Effects of tallow and ground flaxseed on sensory and color characteristics of ribeye steaks

Forty-eight ribeye steaks from steers fed diets containing steam-flaked corn (SFC), steam-flaked corn with tallow (SFC/Tallow), or steam-flaked corn with rolled flaxseed (Flax) were used to evaluate the effects of dietary fat on sensory traits, retail display color stability, and fatty acid composition. Steaks from Flax-fed steers had increased deposition of alpha linolenic acid (C18:3n3, an omega-3 fatty acid; P<0.01) and developed a detectable off-flavor (P<0.05) when compared to those of cattle fed SFC and SFC/Tallow. There were no differences in tenderness, juiciness, or flavor intensity (P>0.10) among the three treatments. Steaks from cattle fed SFC retained a desirable color longer than those from cattle fed Flax (P<0.05) which may be attributable to premature lipid oxidation in steaks from cattle fed Flax. This study suggests that altering the fat in the diet may affect flavor and color stability of the meat. Feeding flaxseed can effectively alter composition of carcass tissues to yield beef that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which may lead to premature lipid oxidation

Inhibition of heterocyclic amine formation in beef patties with added spices and ingredients

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are compounds present at part per billion levels in fried, grilled, broiled, barbecued and smoked meats. Most of these compounds are highly mutagenic, as demonstrated by the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium. They also are carcinogenic in rodents and non-human primates following high dosage and long term oral administration. For decades, researchers have focused on inhibiting the production of these carcinogens. This research investigates the effects of natural antioxidants in spices or other ingredients on the reduction of heterocyclic amines formation when beef patties are cooked. The term “spice” in this paper includes herbs. Ground beef patties combined with different levels of added spices or ingredients were cooked at 375°F (5 minutes each side) or 400°F (7.5 minutes each side). Extracted HCAs were then analyzed using reversed-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV-Visible and fluorescence detectors. Of the spices used, basil added at 0.5% was most effective in decreasing HCAs. Of all the ingredients, food starches showed the best inhibition when added at 5% as they reduced MelQx, harman, and norharman forms of HCA at both 375°F and 400°F

Temperature management to minimize ground beef aerobic and lactic acid bacteria growth

Increasing storage and display temperature and time of ground beef significantly increased microbial counts but lean level had no effect. Prolonged storage at abusive temperatures (48°F) caused up to 90% unacceptable chubs and aerobic bacteria counts as high as 7.7 log10 CFU/g, which would render chubs unsatisfactory for further processing, packaging and sale. Thus, ground beef chubs should be stored at 32°F. and as briefly as possible to minimize pre- and post-display microbial counts. Maintaining both optimal storage and display temperatures is critical because combining abusive storage and display conditions resulted in the greatest microbial growth. Shelf life and wholesomeness benefits from maintaining cold (32°F) storage and display temperatures are clearly demonstrated

Influences of aging on tenderness and color of beef steaks

Aging loin strip, bottom, and eye of round steaks for 21 days decreased Warner- Bratzler Shear (WBS) values (increased tenderness). For the top round, aged semimembranosus muscle steaks tended to have lower WBS values (more tender) than nonaged steaks, while aged adductor steaks were similar to non-aged steaks. Furthermore, instrumental L* color values were higher (lighter) for aged strip and eye of round steaks than non-aged steaks, and instrumental a* color values were higher (redder) for aged bottom round, eye of round, and top round (semimembranosus) steaks than nonaged steaks. Aging steaks is effective for improving tenderness and color of strip, bottom, top (semimembranosus) and eye of round steaks

Maximizing desirable ground beef color with cold storage and display temperatures

This study evaluated the combined effects of storage temperature, storage time, display temperature, display time, and fat level on ground beef color. Storage at 32°F minimized discoloration during display compared to storage at 40° and 48°F. Storage up to 12 days at 32°F did not affect ground beef color stability, whereas prolonged storage at 40° and 48°F increased discoloration dramatically. When storage was at 32°F, sales loss was 0.4%, compared to 62% at 48°F. Fat level did not influence discoloration. The use of 32°F during storage and display is essential for maximizing ground beef color life

Flavor characterization of top blade, top sirloin, and tenderloin steaks from A- and B-maturity carcasses of high and normal pH

The infraspinatus muscle (top blade steak) from the chuck clod, the gluteus medius muscle (top sirloin steak) from the sirloin, and the psoas major muscle (tenderloin steak) from the loin were obtained from A- and B-maturity carcasses with either low-Slight or Small marbling and with either normal ultimate pH (5.7 or less) or high pH (6.0 or higher) to evaluate flavor profile characteristics. Muscles were aged for 7, 14, 21, and 35 days. A highly trained flavor-profile sensory panel evaluated charbroiled steaks from these muscles. Muscles from high pH (dark cutting) carcasses had less typical beef flavor identity and less brown roasted flavor than those from carcasses with normal pH. Top blade steaks had a more intense bloody/serumy flavor than top sirloin and tenderloin steaks. Aging steaks to 21 or 35 days postmortem increased the metallic flavor sensory characteristic. Top sirloin steaks had a more intense sour flavor than top blade or tenderloin steaks, and steaks from carcasses having a high pH were found to be more rancid than those from carcasses with normal pH. In general, high pH steaks and those aged longer than 21 days had less desirable flavor profiles than normal pH steaks and those aged only 14 days

