Sensory characteristics of meat cooked for prolonged times at low temperature

The present study evaluated the sensory characteristics of low temperature long time (LTLT) treated Semitendinosus from pork and beef and Pectoralis profundus from chicken. Semitendinosus and Pectoralis profundus muscles were heat treated at 53°C and 58°C for Tc + 6 h, Tc + 17 h, and Tc + 30 h (only Semitendinosus from pork and beef). Tc was the time for the samples to equalize with the temperature in the water bath. Tenderness increased with increasing heating temperature and time in pork and beef, but not in chicken. Juiciness decreased with increasing heating temperature and time in all species, and cooking loss increased with increasing temperature. A done appearance was developed with increasing heating time at 58 °C in pork and beef, while in chicken the done appearance was only affected by temperature. Flavor attributes were less affected by the LTLT treatment for all species.

► Tenderness and juiciness are the major factors for choosing the best LTLT treatment.
► Tenderness of pork and beef was improved by increasing heating time at 53 and 58 °C.
► Juiciness decreased with increasing temperature and heating time.
► Sensory attributes of chicken was mainly affected by temperature and not by time.