Quality Of Turkey Breast Meat Research Articles

The Caucasian Whortleberry Extract/Myrtle Essential Oil Loaded Active Films: Physicochemical Properties and Effects on Quality Parameters of Wrapped Turkey Breast Meat.

In this research work, the effects of myrtle essential oil (MEO) and Caucasian whortleberry extract (CWE) as natural additives were investigated on mechanical, physico-mechanical and antimicrobial properties of gellan/polyvinyl alcohol (G/PVA) film. Then, optimal blend active films were used for the wrapping of turkey breast meat stored at low temperature (4 ± 1 °C) for 15 days and chemical and sensory properties of wrapped meats were evaluated. The addition of MEO and CWE decreased tensile strength and increased the strain at the break of the films (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, with increasing the amount of MEO and CWE, the permeability to water vapor (WVP) and the moisture content (MC) of the films decreased (p ≤ 0.05). MIC test showed that MEO and CWE were effective against S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhimurium, and P. fluorescens. at the concentrations of 5-6 and 15-17 mg/mL, respectively. Different microbiological, chemical, and sensory tests indicated that active films significantly enhanced the shelf life of turkey breast meat (p ≤ 0.05). Therefore, based on our finding in this study, the use of these active and biodegradable packagings can be effective and useful for protecting the microbial and sensory quality of turkey breast meat.

Effect of white striping on turkey breast meat quality

In the past decades, the intense selection practices carried out in order to develop fast growing and high breast-yield turkey hybrids profoundly modified the muscle physiology leading to the development of growth-related alterations and muscular abnormalities. White striations of variable thickness have been particularly observed on the ventral surface of Pectoralis major muscle belonging from heavy male turkeys since several years. However, although the effects of white striping (WS) have been extensively studied on broilers, this condition was not considered as a main quality issue by both turkey producers and meat industry. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating whether the occurrence of WS in heavy male turkeys affects the quality traits and technological properties of meat to the same extent previously observed for broilers. In two replications, 72 Pectoralis major muscles were classified as: normal (NORM), moderate WS (MOD) and severe WS (SEV) cases. The whole muscle was weighed and cut in order to assess colour, ultimate pH, water holding (drip and cooking losses) and binding (marinade uptake) capacities, NMR relaxation properties, shear force as well as proximate composition of meat. The Pectoralis major muscles affected by WS (both moderate and severe cases) exhibited a one-fifth increased weight in comparison with their NORM counterpart. However, the occurrence of WS only partially affected the proximate composition of the meat. In detail, although moisture, collagen and protein contents did not differ among the groups, if compared with NORM, higher lipid levels were found in SEV muscles, whereas MOD had intermediate values. On the other hand, both MOD and SEV exhibited lower ash content. Despite these variations in proximate composition, both water holding and binding capacities of turkey breast meat were not affected by WS. Indeed, quality traits of raw (pH, colour, cooking losses and shear force) and marinated (uptake, cooking losses and shear force) meat as well as water distribution within the muscle tissue did not differ between NORM and WS cases. Overall, if compared with broilers, WS only marginally affected quality traits of turkey breast meat. It might thus be hypothesised a diverse specie-specific physiological response to the pressure in muscle tissue induced by the selection in turkeys that, although analogously led to the occurrence of WS, results in limited effects on meat quality.

Fatty acid profile, oxidative stability and sensory quality of breast meat from turkeys fed diets with graded levels of flaxseed oil for different periods of time

The effect of partial or complete substitution (2.5% and 5%, respectively) of flaxseed oil for soybean oil on the fatty acid profile, oxidative stability and sensory quality of turkey breast meat was studied. Turkeys were fed experimental diets for 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks before being slaughtered at 16 weeks of age. The percentages of α-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the total fatty acid pool of meat were determined by dietary intake and feeding duration. Even a prolonged dietary treatment with 5% flaxseed oil did not significantly increase the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content of the turkey meat and did not have a detrimental effect on the sensory properties. The recommended n-6 : n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio (<4 : 1) in turkey meat can be easily achieved by feeding turkeys a diet containing 2.5% flaxseed oil for 3 weeks. To maintain the above ratio and increase eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations in the meat, the diet should contain 5% flaxseed oil.

