C showed more lightness (L*) and redness (a*) (P < 0.001). Lipid oxidation showed an interaction between cooking time and temperature (P = 0.007), with higher TBARs values for samples cooked for 12 h at 60 °C and lower for those cooked for 12 h at 80 °C. Samples cooked at 80 °C for 12 h showed lower (P < 0.05) values for most textural parameters than all the other types of samples. Vacuum packaging showed no influence on any of the studied variables. For the treatments evaluated, cooking temperature × time combination seems to be more important than vacuum packaging in the textural and colour parameters of pork cheeks.     

Biogenic amine changes in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) slices stored at 0 °C and 4 °C

The biogenic amines formation in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) slices kept for 15 days at 0 °C and 4 °C were investigated using nine biogenic amines, total plate counts and biogenic amines formers. Significant differences in biogenic amines concentrations of barramundi slices stored at 4 °C and at 0 °C after 3 days of storage were observed. All amines, except tryptamine, 2-phenylethylamine, tyramine and agmatine in the slices increased with time during storage at both temperatures. At the end of the storage period, histamine concentrations were 82 mg/kg and 275 mg/kg for samples kept at 0 °C and 4 °C, respectively. At day 15, the total plate count was approximately 8.6 log CFU/g for sample kept at 0 °C and 9.7 log CFU/g for samples kept at 4 °C. Histamine-forming bacteria (HFB) in all samples ranged from 5.4 to 6.1 log CFU/g at 0 °C and 4 °C, respectively. The observed shelf-life of barramundi slices were 6–9 days.     

Sensory and molecular characterisation of the protective effect of storage at −80 °C on the odour profiles of human milk

The aim of this study was to investigate if storage at −80 °C prevents off-odour formation from oxidative fatty acid degradation, as previously observed for storage at −19 °C. This was carried out on milk from mothers being supplemented with fish oil, as well as on milk from those receiving no supplementation (control group). The rationale for this approach was that human milk fatty acid profiles have previously been shown to be highly influenced by maternal fatty acid dietary intake. Also, (poly)unsaturated fatty acids have been shown to be the precursors for off-odour generation during storage at −19 °C. Therefore, determination of aroma marker odourants originating from unsaturated fatty acids was performed on milk from both groups that had been stored at −80 °C, showing that, unlike the previously reported dramatic flavour changes in human milk stored at −19 °C, aroma profiles of milk from both groups remained generally unmodified after storage at −80 °C.     

Effect of hot-boned pork on the quality of hurdle treated pork sausages during ambient temperature (37 ± 1 °C) storage

The study was aimed at evaluating the suitability of hot-boned pork and pork fat for processing shelf-stable pork sausages using hurdle technology and the different hurdles incorporated were low pH, low water activity, dipping in potassium sorbate solution, vacuum-packaging and post-package reheating. Emulsion stability and cooking yield did not Izatnagardiffer significantly among hot- and cold-processed sausages. Despite the same emulsion pH, the sausages from hot-boned pork had significantly higher fat content. Colour and texture profiles of pork sausages were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by hot processing. During storage at ambient temperature (37 ± 1 °C), various physico-chemical characteristics, namely pH, TBARS and tyrosine values, of hot- and cold-processed sausages, did not differ. Hot-processing markedly increased the total plate counts of the sausages, but a significant difference was absent for anaerobic counts between treatments at any particular storage interval. Cold-processed sausages had the higher lactobacillus counts throughout the storage period. Sensory evaluation revealed that hurdle-treated pork sausages from hot-boned pork were equally suitable as those from cold-boned pork up to day 6 at ambient temperature.     

