Quality Characteristics of Vacuum Packaged Beef as Affected by Postmortem Chill, Storage Temperature, and Storage Interval

Abstract

Sirloin butts from beef carcasses chilled to 1 or 7.2 C were vacuum packaged and stored at either 0 or 5.5 C for intervals of 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 days. Following storage, steaks were obtained for retail caselife studies and taste panel evaluations. Evaluation of primal cuts revealed significant differences in total desirability (primarily visual appearance) among storage intervals and between storage temperatures. Initial carcass temperature at fabrication influenced quality of cuts less than did storage temperature over extended storage intervals. Storage of vacuum packaged cuts at 0 C consistently enhanced shelf-life compared to storage at 5.5 C.