Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Minute Steaks Cooked under Selected Conditions

A national survey was conducted in Canada to determine consumer cooking practices for minute steaks (thin, mechanically tenderized beef cutlets). Results indicate that most Canadians prefer cooking minute steaks by pan frying and to a medium level of doneness. To identify safe cooking conditions, retail minute steaks (similar to 125 g), inoculated at three sites per steak with a five strain cocktail of nontoxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (6.1 log CFU per site), were cooked on a hot plate (200 degrees C), mimicking a pan-frying scenario. The steaks (n = 5) were cooked for 4, 6, 8, or 10 min with turning over (flipping) up to four times at equal time intervals; or to 63 or 71 degrees C at the thickest area with or without a tinfoil lid. When cooked for 4 min, E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from all inoculation sites, and the mean reductions at various sites (1.2 to 3.4 log CFU per site) were not different (P > 0.05), irrespective of the flipping frequency. When cooked for 6 min with flipping once or twice, or for 8 min with flipping once, E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from most sites; the mean reductions (3.8 to 5.3 log CFU per site) were not different (P > 0.05), but they were higher (P < 0.05) than those for steaks cooked for 4 min. When cooked for 10, 8, or 6 min with flipping once, twice, or three times, respectively, E. coli O157:H7 was eliminated from most sites, but sites with <5-log reductions were found. Reductions of E. coli O157:H7 by >5 log at all inoculation sites were attained when the steaks were cooked for 10 or 8 min with two or more or three or more flippings, respectively, or for 6 min with four flippings. When flipped twice during cooking to 63 or 71 degrees C, E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from three or fewer sites; however, >5-log reductions throughout the steaks were only attained for the latter temperature, irrespective of whether the hot plate was covered with the tinfoil lid. Thus, turning over minute steaks twice during cooking to 71 degrees C or flipping two, three, or four times with a cooking time of 10, 8, or 6 min could achieve Slog reductions throughout the steaks.