Effect of incorporating surimi-like material from mechanically deboned turkey meat on physicochemical and sensory characteristics of ready-to-eat broiler breast meat

The study evaluated the effects of the partial replacement of broiler breast meat (BBM) by turkey surimi-like material (0%, 30%, and 60% TSL) or mechanically deboned turkey meat (30% MDTM) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of a low-fat ready-to-eat (RTE) restructured broiler breast. Replacement by MDTM and TSL reduced the protein content and L* values and increased the calcium content, hardness, chewiness, and springiness values. The RTE with MDTM was redder (lower h values) and had higher fat content and lipid oxidation. Replacement with 60% TSL increased moisture, sodium content, syneresis, and hue angle (h degrees) values, and compromised the RTE sensory acceptance. Replacement with 30% TSL resulted in lesser changes, maintaining the light color and soft flavor characteristics of the broiler breast RTE. Therefore, 30% TSL can be used as a broiler breast replacer to develop poultry products with higher sensory characteristics. Novelty impact statement The present work focuses on the potential use of turkey surimi-like material (TSL) as an alternative replacement of mechanically deboned turkey meat (MDTM) in cooked ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products since it is proteins concentrated with lower fat and heme pigments. Data show that the replacement of 30% MDTM by TSL did not alter the technological and sensory characteristics, maintaining the light color and soft flavor of the broiler breast RTE. Thus, TSL could be a potential raw material for the meat processing industry to produce high-quality RTE products without sacrificing its microbiological and technological traits.