THE EFFECTS OF FROZEN STORAGE ON THE RETAIL ACCEPTABILITY OF PORK LOIN CHOPS AND SHOULDER ROASTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Uncured shoulder roasts and loin chops were utilized to evaluate the effects of frozen storage for different intervals (0, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168 and 196 days) in different protective storage wraps (oxygen–permeable retail wrap, polyethylene bags, aluminum foil, and freezer paper) upon factors contributing to their retail acceptability after thawing and 24 h of subsequent display. The composite results of this study indicate that uncured pork cuts can be successfully frozen and stored for at least 196 days at −30° C in still air, in the dark, in any of the protective storage wraps evaluated, and be thawed for 24 h at 2° C prior to being retailed and generally be as acceptable as their fresh counterparts during 24 h of retail display.