E.M. Desmond

Effect of rapid and conventional cooling methods on the quality of cooked ham joints

Three cooling regimes, vacuum (VC), blast (BC) and slow cooling (SC), were compared for their effect on cooling rate, weight loss and quality of large cooked ham joints. Vacuum cooling reduced the cooling rate (70-4°C) significantly (P<0.05) in comparison to the other methods; mean cooling times for cooked hams (5-6 kg) were 1.9 h for VC, 11.7 for BC and 14.3 for SC. However, VC gave an increased chill loss (P<0.05) of ca. 11% compared to ca. 4% for the other methods due to evaporative moisture loss. Sensory panels found that VC hams were tougher and less juicy (P<0.05). Shear force measurements and texture profile analysis also showed the vacuum cooling to have a toughening effect on the cooked ham. While vacuum cooling had an adverse effect on quality and yield, it was the only one that conformed to recent safety guidelines for cooked meat joints of a reduction in temperature to 5°C inside 10 h. The cooling conditions used do not reproduce full-scale industrial practice, however, the effects found serve as an indicator of the potential benefits and drawbacks of vacuum cooling for cooked meat joints.

Eating quality of low-fat beef burgers containing fat-replacing functional blends

Tapioca starch, carrageenan, oat fibre, pectin, whey protein and a commercial mixture of carrageenan and locust bean gum were assessed for their ability to mimic fat characteristics in cooked low-fat (10%) beef burgers. Thirteen different blends of the ingredients were formulated in order to examine their effects on quality parameters of low-fat beef burgers. The beef burgers were tested for cook yield, water-holding capacity (WHC), retention of shape, sensory and mechanical texture analysis. Most blends significantly (P<0.05) increased both cook yield and WHC, in particular blends containing tapioca starch, oat fibre, whey protein and the carrageenan/locust bean gum mixture. These blends substantially reduced both Warner–Bratzler and Kramer shear values. Sensory analysis showed that beef burgers containing tapioca starch, oat fibre and whey protein were acceptable in terms of flavour and texture. The low-fat control was found to be the toughest and driest of the beef burgers examined. This study shows that blends of these ingredients can be used to offset the poor quality associated with low-fat beef burgers. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry

The effect of enhancement with salt, phosphate and milk proteins on the physical and sensory properties of pork loin

Pork loins were pumped to 110% of original weight with solutions containing 5.5% salt and 3.3% sodium tripolyphosphate, 5.5% salt and 3.3% β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) enriched fraction or 5.5% salt and 3.3% whey protein concentrate 80% (WPC80) for comparison with non-enhanced control loins. The enhancement of pork loins significantly increased (p<0.001) the tenderness and juiciness. Warner-Bratzler shear force values were lower (p<0.001) in enhanced then in non-enhanced control chops. The enhanced pork chops had a slightly higher overall flavour and overall acceptability to the control pork chops. Sensory analysis showed that β-lg enriched fraction and WPC80 can be used as replacement ingredients to reduce the amount of phosphate used in enhancement solutions, as they were comparable to salt/sodium tripolyphosphate (salt/STPP) enhancement solution. Consumers rated the tenderness, juiciness and taste of the enhanced chops significantly (p<0.001) higher then the control chops.

The effect of whey protein-enriched fractions on the physical and sensory properties of frankfurters

Four Beta-lactoglobulin (β-lg) enriched fractions containing different mineral contents were prepared and evaluated in frankfurters. Frankfurters were assessed for cook loss, water holding capacity (WHC), textural and sensory characteristics. The addition of the β-lg fractions reduced the cook loss (p<0.001) in comparison to the control (6.63% vs 3.98%). The fractions (β-lg 1 and 2) with the lowest calcium level significantly reduced WHC (p<0.01). The β-lg fractions had no detrimental effect on the sensory characteristics (p>0.05). All of the fractions increased the TPA value of hardness in comparison to the control (p<0.001) while the springiness decreased in the fractions (p<0.001) with the lowest mineral level. This study showed that the mineral composition of the β-lactoglobulin fractions affected cook loss, tenderness and hardness (TPA) of the frankfurters and the addition of the β-lactoglobulin enriched fraction did not affect the organoleptic quality of frankfurters in comparison to the control. This study shows the potential for next generation whey protein fractions and their application in meat products.

The effect of hot-boning and reduced added phosphate on the processing and sensory properties of cured beef prepared from two forequarter muscles

The functionality of pre-rigor beef was investigated in terms of the effects of phosphate reduction and curing of hot-boned meat on the processing and sensory properties of relatively low-value muscles, M. infraspinatus (IS) and M. pectoralis profundus (PP), from the forequarter. Muscles were excised within 90 min post-mortem (HB) or, from chilled carcasses, 24 h post-mortem (CB), and were injected to 115% of green weight with brine containing phosphate and were vacuum tumbled continuously for 2 h. Hot-boning gave lower total yield of cooked meat for both muscles. Hot-boned PP joints had slightly higher (P<0.05) cook loss than cold-boned. Reduction of added phosphate (from sodium tri-polyphosphate) from 0.3% to 0.15% of cured meat had detrimental effects on colour; joints containing the conventional 0.3% were lighter (P<0.001) and redder for both muscles. Hot-boning gave PP joints which were rated less tender by sensory panels, corresponding with higher (P<0.001) hardness TPA values, higher (P<0.05) Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values and shorter (P<0.05) sarcomere lengths. Effects of phosphate level and boning method were less in IS joints. In these, hot-boning gave products that were rated by sensory panel as slightly more tender but there was no effect on TPA or WBSF values. Furthermore, total yields from hot-boned products did not reflect the expected increase in functionality and reducing added phosphate during processing had a detrimental effect in binding and forming of joints.