Characterization of Pigments Responsible for Red or Pink Discoloration in Cooked Pork

Author

Viswasrao M. Ghorpade, Utah State University

Date of Award:

5-1992

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences

Department name when degree awarded

Nutrition and Food Sciences

Committee Chair(s)

Daren P. Cornforth

Committee

Daren P. Cornforth

Committee

Von T. Mendenhall

Committee

Charles E. Carpenter

Committee

Deloy G. Hendricks

Committee

David H. Clark

Committee

Donald V. Sisson

Abstract

The pigments responsible for pink or red discoloration in cooked vacuum-packaged meat products {bratwurst (pork and beef), ground pork, and pork roasts} were investigated. In bratwurst, this study attempted to characterize the red pigment that appears upon refrigerated storage, and to determine the effect of pH, cooking and storage temperature, and sodium lactate on incidence of red discoloration. Myoglobin was identified in the exudate of samples with red discoloration. Myoglobin levels of cooked products were significantly lower in samples of low initial pH (5.5) or cooked to higher than normal internal temperature (74°C). Red discoloration was associated with microbial growth. Frozen samples had no red discoloration after 4 weeks storage. Microbial plate count and incidence of red discoloration were lower in samples of lower pH (5.5 vs 5.8 or 6.2), samples cooked to higher internal temperature (74° vs 68°C), and samples containing 3% sodium lactate.

Further, the effects of microbial growth in raw materials (ground pork) on cooked pork color were investigated. In two trials with sow meat held aerobically at 2°C for 3 weeks, microbial load reached spoilage levels (10⁷ cfu/g), pH increased to 6.46, and samples cooked to 71°C had red exudate, shown by absorption spectroscopy to contain myoglobin and cytochrome c. Samples cooked to 82°C received high panel ratings for red color, due to red, flocculent precipitate in exudate, but samples containing undenatured myoglobin levels received low panel ratings. In sow meat held frozen or vacuum packaged at 2°C, pH after 3 weeks was 6.03 and 6.18, and plate counts were 10⁴ and 10⁷, respectively, but exudates after cooking were much less red. In five trials with fresh U. S. #1 pork legs, plate counts also reached 10⁷ cfu/g by 3 weeks storage, and pH increased from 5.99 to 6.37, but cooked samples were not red. Higher myoglobin levels in sow meat probably accounted for the red color and the high level of undenatured myoglobin remaining after cooking of high pH, spoiled samples.

Finally, pink or red discoloration was investigated in the cooked U. S. #1 pork roasts. Myoglobin was the pigment responsible for pink color in pork roasts cooked to 65°C. Roasts cooked to 82°C had gray internal color after cooking, but developed pink internal color after refrigerated storage. Reflectance spectra of pink slices from roasts, cooked to 82°C, then stored for 12 days at 2°C, were charactetistic of denatured globin hemochromes or related non-nitrosyl hemochromes.

Checksum

00209be03d215c99b15b3087fcd30327

Recommended Citation

Ghorpade, Viswasrao M., "Characterization of Pigments Responsible for Red or Pink Discoloration in Cooked Pork" (1992). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 5388.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5388