2021 Volume 92 Issue 3 Pages 335-341
Effect of the pH of muscle (M. longissimus thoracis) on water holding capacity, free amino acid content, hardness, color, oxidation, fatty acid composition, and antioxidant content of venison from wild deer (Cervus Nippon, n＝22) was investigated. pH did not significantly affect drip loss, moisture content, shear force value, saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid in venison. Significant negative correlations were found between pH and cooking loss, L* value, a* value, b* value, metmyoglobin percentage, thiobarbituric acid value, and α-tocopherol content of venison. A significant positive correlation was found between pH and the total free amino acid content of venison. These results suggest that as venison pH increased, meat color darkened, but water holding capacity during cooking, oxidation suppression, and total content of free amino acids which are taste components increased.
