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

Abstract

Palatability traits (tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall liking) of beef briskets (n = 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 (P > 0.05) between aging days; however, WBS force measurements for point (Mm. pectorales superficiales composed of the M. pectoralis transversus and M. pectoralis descendens) were lower (P 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; P = 0.0348) and juiciness liking (point > flat; P = 0.0004), Set 2 differed for overall liking (flat > point; P = 0.0499) and juiciness liking (point > flat; P point; P = 0.0296) and juiciness liking (point > flat; P = 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.

Keywords

• Beef
• Aging
• Warner-Bratzler shear force
• brisket
• consumer panels