The Effect of Cooking in a Steam-convection Oven and Storage in Vacuum on the Quality of Turkey Meat

Abstract

The effect of cooking on the quality of turkey meat heated by steam at different temperatures and saturation levels, and then vacuum stored at 3 °C for 28 days, was studied. The smallest cooking loss was observed in meat cooked at 220 °C and when the highest air steam saturation was applied. The rate of lipid oxidation as a result of cooking and storage was the lowest in sample cooked at 180 °C and in meat heated by 20% steam, and additionally during storage in sample treated with 0% steam. The higher cooking temperature was applied, the more intensive hydrolytic process took place in fat. Heating at 180 °C and in hot air with 0%, 70%, and 90% steam resulted in a more intensive hydrolytic process in meat during storage than other cooking parameters. The oxidation rate of -SH groups was higher in sample heated by 90% steam than the ones by 20%, 50%, and 70% steam. The use of steam saturation over 20% caused a decrease in mono-unsaturated fatty acids and an increase in saturated fatty acids content. Meat cooked at 220 °C and treated with 0% or 90% steam was characterized by better sensory attributes than other samples.