Effects of Electrical Stimulation, Boning Time and Cooking Method on Beef Roasts

Sixteen steer carcasses were selected to study effects of electrical stimulation, boning time and cooking methods on palatability traits, cooking loss and chemical composition of beef biceps femoris muscle. Eight carcasses were electrically stimulated and eight carcasses served as controls. The biceps femoris muscle was removed from one side of each carcass within 2 hr of exsanguination and from the remaining side following a 48-hr chill. Muscles were subdivided and cooked in either a convectional electric or a microwave oven. Electrical stimulation resulted in longer (P < 0.01) sarcomeres for cooked product but did not affect palatability traits, cooking loss or chemical content. Hot boning reduced (P < 0.01) cooking loss and tenderness, resulted in less (P < 0.05) total, soluble and insoluble collagen and increased the juiciness score and moisture percentage when compared with 48-hr boning. Microwave cooking produced a greater (P < 0.01) cooking loss and a higher shear force value than convectional electric cooking.     

Ocean modelling studies inspired by the Seasat altimeter

Abstract

Some recent ocean modelling studies are reviewed which illustrate the ways in which dynamic ocean circulation models can be used to advise on the optimum deployment of, and help analyse the data from, future satellite altimeters for studies of ocean dynamics. At the time of the launch of Seasat the ocean modelling community were unaware of the promise of altimetry. It is a tribute to the enormous success of the Seasat mission that now, ten years on, the modelling community eagerly awaits the launch of a new generation of altimeters.     

Effects of Flake Size on Textural and Cooking Properties of Restructured Beef and Pork Steaks

Flaked and formed beef and pork steaks were manufactured using eleven different Comitrol cutting heads selected to give a wide range in flake size. Data from texture profile panel, Instron and cooking studies were collected. As flake size increased, visually detected fi-brousness, first bite hardness, cohesiveness of the chewed mass, number of chews required for swallowing, amount of connective tissue detected by sensory panel and shear force all increased, while uniformity of the chewed mass decreased. Textural properties in beef and pork steaks were affected in a similar manner by flake size. Thickness of the flake particle was as important as width of the flake particle in affecting texture.     

Effects of Electrical Stimulation and Hot-Boning on Physical Changes, Cooking Time and Losses, and Tenderness of Beet Roasts

Beef semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles were removed prerigor (1 hr postmortem) and postrigor (7 days postmortem) after one-half of the left and right sides were electrically stimulated. The influence of electrical stimulation and hot-boning upon physical changes; cooking losses; shear force; taste panel evaluation; and time required to heat product to an internal temperature of 63°C was studied. There was no consistent influence of electrical stimulation upon physical changes of prerigor muscles or upon tenderness of pre– or postrigor roasts. Hot-boned and precooked roasts were less tender than cold-boned counterparts. Cooking yields were not altered by electrical stimulation. Prerigor roasts had 9% higher yields than postrigor roasts. Prerigor roasts from electrically stimulated sides required a longer time to cook to 63°C than roasts from the control sides. Hot-boning reduced the length of time of cooking (95 min/kg to 72 mm/kg of raw weight).     

Effects of Electrical Stimulation, Temperature of Boning and Storage Time on Bacterial Counts and Shelf-Life Characteristics of Beef Cuts

Strip loins and eye of rounds from 16 beef carcasses were used to study the effects of electrical stimulation (ES), no stimulation (NS), hot-boning (HB), and cold-boning (CB) on bacteriological and shelf-life evaluations. Following 7 days of vacuum-packaged storage, coliform counts were higher in the drip fluid from strip loins and lean surfaces of eye of rounds from ES compared to NS carcasses. A major advantage for HB in this study was the additional time required in retail display before the occurrence of lean surface discoloration. A previously identified benefit of lighter lean color with ES beef in carcass and primal cut form was also found in this study during display of retail cuts.     

Nutrient Composition of Fresh Retail Pork

The nutrient composition of fresh pork was studied in samples from 71 carcasses. On separable lean, nutrient composition was determined for 7 raw retail cuts from one side of each of 11 carcasses, and nutrient retention was determined on the 7 matching cuts from the other side that had been cooked by common household methods. Loins from 60 additional carcasses were analyzed to determine whether USDA grades 1, 2, and 3 and region of production affected nutrient composition. The data indicated that variation in nutrient composition of pork is more dependent on the retail cut within the carcass than either the grade or the region of production of the carcass. Cooking method significantly affected retention of most of the nutrients analyzed.