Inhibition of Protein and Lipid Oxidation in Beef Heart Surimi-like Material by Antioxidants and Combinations of pH, NaCl, and Buffer Type in the Washing Media

Protein and lipid oxidation and their inhibition by various washing media were monitored during the preparation of beef heart surimi-like material. Lipid oxidation was measured as increases in thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive substances and conjugated dienes, and protein oxidation was determined as formation of protein carbonyls. Water-soluble antioxidant tripolyphosphate (0.2%) and lipid-soluble antioxidants propyl gallate (0.02%) and α-tocopherol (0.2%), added to the washing solution, were effective inhibitors of both lipid and protein oxidation. Ascorbate (0.2%) also inhibited lipid oxidation but caused an increase in protein carbonyls. Phosphate buffer (25 mM NaH₂PO₄/ Na₂HPO₄), high final pH (7.0) of surimi pellet, and the presence of salt (0.1 M NaCl) all inhibited both protein and lipid oxidation during storage. Several processing options are thus available for the preparation of shelf-stable surimi-like material from beef hearts for possible utilization in formulated meat products.