The effect of chilled conditioning at 4 °C on selected water and lipid-soluble flavor precursors in Bison bison longissimus dorsi muscle and their impact on sensory characteristics

Water and lipid-soluble flavor precursors were monitored using chromatography methods in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of six grain-fed Bison bison, stored at 4 °C for 2, 4, 8, 15 and 21 days in order to investigate their potential impact on sensory attributes of cooked bison meat. While pH and lipid-soluble compounds remained mostly unchanged, several changes in water-soluble compounds were observed. The breakdown of inosine-5′-monophosphate (IMP) led to increases in inosine, hypoxanthine and ribose (7-fold). Non-polar amino acids including valine, leucine and phenylalanine showed the most significant increases over 21 days. Trained panelists (n = 8) found a significant increase at day 15 in vinegary/sour aroma, tenderness and juiciness, while chewiness and connective tissue significantly decreased. Although, most flavor attributes were undetectable, partial least squares (PLS) analysis revealed most water-soluble precursors were positively correlated with extended conditioning as well as beef and oily/fatty flavors. Quantitative changes observed in flavor precursors may be responsible for some sensory attributes developed during the heating process.     

Effect of glucose on the stability of fresh mutton during storage at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C)

The feasibility of using d-glucose to extend the shelf life of fresh mutton at 25 ± 2 °C was investigated. Aqueous solutions of 5% d-glucose (w/v) containing 1000 ppm potassium sorbate, when applied on acidulant-treated mutton, are able to inhibit spoilage by delaying proteolytic activity, as seen by significantly lower (P < 0.01) levels of biogenic amines until 4 days of storage. Though there was no significant change in standard plate count during storage, as compared with a 1 day control, Enterobacteria were significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited. Cadaverine, the marker for threshold level of spoilage, was absent up to 4 days. Measurement of glucose retention revealed that 0.25% (0.25 g/100 g mutton) was still available at the end of 4 days, when no spoilage had set in, though there was a slight fermented odour. Thus, the investigation shows that, surface treatment with glucose helps to extend the shelf life of fresh mutton up to 3 days at 25 ± 2 °C.     

The effect of phytic acid on oxidative stability of raw and cooked meat

The effects of phytic acid addition (0.1, 1 and 5 mM) to pork and beef homogenates on TBARS and metmyoglobin levels in raw meat, and TBARS and heme iron contents in cooked meat during 3 days of storage at 4 °C were investigated. Also, the role of inositol as a potential synergist of IP₆ (phytic acid) was examined. IP₆ effectively decreased the TBARS accumulation in raw and cooked meat homogenates. The metmyoglobin formation was inhibited in raw beef by phytic acid in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of IP₆ was more pronounced in cooked meat than in raw and in cooked beef homogenates more than pork. Inositol did not enhance antioxidant action of phytic acid in minced meat.     

Effect of visual marbling on sensory properties and quality traits of pork loin

Pork loins (N = 53) were selected from a commercial packing plant to determine the influence of subjective marbling score on sensory attributes and eating quality properties. The pork loins were obtained from commercially raised hybrid barrows (average carcass weight = 67.7 kg), originating from nine cooperating herds, and fed similar diets throughout the finishing period. Carcass quality measurements, trained sensory panel analyses, fatty acid composition, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) index, and cholesterol content were assessed and analyzed on the individual pork loins. With an increase in marbling level, there was a corresponding decrease in drip loss (P = 0.049) and observed increases in pH (P = 0.001), sensory tenderness (P = 0.001), and sensory juiciness scores (P = 0.017). The most notable results demonstrated that protein concentrations were reduced as marbling levels amplified (P = 0.012). The increase in marbling score was observed to be a significant source of variation in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations. Linoleic and arachidonic acids decreased in both raw and cooked samples as marbling score increased. The data demonstrated that visual marbling score does have an influence on sensory properties and pork quality.     

Effect of long term dietary supplementation with plant extract on carcass characteristics meat quality and oxidative stability in pork

The effects of dietary supplementation in pigs with plant extract (PE) from Lippia spp., titrated in verbascoside (5 mg/kg feed), from weaning to slaughter (166 days), on carcass characteristics, meat quality, collagen characteristics, oxidative stability and sensory attributes of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were examined. Ten pigs per treatment were slaughter at a live weight of 109.5 ± 1.4 kg. No influence on carcass characteristics, LD meat quality parameters and collagen characteristics were observed. Dietary PE increased (P < 0.001) α-tocopherol levels in LD muscle. Raw LD of pig fed PE showed lower (P < 0.001) lipid oxidation levels than controls. A reduction (P = 0.05) of fat odor and rancid flavor intensity in cooked LD muscle stored at 4 °C for 24 h was observed in the treated group. This study shows that PE is an effective antioxidant in pork meat, enhancing oxidative status and sensory attributes, without affecting other meat quality parameters.     