Factors causing livery flavor in beef steaks from the chuck and loin

The infraspinatus muscle (top blade) from the chuck clod, the gluteus medius muscle (top sirloin) from the sirloin, and the psoas major muscle (tenderloin) from the loin were obtained from 140 A- and B-maturity carcasses with either low-Slight or Small marbling and with either normal pH (5.7 or less) or high ultimate pH (6.0 or higher) to evaluate factors that could cause livery flavor in cooked beef. Muscles were aged for 7, 14, 21, or 35 days. A highly trained, flavor-profile sensory panel evaluated charbroiled steaks from these muscles. Approximately 8% of all sensory panelist judgments were scored to have some livery flavor. Numerous statistical interactions were found among traits, which made it difficult to make clear conclusions. In general, marbling and aging time had little direct effect on livery flavor, and livery flavor was not related to raw muscle lipid oxidation

Quality and display life of chilled or frozen all-natural beef and beef-buffalo frankfurters

Chilled (35±3°F) or frozen (0±3°F) all-natural beef and beef-buffalo frankfurters made with or without sodium nitrite (NaNO2) were evaluated. Treatments included frankfurters made with: all-natural beef without NaNO2 and displayed frozen (B0F); all-natural beef and buffalo without NaNO2 and displayed frozen (BU0F); all-natural beef with NaNO2 and displayed frozen (BNF) or chilled (BNC). Batter pH, smokehouse yield, and proximate analysis were determined. No differences (P>.05) were noted in batter pH, smokehouse yield, proximate analysis, or cooking yield. Day of display had no influence (P>.05) on oxidation. However, BU0F had the highest (P<.05) oxidation value, a measure of potential rancidity. For all treatments, instrumentally measured lightness increased during display, while redness decreased. Both B0F and BU0F had lower (P<.05) redness and nitrosoheme pigments than BNC. Purge loss increased (P<.05) with longer display. Microbial counts and pH of frozen products were not different (P>.05) during display. Nitrite-free frankfurters can be displayed frozen up to 90 days based on microbial counts, but display life may be limited to 60 days by product color. Inclusion of buffalo did not influence physical or microbiological quality of nitrite-free frozen frankfurters but may accelerate oxidative rancidity

The effect of Dakota Gold®-brand dried distiller’s grains with solubles of varying levels on sensory and color characteristics of ribeye steaks

We evaluated the effect of varying levels of Dakota Gold-brand dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) on meat quality characteristics including sensory traits and display color stability. Rib cuts from heifers from a 153-day feeding trial were selected randomly so that each level of DDGS had 10 steaks in a seven-day retail display color study, and 10 steaks that were cooked for evaluation by a trained sensory panel. Color reflectance value L* (lightness) exhibited an interaction (P<0.05) between diet and day, as well as a quadratic effect (P<0.05). Diet had no effect on a* (redness) or b* (yellowness) values, but a* and b* for all treatments decreased with longer display (P<0.05). A trained sensory panel detected small but significant (P<0.05) linear improvements in myofibrillar tenderness and overall tenderness as DDGS increased. The effect on sensory traits or display color stability were too small to warrant the feeding of DDGS to improve these traits

Effects of repetitive high energy pulsed power (RHEPP) irradiation on sensory attributes, color, and shelf life of ground beef

We investigated the effects of packaging atmosphere and three levels of irradiation dose (Repetitive High Energy Pulsed Power, - RHEPP) on microbial populations, vitamin retention, and display color attributes of ground beef patties stored either chilled or frozen. Beef knuckles and beef fat were coarsely ground, sampled and analyzed to achieve 20% fat, mixed, ground through a 1/8 in. plate, and processed into 1/4-lb patties, which were sealed either aerobically or nitrogen-flushed. Patties were not irradiated or irradiated to 1.5 or 3.0 kGy, chilled, and displayed at 37 ± 4EF for 6 days under 150 foot-candles of Deluxe Warm White fluorescent lighting in an open-top display case defrosted at 12 hour intervals. Hunterlab Instrumental color was measured daily. The experiment was replicated three times. Aerobically packaged patties were lighter, more yellow, more discolored, and less red (all P<.05) than nitrogen-flushed patties over the 6-day display. Nitrogen-flushing for irradiated patties resulted in higher (P<.05) retention of thiamin, but riboflavin was not affected (P>.05). At $ 1.5 kGy, aerobic and lactic acid bacteria were reduced (P<.05), and no E. coli and coliforms survived. Nitrogenflushing combined with irradiation resulted in more stable, intensely red colored patties, which retained more thiamin. The effect of irradiation on various flavor notes was minimal and generally diminished in nitrogen-flushed compared to aerobic packages