Effect of processing temperature on tenderness, colour and yield of beef steaks subjected to high-hydrostatic pressure.

Our aim was to achieve a single-step pressure-heat process that would produce tender, juicy beef steaks from meat that would otherwise be tough when cooked. Steak portions (25mm thick) from hind-quarter muscles were subjected to heat treatment at 60, 64, 68, 72 or 76°C for 20min, with or without simultaneous application of high pressure (200MPa). Control steaks were heated at 60°C for 20min with or without pressure and cooked at 80°C for 30min. Compared with heat alone, pressure treatment resulted in higher lightness scores at all temperatures and overall yield was improved by pressure treatment at each temperature. Even at 76°C, the overall water losses were <10% compared with >30% for heat alone. Meat tenderness (peak shear force) was improved for the pressure–heat samples at temperatures above 64°C, and was optimal at 76°C. Therefore, subject to microbial evaluation, this single-step pressure-heat process could be used to produce tender, high moisture content steaks ready for consumption.