Improvement of turkey breast meat quality and cooked gel functionality using hot-boning, quarter sectioning, crust-freeze-air-chilling and cold-batter-mincing technologies

The effect of rapid carcass chilling on breast meat quality was evaluated using commercial (COMM) and random-bred (RB) turkeys. Immediately after slaughter, 48 turkeys from COMM or RB line were randomly subjected to one of four chilling methods: 1) water-immersion chilling (WIC) of the carcasses at 0°C ice slurry, 2) WIC after temperature abuse (TA) of the carcasses at 40°C for 30 min (TA-WIC), 3) hot-boning, quarter sectioning, and crust-freeze-air-chilling (HB-1/4 CFAC) of breast fillets at –12°C, and 4) HB-1/4 CFAC of fillets after TA of carcasses (TA-HB-1/4 CFAC). The TA increased carcass and fillet temperatures by ∼1.3 and ∼4.1°C, respectively, regardless of turkey line, whereas HB-1/4 CFAC of fillets required 28 and 33% of carcass chilling time for COMM and RB, respectively. During chilling, COMM breast pH rapidly reduced from 6.04 to 5.82, resulting in a significantly lower pH than RB after chilling (P < 0.05), whereas COMM R-value sharply increased from 1.17 to 1.43, causing no difference from RB (P > 0.05). Significantly higher L* value and cooking yield (P < 0.05) were seen in the samples of TA and WIC than those of no TA and HB-1/4 CFAC, respectively, with no difference observed between COMM and RB fillets (P > 0.05). Higher values of hardness, gumminess, and chewiness were found for RB, no TA, and HB-1/4 CFAC gels than COMM, TA, and WIC, respectively. These results generally indicated that protein quality and textural properties of turkey fillets were improved, regardless of strains or temperature abuse, using HB-1/4 CFAC technology.

Evaluation of gamma irradiation and frozen storage on microbial load and physico-chemical quality of turkey breast meat

In this study we evaluated the effects of gamma irradiation at doses of 0.0, 0.5, 2.0 and 4.0kGy and frozen storage as a combination process on improvement of turkey breast meat shelf life. The samples were stored at −18°C and were undergone microbial, chemical and sensory evaluation at 2-month intervals. However, 4kGy dose reduced the counts of mesophilic bacteria and coliform by more than 5 log units, while Salmonella was not detected. Irradiation of samples significantly increased peroxide value but had no significant effect on total volatile nitrogen contents, while storage significantly increased the peroxide value and total volatile nitrogen.

The use of marination to improve poultry meat quality

A study was conducted to determine the effect of marination on turkey breast meat quality traits. Breast meat samples were marinated with two types of solution (containing sodium tripolyphosphate, STPP or a commercial mix with sodium carbonate and citrate, COM) and three solution/meat ratios (14, 18, and 22%). Marination with STPP determined a higher increase of meat pH in comparison with COM (∆pH measured before and after marination: +0.20 vs. +0.14; P≤0.05). The marinade uptake and AK-shear values did not differ between solutions, whereas STPP determined a higher marinade retention (98.2 vs. 97.9%; P≤0.05) and a strong decrease of cooking loss (21.8 vs. 28.1%; P≤0.01) compared with COM. The increase of solution/meat ratio from 14 to 22% significantly raised meat pH, marinade uptake, and cooking loss of the meat. Taking into account both marinade uptake and cooking losses, the use of a 14% solution/ meat ratio allowed to maximise processing yield. Overall, compared to non-marinated meat, marinated meat exhibited a higher lightness and yellowness, and a lower AK-shear value after cooking, confirming that this technique can be successfully employed to improve meat texture.

Incidence of Pectoralis Major Turkey Muscles with Light and Dark Color in a Portuguese Slaughterhouse

Turkey meat and processed products are very popular in Portugal. However, no studies have been made to assess turkey meat quality. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of turkey breast meat in a Portuguese slaughterhouse, differentiating it to obtain better industrial management, performance, and consumer contentment. Nine hundred and seventy-seven male turkeys (from 16 to 20 wk old) from different flocks (BUT 9 and BIG 6) were evaluated to assess meat quality. Turkeys were slaughtered on different days, electrically stunned (225 V/3 s), and scalded in a vertical water bath at 81°C/5 min. On the slaughter line, the pH and temperature were measured on the pectoralis muscle 15 min postmortem. The carcasses were fast-cooled in a tunnel (−2°C/2 m·s−1/90% RH) for 2 h and kept in a refrigeration chamber (0°C/85% RH) until deboning (approximately 24 h postmortem). Color and pH 24 h postmortem (pH24) were measured on the pectoralis major muscle after carcass deboning. Pectoralis major muscles were selected according to criteria used by Barbut (1996) and drip loss, cooking loss, and total pigments analysis were performed on 67 different sliced meat samples. Muscles classified by pH decline rate, called rapid glycolytic, did not present final quality characteristics that could relate them with pale, soft, and exudative- (PSE) like meat, because there was no relationship between pH 15 h postmortem and lightness (L*), drip loss, or cooking loss. The differences, founded on physicochemical characteristics within pectoralis major muscles, allowed us to establish a criteria of turkey meat quality for dark and PSE-like meat, with L* ≤ 44 and pH24 ≥ 5.8 and L* ≥ 50 and pH24 < 5.8, respectively. Based on criteria, the studied population presented 8.1% of carcasses with PSE-like muscles and 12.1% with dark muscles. The association of pH24 and L* as criteria classification can be useful to classify turkey meat quality.

