Marek Cierach

The influence of carrageenan on the properties of low-fat frankfurters.

Research was undertaken to study the technological properties of six carrageenan fractions and their usefulness as fat substitutes in frankfurter type sausages. In the first stage of the experiment hardness of gels made of 3% solutions of carrageenan preparations with different pH (5.5, 6.0 and 6.5) was evaluated. The highest F(max.) values were noted in gels obtained from G-WG carrageenan (kappa I fraction). In the second stage of the study frankfurter type sausages were produced, containing 20% and 10% of fat in meat batter with or without (control) kappa I carrageenan (G-WG). Carrageenan as a fat substitute caused a reduction in cooking and storage weight losses, increased hardness, gumminess and chewiness. All frankfurters produced with carrageenan, irrespective of fat content, were characterized by significantly higher sensory evaluation scores for texture, color and taste in comparison to control sausages.

The effect of muscle, cooking method and final internal temperature on quality parameters of beef roast

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of cooking conditions (dry air and steam) and final internal temperature (75, 85, 95°C) on the physico-chemical properties of beef infraspinatus (INF) and semimembranosus (SEM) muscles as well as their tenderness and juiciness. Cooking method and temperature influenced moisture, total collagen content in cooked meat and cooking loss, whereas muscle type affected fat, total collagen content and cooking loss. Warner-Bratzler shear force values were affected by cooking method, which also influenced juiciness of roasts. Temperature affected tenderness and juiciness, whereas muscle type influenced juiciness. The most desirable tenderness had INF heated in steam and dry air to 95°C. Processing SEM in dry air to 85 and 95°C lowered the juiciness of the roasts. There were significant correlations between physico-chemical, sensorial and image attributes, however high accuracy of prediction (r(2)>0.8) was achieved only for SEM muscle.