Correction of defective textures in packaged dry-cured pork ham by applying conventional and ultrasonically-assisted mild thermal treatments. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Contreras, M.; Benedito, J.; Quiles, A.; Lorenzo, J.M.; Fulladosa, E.; Garcia-Perez, J.V.
• Is Part Of: Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft + Technologie =. Volume 126(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Dry-cured ham -- Texture -- Microstructure -- Heating -- Ultrasound; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-6438

Abstract

Abstract: Pastiness is a textural defect characterized by an excessive softness and loss of elasticity which lacks corrective actions at industrial level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the textural and microstructural changes of dry-cured pork ham, with different pastiness levels, subjected to conventional and ultrasonically-assisted corrective mild thermal treatments. Pastiness was assessed by an expert sensory panel and hams were classified into three categories: high (HP), medium (MP) and no (NP) pastiness. Ham samples (n = 108) were heated (40 and 50 °C) with power ultrasound (PuS) and without (CV) PuS application. After heating, all of the textural parameters assessed were improved. Hardness increased by 102% and adhesiveness decreased by 55% and the ham became less viscoelastic. The largest modifications were found in the samples heated at 50 °C and no differences were found between CV and PuS treatments. The microstructure of pasty samples revealed that the treatment produced a shrinkage of the myofibrils, which could explain the increase in hardness and the improvement in texture of defective ham. Highlights: Mild thermal treatments could be an interesting method to correct pastiness defect. Treated ham was harder and experimented a more elastic behavior. Treated ham at 50 °C suffered the largest textural modifications. Ultrasonic application during heating did not involve an additional texture change. Microstructural analysis revealed that the thermal treatment provoked the myofibril shrinkage.