Determination of the alterations in quality parameters and consumer preference of dry-aged beef based on different periods of ageing using a purposive incubator

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate beef quality traits including pH, water holding capacity, cooking loss, meat colour, and Warner-Bratzler shear force in dry-aged beef and to determine the most favorable ageing time based on beef quality parameters and consumer acceptability. In this respect, longissimus dorsi samples were obtained from Simmental bulls and stored for an ageing period up to 21-days, and thus, the beef quality evaluation was performed at 0-day, 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day of the experimental period. Results revealed that the lowest shear force value was observed in beef samples on day-14 whereas the lowest pH value was determined in samples on day 21. Moreover, water holding capacity and beef colour values were significantly differentiated based on dry-ageing (P<0.05). In sensory panel evaluation, a significant difference is found only in meat colour rating (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between ageing periods and cooking loss. The most important technical point is that increasing dry-ageing time from 14 to 21 days did not desirably affect quality traits and sensory scores. Hence, dry-ageing for 14 days seemed to be the most economically efficient application. Taken altogether, the present results suggest that the potential for use of dry-ageing should be considered as an alternative method to produce high-quality beef with respect to the optimum ageing process.