The effects of blast chilling on pork quality

• Blast chilling had no significant effect on the ultimate pH or its range.
• Blast chilling significantly lowered L*, b*, C and drip loss.
• Blast chilling adversely affects sensory characteristics such as tenderness and flavor.
• No significant interaction between the method chilling and conformation class

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of blast chilling of pig carcasses on the physiochemical and sensory properties of the longissimus lumborum muscle. To this end, right half-carcasses were blast-chilled for 70 min at − 24 °C and then for 22 h and 50 min at 1 °C, while left half-carcasses were chilled conventionally at 1 °C for 24 h. At 2 h and 6 h post mortem, blast chilling had significantly reduced the temperature of the carcasses, as well as the rate of pH decrease and the rate of increase in EC. It had no significant effect on the ultimate pH or its range, or on EC at 24 h post mortem, but it significantly lowered L*, b*, C* and drip loss compared to the conventionally chilled carcasses. Blast chilling adversely affected sensory characteristics such as tenderness and flavor. There were no significant differences between the effects of blast and conventional chilling systems on meat quality between conformation classes.