Interaction between copper chloride and caffeine as seen by diffusion at 25 °C and 37 °C

A Taylor dispersion method is used to measure ternary mutual diffusion coefficients (D₁₁, D₂₂, D₁₂ and D₂₁) for aqueous solutions of CuCl₂ (1) + caffeine (2) + H₂O-(3) at 25 °C and 37 °C at carrier concentrations from (0.000 to 0.020 mol dm⁻³), for each solute, respectively. The results are compared with these obtained for the binary systems, that is, CuCl₂ (1) + H₂O (2) and caffeine (1) + H₂O (2), also reported here. From these data it is possible to make conclusions about the influence of the caffeine solutes in diffusion of copper chloride.     

Volatile compounds in low-acid fermented sausage “espetec” and sliced cooked pork shoulder subjected to high pressure processing. A comparison of dynamic headspace and solid-phase microextraction

Two extraction techniques, dynamic headspace extraction (DHE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME), were compared to assess the effect of high-pressure treatment (400 MPa, 10 min, 12 °C) on the volatile compounds of low-acid fermented sausage “espetec” and sliced cooked pork shoulder stored at 4 °C. DHE was more efficient at extracting low-boiling compounds such as ethanal, 2,3-butanedione and alcohols, while SPME extracted more efficiently a higher number of chemical families, especially fatty acids. The effect of pressurisation on the volatile fraction of “espetec” was better categorized by DHE, whereas SPME was more appropriate for cooked pork shoulder. The volatile fraction of “espetec” changed slightly after pressurisation, mainly showing a decrease in the levels of lipid-derived compounds, like linear alkanes, aldehydes, or 1-alcohols in pressurised samples. The volatile profile of cooked pork shoulder underwent substantial changes during refrigerated storage, mainly due to microbial metabolism, most of these changes being limited by HPP.     

Interaction between calcium chloride and some carbohydrates as seen by mutual diffusion at 25 °C and 37 °C

Ternary mutual diffusion coefficients measured by Taylor dispersion method (D₁₁, D₂₂, D₁₂ and D₂₁) are reported for aqueous solutions of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and some carbohydrates (glucose, fructose and sucrose) at 25 °C and 37 °C at carrier concentrations from 0.000 to 0.100 M, for each solute, respectively.     

Quality of superchilled vacuum packed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets stored at −1.4 and −3.6 °C

The most important factor for increasing shelf life is the product temperature, and since fish is more highly perishable than meat, the temperature is even more important. In the present study, portions of fillets of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were superchilled at two temperature levels, −1.4 and −3.6 °C. Texture, drip loss, liquid loss, cathepsin activities and protein extractability were investigated during storage and compared to ice chilled and frozen references. Drip loss was not a major problem in superchilled salmon. Textural hardness was significantly higher in superchilled salmon fillets stored at −3.6 °C compared to those stored at −1.4 °C, ice chilled and frozen references. Cathepsins B and B + L were not deactivated at the selected storage temperatures. The storage time of vacuum packed salmon fillets can be doubled by superchilled storage at −1.4 °C and −3.6 °C compared to ice chilled storage.     

Increasing omega-3 levels through dietary co-extruded flaxseed supplementation negatively affects pork palatability

To clarify the impact of feeding co-extruded flaxseed on carcass quality and pork palatability, 96 pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts) were fed three different levels of flaxseed (0%, 5% and 10% of dietary intake) for 76 days. Carcass quality and meat quality characteristics of pure loin muscle and ground pork (20% fat) were evaluated. Fat hardness and belly firmness decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing co-extruded flaxseed. Pigs fed co-extruded flaxseed levels had higher lean yield (P = 0.045) and total lean content (P = 0.034). Loin from barrows had higher fat content compared to gilts (P < 0.001). Co-extruded flaxseed supplementation increased (P < 0.001) omega-3 content in loin and ground pork. Pork flavour intensity and off-flavour intensity scores lowered (P < 0.001) with increasing levels of co-extruded flaxseed, being more accentuated (P = 0.023) in reheated pork chops from barrows. Diet affected all texture and flavour sensory characteristics (P < 0.05) as tissue levels of omega-3 fatty acids increased, likely as a result of increased lipid oxidation.     

