SUMMARY This study was conducted to determine how altering the course of post‐mortem changes artificially through liquid nitrogen (L‐N2) treatment, affects certain physieochemical properties of the musculature. L‐N2‐treated muscles were superior to the untreated pale, soft, exudative muscles in ultimate gross morphology (color structure) and myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein extractability. L‐N2 treatment also improved the emulsifying properties of the muscle and decreased the post‐mortem production of reducing sugars. The significance and interrelationships of these properties were discussed.

SUMMARY— Techniques are described for the electron microscopic evaluation of a meat emulsion. Fat globules as small as 0.1 μ in diameter were observed to have distinct protein membranes. The continuous phase of the emulsion was fibrous, but homogeneous. After thermal processing the globule membranes were highly disrupted and the protein of the continuous phase was coagulated into dense, irregular zones.

SUMMARY Liquid nitrogen (L‐N2) treatment over a wide range of immersion rates was studied to determine the effectiveness of this treatment in controlling the development of pale, soft, exudative muscle as well as improving other muscle properties. The L‐N2 treatment was extremely effective in preventing the development of pale, soft, exudative muscle regardless of whether subsequent equilibration was at ‐18 or 4°C. Most of the immersion periods lowered physiological conditions at the onset of rigor, and only the severe immersion rates showed evidence of thaw rigor.

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A response surface experimental design was employed to estimate residual nitrite level at various initial nitrite concentrations, percent turkey meat in the formula, and heat quantity (F) values using a typical wiener as the test system. Pork and mechanically separated turkey were used as the meat ingredients. Residual nitrite and pH were measured at day 1, 7 days, 14 days, and 49 days after processing. Protein, fat, salt, moisture, and CIE (L*a*b*) color values were also determined. Results showed that the effect of turkey meat on residual nitrite level was significant (P < 0.01). An increased amount of turkey meat in the formula resulted in lower residual nitrite levels at a fixed pH. The residual nitrite level was initially proportional to initial nitrite concentration, but it became a nonsignificant factor during longer storage time. Differences in heat quantity had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on residual nitrite level initially. Greater heat quantity decreased residual nitrite level in finished cured meat products at a fixed pH. However, this effect became nonsignificant during longer storage. Reduction of residual nitrite in wieners because of turkey meat addition at a fixed pH was due to characteristics of the turkey tissue, but the mechanism of action remains unknown. It was also established that commercial wieners had a higher pH if poultry meat was included in the formulation.