Rheological changes during thermal processing of low-fat meat emulsions formulated with different texture-modifying ingredients

The rheological behaviour of high-fat (22%) and low-fat (8%) meat emulsions during thermal processing in the presence (3%) of various texture-modifying non-meat ingredients, namely maltodextrin, starch, wheat flour, egg white and apple fibre, was analysed. Rheological properties of emulsions were assessed using non-destructive measurements (thermal scanning rigidity monitor, TSRM). The lower the fat content, the lower were the rigidity values of meat emulsions throughout the temperature range studied. Emulsions made with maltodextrin proved less rigid. Addition of starch and egg white favoured the formation of more rigid structures in low-fat meat emulsions at temperatures over 55 °C. Low-fat meat batters containing wheat flour and apple fibre exhibited the highest rigidity values over the given temperature range. The presence of wheat flour caused variations in the modulus of rigidity at all stages of the thermal gelation process, very similar to those observed in high-fat emulsions.