Quality of Ice-Packed and of Frozen Chicken: 1. A Consumer Preference Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONIF, AS most poultry processors believe, the average consumer cannot distinguish differences in organoleptic quality between fresh and frozen chicken, why isn’t frozen chicken widely accepted?Perhaps the homemaker has several reasons for preferring fresh chicken. Better appearance may be a rational reason for choice of fresh poultry; frozen chicken sometimes has darkened bones or has freezer burn due to improper handling or holding. Branson and Mountney (1958) indicated that 57 percent of the families in Houston, Texas, that had purchased frozen chicken expressed dissatisfaction with the product. The major complaint was lack of flavor. Similar results were reported by Weidenhamer (1958) who found that the comments about frozen chicken of 51 percent of homemakers surveyed were unfavorable, while 34 percent were favorable. The important reason given for unfavorable comments was, “freezing destroys flavor.” Another factor in the low popularity of frozen chicken may be its limited availability. Miles…