The effect of low-temperature thermal processing on the quality of chicken breast fillets

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the temperature and time of sous vide cooking on the quality of chicken breast fillets. Meat was thermally processed at six different combinations of temperature and time: 55℃ (260 min and 320 min), 58℃ (140 and 200 min) and 61℃ (90 and 150 min). Thermally processed chicken breasts were analysed for cooking loss, proximate composition, colour parameters, pH, texture parameters and sensory quality. Heat processing at a temperature of 58℃/200 min produced meat with the most desirable sensory quality. These fillets were characterized by the lowest moisture content, high protein content, lowest concentration of malondialdehyde, low shear force value, lowest hardness and chewiness, and the highest scores for tenderness and overall acceptance in sensory evaluation.