This study aimed to investigate changes in the quality of meat aged using Jeju
scoria earthenware. Water-holding properties, pH, color, tenderization, fatty
acid composition, and free amino acid characteristics of aged pork loin were
evaluated to determine the effects of wet and dry (normal and Jeju Scoria) aging
methods and aging time (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 days) on meat quality. The aging
methods altered pH and CIE L* after 10 days of aging. However, the aging method
did not alter the pH and CIE L* of the aged pork loin after 10 days of aging.
The shear force was significantly lower in the Scoria aging method than in the
wet aging method after 10 and 20 days of aging. Both the normal and Scoria aging
methods increased aging loss compared to the wet aging method, which could be
attributed to longer air exposure times of the two non-packaged aging methods
than in the packaged aging method. The scoria aging method had significantly
higher contents and ratios of saturated (SFA) to mono-unsaturated fatty acids
but lower ratios of poly-unsaturated fatty acids to SFA than the wet aging
method. The content of most free amino acids significantly increased with aging
time, especially those related to the sweet, and umami categories. In summary,
this study suggests that the Scoria aging method provides positive aspects of
eating quality, such as improvement of meat tenderness and taste, including
umami, with minimum changes in the overall meat quality.