Effects of succinate and pH on cooked beef color

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of succinate and pH on cooked beef color. In experiment 1, ten strip loins (M. longissimus lumborum) were divided in half and assigned to either non-enhanced control or 2.5% succinate. Each half-loin was cut into steaks, packaged in vacuum or 80% oxygen, and stored at 1 °C for 0, 6, or 12 days. Steaks were cooked to either 66 °C or 71 °C. Succinate increased (P < 0.05) steak pH, raw a* values, and interior cooked redness when packaged in high oxygen. In experiment 2, to assess the role of succinate in raw and cooked color, succinate or ammonium hydroxide was added to ground beef patties to result in a common meat pH (5.9). At a similar pH, succinate had greater metmyoglobin reducing activity and internal cooked redness compared with ammonium hydroxide (P < 0.05). In addition to ingredient-based changes in muscle pH, succinate may influence color by regenerating reducing equivalents.     

Effects of processing parameters on immersion vacuum cooling time and physico-chemical properties of pork hams

The effects of agitation (1002 rpm), different pressure reduction rates (60 and 100 mbar/min), as well as employing cold water with different initial temperatures (IWT: 7 and 20 °C) on immersion vacuum cooling (IVC) of cooked pork hams were experimentally investigated. Final pork ham core temperature, cooling time, cooling loss, texture properties, colour and chemical composition were evaluated. The application for the first time of agitation during IVC substantially reduced the cooling time (47.39%) to 4.6 °C, compared to IVC without agitation. For the different pressure drop rates, there was a trend that shorter IVC cooling times were achieved with lower cooling rate, although results were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). For both IWTs tested, the same trend was observed: shorter cooling time and lower cooling loss were obtained under lower linear pressure drop rate of 60 mbar/min (not statistically significant, P > 0.05). Compared to the reference cooling method (air blast cooling), IVC achieved higher cooling rates and better meat quality.     

Determination of aromatic amino acid content in cooked meat by derivative spectrophotometry: Implications for nutritional quality of meat

The technique of second derivative spectrophotometry was used to determine the level and the heat stability of the three aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine) in bovine meat (M. Longissimus thoraci). This paper presents a method which measures the second derivative absorbance values at a wavelength specifically assigned to each aromatic amino acid with corrections for the interference from other amino acids at the same wavelength. Three cooking temperatures were tested in this study (60, 100 and 140 °C). Due to important cooking losses, results differ slightly according to the method of calculation (level expressed by gram of wet meat or by gram of proteins). Whatever the calculation method, heating at 60 °C had little effect on aromatic acid levels while higher temperatures had a dramatic effect on aromatic amino acids stability. The stability of the three aromatic amino acids during cooking decreased in the order tryptophan > phenylalanine > tyrosine.     

Crucial contribution of membrane lipids’ unsaturation to acquisition of chilling-tolerance in peach fruit stored at 0 °С

Peach fruits (Prunus persica L.) were less prone to chilling injury (CI) when stored at 0 °С than at 5 °С for 30 days. In order to make known the mechanism involved, the relationship between CI and membrane lipid unsaturation was investigated in this study. The results demonstrated that peach fruit stored at 0 °С manifested higher membrane lipid fluidity and higher membrane lipid unsaturation than at 5 °С. In addition, a higher omega-3 fatty acid desaturase gene (FAD) mRNA level and a higher level of linolenic acid (C18:3) were found when peach fruits were stored at 0 °С. The findings indicated that the higher membrane lipid unsaturation in peach fruit stored at 0 °С was beneficial in maintaining membrane lipid fluidity and enhancing tolerance of peach fruit to low temperature stress, and the C18:3 level could be regulated by omega-3 FAD.