Potato Starch and Flour in Frankfurters: Effect on Chemical and Sensory Properties, and Total Plate Counts

Potato starch and flour were examined as possible constituents in frankfurter formulations. Frankfurters manufactured with 3% potato starch or 1.5% potato starch plus 1.5% potato flour in place of 3% wheat flour normally used as a binder, and stored at 4–5°C for 28 days did not differ significantly in percent shrink, water, protein, fat, ash or salt. Residual nitrite levels decreased during the storage period. Total plate counts reflect residual nitrite levels since the frankfurters (3% starch) with the lowest nitrite concentration also had the greatest number of bacteria (6.4 × 10⁶/g) on day 28. Frankfurters formulated with 1.5% potato starch plus 1.5% potato flour were rated more tender and more juicy than those made with 3% potato starch (P≤0.05 and P≤0.01) and 3% wheat flour (P≤0.01 and P≤0.01), respectively. Fresh potato starch and wheat flour franks did not differ from each other in either characteristic but after one week's storage the potato starch samples were rated more tender (P≤0.05) and more juicy (P≤0.01). Less force was required to shear the frankfurters formulated with 3% potato starch.