Effect of Microwave Treatment on the Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Beef Loin during Storage at 4℃

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of beef loin following microwave treatment at 4 o C. Two types of microwave treatment were applied. i.e., continued microwave treatment (CW) and holding microwave treatment (HW). The L value increased, while a and b values were not significantly different among the samples as the storage time and microwave dose increased. The initial pH and after 3 days ranged from 5.51-5.74 and 6.32-6.51, respectively (p<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid value of all beef loins increased with increasing storage period and decreased with increasing microwave dose. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) content of the control was higher than that of the other samples and the VBN content decreased with increasing microwave dose. The total plate count of beef loins decreased with increasing microwave dose. This result indicated that T2 (100 W, HW) is most effective treatment with regard to the safety of beef loins without decreasing the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics.