The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of an early post-mortem low
voltage electrical stimulation (ES) to localized part of carcasses
[
m.
longissimus lumborum
(LL) and
m.
biceps femoris
(BF)] and determined the tenderness and flavor
compounds of Hanwoo steers (n=16). Carcasses were stimulated within 30
min post-mortem for 60s using 60 volts and muscles aged 2 and 14 d. Degradation
of Troponin-T were accelerated by ES and degraded little faster in BF muscle
than LL. Level of free amino acid content of stimulated and aged muscles was
significantly (p<0.05) greater than control for both muscles. Totally 63
volatile compounds were identified by using SPME-GC. The ES treatment
significantly (p<0.05) affected the level of 20 volatile compounds of LL
as well 15 volatiles in BF muscle along with total amounts of ketones, sulfur
containing, pyrazines and furans. Low voltage ES could be applied to reduce the
aging time and improve volatile flavor development by increasing important
desirable volatile compounds such as 2-methylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazines and
2-acetylthiazole etc. due to released free amino acids from protein
degradation.