Evaluation of Potassium Chloride as a Salt Substitute in Bread

Breads made with white flour and a mixture of wheat and white flours were commercially prepared using three different levels of NaCl and a 1:1 mixture of NaCl/KCl. The Na and K content was determined by flame photometry on the dry ash. The 0.75% NaCl and 1.0% KCl/NaCl treatments for both white and wheat breads were judged equally desirable. The Na:K ratios of the 0.75% NaCl and 1% NaCl/KCl white breads are 7.00 and 1.20 respectively. The Na:K ratios for the 0.75% NaCl and 1% NaCl/KCl wheat breads are 3.29 and 0.91 respectively. Breads containing 1.00% of a 1:1 mixture of NaCl and KCl are not significantly different in flavor than breads containing 0.75% NaCl but the KCl containing product has a much lower Na:K ratio.     

Retardation by Glandless Cottonseed Flour of Lipid Oxidation and Discoloration in Raw Ground Beef Containing Salt

Salt (NaCl) was added to raw ground beef at levels of 0, 0.5, 1, 2 or 3% of the weight of the meat and defatted glandless cottonseed flour (GCF) was added at 0 or 3% levels. Patties were made with these mixes and stored for 3 or 6 days at 4°C or for 30 or 60 days at –20°C. Lipid oxidation (TBA values) in samples stored at 4° and –20°C and discoloration in samples stored at 4°C were determined. In samples made with salt only, TBA values within each storage period for each storage temperature increased with increasing salt levels up to 2%; increasing salt from 2 to 3% decreased TBA values. GCF markedly reduced TBA values at each salt level. Discoloration of samples stored at 4°C was also decreased by GCF.     

Hot-Water Rinsing and Trimming/Washing of Beef Carcasses to Reduce Physical and Microbiological Contamination

A field study was conducted to compare trimming/washing procedures with hot-water rinsing as interventions for beef carcass decontamination. Treatments included no trimming/no washing; knife-trimming followed by spray-washing (26°C, 276 kPa followed by 1000 kPa); and hot-water rinsing (> 77°C, 138–152 kPa, 2.5 or 8 sec) following either knife-trimming or no knife-trimming of the contaminated site and spray-washing. Samples were analyzed for counts of total aerobic bacteria, total coliforms and Escherichia coli, as well as for the presence of Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7. Results indicated decontamination of beef carcasses could be achieved by knife-trimming followed by spray-washing or by spray-washing followed by hot-water rinsing.