Rapid tenderisation of lamb M. longissimus with very fast chilling depends on rapidly achieving sub-zero temperatures

A study was undertaken to determine whether variations within the defined temperature-by-time profile for very fast chilling (VFC), might explain variations in tenderness found with VFC. Loins from 32 lambs were subjected to one of five cooling regimes; defined by the average temperature between the meat surface and centre reached at a specific time post mortem. These were: − 0.3 °C at 22 h (Control), 2.6 °C at 1.5 h (Fastsupra-zero), 0.7 °C at 5.5 h (Slowsupra-zero), − 1.6 °C at 1.5 h (Fastsub-zero) and − 2.3 °C at 5.5 h (Slowsub-zero), respectively. Shear force values considered very tender by consumers (less than 50 N, MIRINZ tenderometer) were found 2 days post mortem in Fastsub-zero loins only. Both time and temperature at the end of the cooling period contributed to variations in shear force. To achieve low shear force, the loins needed to be cooled to less than 0 °C at 1.5 h post mortem.

► We compared 4 different very fast chilling rates.
► Low shear values were found 2 days post mortem in one treatment only.
► Temperature and time components were important for acceptable tenderness.
► Small temperature variations around 0 °C at the end of cooling were critical.
► Loins needed to be cooled to less than 0 °C within 1.5 h post mortem.