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The Effect of Oregano Essential Oil on Microbial Load, Drying Kinetics and Sensory Atributes of Dried Meat

Microbial load can be controlled using either synthetic or natural preservatives. Particular interest has been focused on the potential application of plant essential oils as safer additives for meat. However, there is no published research on the use of essential oils during the meat drying process. This study was focused on enhancing the meat drying process. At first a value-added dried meat product by using oregano essential oil (OEO) to inhibit the growth of bacteria, and the sensorial response from assessors is presented. It was found that the application of the OEO in meat is effective in inhibiting Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli. After 6 hours of drying at 55°C, 2 ml (0.038 ml l-1 air) and 1.5 ml (0.028 ml l-1 air) of OEO were considered the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against S. enteritidis and E. coli, respectively. Samples treated with 0.75 ml of OEO were more attractive for consumption compared with the control; at a higher concentration of OEO, the sensory quality of the food was affected.
Next, the effect of modified blanching treatments on the drying behaviour of beef meat was evaluated by determining moisture ratio versus time curves and the influence on sensory quality of the resulted product. The 3 treatments under investigation were (1) oil treatment (2) steam blanching and (3) hot air blanching with 3 doses of oregano essential oil (1) 1.5 ml (2) 3 ml and (3) 6 ml. Each treatment had an effect on the drying time of the beef samples, however, the dose of oregano essential oil applied did not affect the drying process. The results showed that steam blanching was very effective reducing the drying time. Meanwhile, 1.5 ml and 3 ml hot air blanching samples and 1.5 ml oil treatment samples were judged as better from sensory point of view and the respondents considered that adding oregano essential oil enriched the pleasantness of the smell.
In conclusion, a value-added dried meat product obtained by using oregano essential oil to enhance food safety received an acceptable sensorial response from consumers. Additionally, each modified blanching treatment tested influences the drying kinetics process, but the dose of oregano applied did not affect the drying process. In this sense, hot air blanching and oil treatment with the lowest dose had an acceptable sensorial response from consumers.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:259727
Date January 2016
CreatorsHernandez Hernandez, Helga Johana
ContributorsBanout, Jan, František, František
PublisherČeská zemědělská univerzita v Praze
Source SetsCzech ETDs
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

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