Impact of Pasteurization Process on the Quality and Marination Properties of Onion Juice

Abstract

This study aims to compare UV-C irradiation and conventional heat treatment to produce pasteurized onion juice used as a meat marinating agent. The process conditions maximizing the inactivation of target microorganism Escherichia coli K-12 were; 0.5 mm sample depth, 30 min irradiation, 7.5 mW/cm2 UV incident intensity for UV-C and, 74.5°C and 12 min for heat treatment. Except pH and non-enzymatic browning index, differences between physicochemical properties of raw, UV-C and heat-treated onion juices were significant. Springiness and chewiness of unmarinated beefsteaks were higher compared to the ones marinated with the fresh and pasteurized onion juice (UV-C and heat). Pasteurization of onion juice (UV-C and heat) did not significantly affect general liking scores compared to beefsteaks marinated in untreated onion juice.

Keywords

• onion juice
• uv-c irradiation
• heat treatment
• meat marination
• response surface methodology