The measurement of pH in raw and frozen turkey Pectoralis superficialis muscle

The objective of this study was to validate a rapid method for muscle pH assessment. Early pH is a good indicator of turkey breast meat quality. The stabilisation of pH can be obtained by homogenising fresh muscle in iodoacetate, but it is time consuming and not appropriate to the rate of poultry slaughter line. To reduce the time required for pH assessment, we compared different methods (homogenisation in iodoacetate of fresh (reference method), frozen and freeze-dried samples, direct measurement in tissue). Freezing the samples in liquid nitrogen before homogenisation in iodoacetate buffer could be substituted to the reference method for the measurement of pH at 3 and/or 20 min post mortem. For ultimate pH, however, the relationships were not good enough to substitute a new procedure to the reference method.

Rapid postmortem pH decline and delayed chilling reduce quality of turkey breast meat

Effects of rapid postmortem metabolism and delayed chilling on turkey breast meat quality were assessed using color measurements, protein extractability, and gelation characteristics. Based on 15 min postmortem breast muscle pH, tom turkey carcasses were classified as rapid glycolyzing (RG), pH < 5.80, or normal glycolyzing (NG), pH > 6.00. Two carcasses per group with similar ultimate pH values were selected on four occasions for a total of 16 carcasses. One half of each carcass was immersion-chilled at 20 min postmortem, the other half was maintained at body temperature for 110 min and then chilled. Breast meat from RG carcasses had higher carcass temperature (15 min) and lower protein (sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar) extractability than breast meat from NG carcasses. Delayed chilling increased all breast meat color values (L*, a*, b*), and decreased protein extractability and cook yield compared to breast meat from immediately chilled carcass halves. The true strain of cooked gels was reduced for RG carcasses. Delayed chilling reduced both true strain and stress of meat gels. There were no interactions between the rate of postmortem pH decline and initiation of chilling, indicating that reductions in meat quality due to delayed chilling were independent of the carcass classification for rate of postmortem glycolysis. Results indicate that factors that affect both rate of postmortem glycolysis and carcass temperature decline are important to turkey breast meat quality.

Influence of preslaughter stunning on turkey breast muscle quality

Pectoralis muscle quality was evaluated from 18-wk-old tom turkeys after electrical stun, carbon dioxide stun, or no stun methods were applied. Color was measured on raw muscle and cooked meat using a colorimeter. Muscle pH was measured 15 min post-mortem (initial), 24 h post-mortem (final), and after cooking. The right Pectoralis muscle of each carcass was excised for m-calpain analysis within 4 min post-mortem. After 24 h of storage at 4 C, the left Pectoralis muscle was excised to determine cook loss and shear force measurements. No significant difference was found in initial muscle pH (15 min) from turkeys receiving electrical or carbon dioxide stunning, 6.36+/-0.15 and 6.20+/-0.14, respectively. However, initial muscle pH for birds that were not stunned (5.99+/-0.08) was lower (P < 0.05) than the muscle pH of birds stunned using either of the two stunning methods. Stunning method had no effect on the final muscle pH, raw muscle color, cooked meat pH, cooked meat color, cook loss, or shear force. Cook loss was found to positively correlate with initial muscle lightness (r = 0.53), and cooked meat lightness (r = 0.48), but to negatively correlate with cooked meat yellowness (r = -0.48) and shear strength (r = -0.43). m-Calpain activity declined with the stunning methods in the following order: electrical > carbon dioxide > no stun. In addition, m-calpain activity was found to correlate with initial muscle pH (r = 0.95) and with cooked meat shear force (r = -0.43). The results of this study show that electrical stunning, carbon dioxide stunning, and no stunning methods provide comparable cooked turkey breast meat quality with no consistent differences after aging on the carcass for 24 h.

Effect of Cooking Method on the Quality of Turkey Breast Meat Cooked from the Frozen State

INTRODUCTIONELIMINATING defrosting turkey before cooking may increase consumption of turkey meat and be more convenient. Cutting birds into quarters provides smaller pieces than whole birds for family meals, reduces total cooking time and permits light or dark meat to be selected. In this study two common cooking methods, roasting and braising were compared using light meat breast quarters cooked from the frozen state.EXPERIMENTALMaterials and Methods. Twenty-four Broad Breasted Bronze turkey hens (U.S. Grade A), from the same flock and processed under similar conditions, were purchased from Kansas State Poultry farm and processed by a commercial processing plant. The dressed weight of turkey hens ranged from 12–14 lbs.The birds were slaughtered by conventional methods and chilled in ice water overnight. The next day, the whole turkeys were separated, using a band saw, into quarters separating the light meat from the dark meat. The right and left .