Meat processing - Cooking, Preservation, Safety

meat processing

Table of Contents

Introduction
Conversion of muscle to meat
- Muscle structure and function
  - Skeletal muscle structure
  - Skeletal muscle contraction
- Postmortem muscle
  - pH changes
  - Protein changes
Properties of meat
- Chemistry and nutrient composition
  - Protein
  - Fat
  - Vitamins and minerals
  - Cholesterol
  - Carbohydrates
  - Water
- Colour
  - Myoglobin content
  - Oxidation state of iron
- Tenderness
  - Meat grain
  - Connective tissue
  - Fat
- Postmortem quality problems
  - DFD meat
  - PSE meat
  - Cold shortening
  - Heat ring
Livestock slaughter procedures
- Preslaughter handling
- Stunning
- Slaughtering
  - Hogs
  - Cattle, calves, and sheep
- By-products
Meat inspection
- Antemortem and postmortem inspection
- Reinspection during processing
- Sanitation
- Facilities and equipment
- Labels and standards
- Compliance
- Pathology and epidemiology
- Residue monitoring and evaluation
Meat grading
Retail meat cutting
- Pork fabrication
- Beef fabrication
- Lamb fabrication
- Veal fabrication
Meat cookery
- Colour changes
- Structural changes
Meat microbiology, safety, and storage
- Food-borne microorganisms
  - Food-spoilage microorganisms
  - Food-poisoning microorganisms
  - Prevention of microbial contamination
- Preservation and storage
  - Cold storage
  - Freezing
  - Vacuum packaging
  - Canning
  - Drying
  - Fermentation
  - Irradiation
  - Curing and smoking

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The physical changes associated with cooking meat are caused by the effects of heat on connective tissue and muscle proteins. In beef, changes in cooking temperatures ranging from 54 °C or 130 °F (very rare) to 82 °C or 180 °F (very well done) correspond to changes in colour from deep red or purple to pale gray. These colour changes are a result of the denaturation of the myoglobin in meat. Denaturation is the physical unfolding of proteins in response to such influences as extreme heat. The denaturation of myoglobin makes the protein unable to bind oxygen, causing the colour ...(100 of 6858 words)

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