Influence of aging technique and muscle on physicochemical stability and antioxidant capacity of high-oxygen atmosphere packed beef

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of aging technique (wet-aging vs. carcass-aging), muscle (longissimus dorsi vs. rectus femoris) and previous vacuum storage time on color and lipid stability of beef packaged in high-oxygen atmosphere. After a seven-day wet- or carcass-aging step, longissimus dorsi and rectus femoris muscle cuts from 4 Belgian Blue cows were vacuum packaged and stored at −1 °C for up to 28 days. At different times, part of these samples was repackaged under modified atmosphere – 70 % O2:30 % CO2 –, and stored during 7 days at +4 °C. The following parameters were evaluated at different intervals: color (CIE L*a*b*), metmyoglobin %, lipid oxidation (TBARS), antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase), alpha-tocopherol and fat content. The sensitivity of modified atmosphere repacked meat cuts to oxidation was influenced by the conditions of the previous aging period (wet > carcass conditions), muscle (rectus femoris > longissimus dorsi) and length of the vacuum storage. Oxidation stability could be associated with catalase activity, and no association could be established with the alpha-tocopherol content.