79 Cooking method and beef flavor: a multivariate approach

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the impact of sous vide cookery followed by finishing on four dry heat cookery methods and two quality grades on beef volatile flavor compound production in beef strip loin steaks. Beef strip loins (n = 40, 20/grade) were procured from two USDA quality grades: upper 2/3rds of Choice and Select. Strip loins were aged for 21 d at 2 to 4°C. Following aging, strip loins were sliced into 2.54 cm steaks, vacuum packaged, and frozen at -20°C. Steaks were thawed, then cooked sous vide in a circulating water bath at 63.5°C for 1.5 h. Steaks were finished to a medium degree of doneness (71°C) on one of four cooking methods: charbroiler grill (CHAR), clamshell grill (CLAM), convection oven (OVEN), and salamander broiler (SALA). Steaks were immediately submerged into ice to stop cooking, vacuum packaged and frozen at -20°C until analysis. Volatile compounds (n = 73) were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and were selected from the Maillard reaction and lipid degradation pathways. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to observe the relationships between volatile compounds and consumer ratings of beef strip loin steaks. When PCA was conducted, principal component (PC) 1 represented 50.59% and PC 2 represented 29.76% of the variation. Salamander steaks of both quality grades were the most closely associated with flavor, tenderness, juiciness, and overall liking. Charbroiler steaks were the most closely related with Maillard products, especially pyrazines, sulfur containing compounds, and pyrroles. Oven steaks were more associated with compounds associated with lipid degradation, including hexanol, hexanal, and 2-pentylfuran. Clamshell steaks were negatively associated with consumer palatability traits, which was expected, due to the poor liking ratings from consumers. These data indicate cooking method can directly impact flavor of beef strip loin steaks, regardless of quality grade