Quality and display life of chilled or frozen all-natural beef and beef-buffalo frankfurters

Abstract

Chilled (35±3°F) or frozen (0±3°F) all-natural beef and beef-buffalo frankfurters made with or without sodium nitrite (NaNO2) were evaluated. Treatments included frankfurters made with: all-natural beef without NaNO2 and displayed frozen (B0F); all-natural beef and buffalo without NaNO2 and displayed frozen (BU0F); all-natural beef with NaNO2 and displayed frozen (BNF) or chilled (BNC). Batter pH, smokehouse yield, and proximate analysis were determined. No differences (P>.05) were noted in batter pH, smokehouse yield, proximate analysis, or cooking yield. Day of display had no influence (P>.05) on oxidation. However, BU0F had the highest (P<.05) oxidation value, a measure of potential rancidity. For all treatments, instrumentally measured lightness increased during display, while redness decreased. Both B0F and BU0F had lower (P<.05) redness and nitrosoheme pigments than BNC. Purge loss increased (P<.05) with longer display. Microbial counts and pH of frozen products were not different (P>.05) during display. Nitrite-free frankfurters can be displayed frozen up to 90 days based on microbial counts, but display life may be limited to 60 days by product color. Inclusion of buffalo did not influence physical or microbiological quality of nitrite-free frozen frankfurters but may accelerate oxidative rancidity.