Assessment of Postmortem Aging Effects on Texas-style Barbecue Beef Briskets

Abstract

Palatability traits (tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall liking) of beef briskets ( = 48) were evaluated for 3 different postmortem aging period comparisons: 7 d vs. 21 d (Set 1), 21 d vs. 35 d (Set 2), and 7 d vs. 35 d (Set 3). Briskets were prepared as Texas-style barbecue by seasoning with salt and pepper and smoking with oak wood over a long period (approx. 11 h) using a commercial oven designed for such purposes until deemed tender (approx. 85°C internal temperature). Within each treatment set, Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force measurements did not differ ( > 0.05) between aging days; however, WBS force measurements for point ( composed of the ) were lower ( 0.05) detect differences between aging days within each set for overall liking, flavor liking, tenderness liking, and juiciness liking. Conversely, differences were found between brisket point and flat portions; Set 1 differed for flavor liking (flat > point; = 0.0348) and juiciness liking (point > flat; = 0.0004), Set 2 differed for overall liking (flat > point; = 0.0499) and juiciness liking (point > flat; point; = 0.0296) and juiciness liking (point > flat; = 0.0112). Our findings indicate postmortem aging did not improve beef brisket palatability, but we did note differences between point and flat portions. Preparing beef briskets as Texas-style barbecue resulted in products with low WBS values and high consumer palatability ratings, which helps demonstrate why barbecued briskets are so popular.