The effect of combined electron-beam irradiation and aging temperature of pork on
microbiological and physicochemical properties was investigated. The samples
from pork shoulder were irradiated with 0 or 2 kGy, vacuum-packaged, and
assigned randomly to an aging temperature (2°C, 10°C, or
25°C) during 8 d. On 4 d of aging at 25°C, total aerobic bacteria
of non-irradiated ones reached 7 Log CFU/g which is no salable levels. Shear
force values of irradiated meat after aging for 2 and 4 d at 25°C was
lower than those aged at 2°C. Irradiated samples at 2°C had lower
cooking loss after 2 and 8 d of aging, compared with other aging temperatures.
Irradiation did not accelerate 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS)
value when aged up to 4 d. Irradiated samples aged at 10°C and
25°C for 8 d scored significantly higher TBARS values. With an increased
aging period, a* and b* in irradiated samples at 2°C slightly increased,
but irradiation caused negligible changes in meat color. The highest contents of
a desirable nucleotide flavor compounds (inosine-5-phosphate) were observed in
pork at 2°C when aged for 4 and 8 d, while the lowest contents were
observed at 25°C. Aging in irradiated pork for 8 d at 2°C resulted
in optimal condition with improved meat quality and minimal microbiologically
negative defect.