Effect of immersion or dry air chilling on broiler carcass moisture retention and breast fillet functionality

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of chilling method on broiler carcass skin color, moisture retention, breast fillet quality, and functionality. One hundred fifty eviscerated broiler carcasses were removed from a commercial processing line before chilling, transported to the laboratory, weighed, and chilled by dry air or immersion in ice water. Postchill carcasses were weighed for moisture uptake or loss and held on ice at 4 C for 24 h. Carcass skin color was measured immediately after chilling and after storage. After storage, fillets were deboned, marinated, and cooked. Fillet color was measured on the medial surface before marination and after cooking. Cooked fillet shear values were determined using an Allo-Kramer multiple blade. After 150 min of air chilling, carcasses lost 2.5% of prechill weight, and weight loss ranged from 2.2 to 3.5%. Moisture uptake during immersion averaged 9.3% of the prechill weight but varied widely with a range of 3.4 to 14.7%. Immediately after chilling, breast skin for immersion-chilled carcasses was significantly lighter (higher L*), less red (lower a*), and less yellow (lower b*) than the breast skin color for air-chilled carcasses. Storage time improved appearance (lighter skin color) of air-chilled carcasses. Raw and cooked fillet color, fillet marination pickup, and cooked fillet tenderness were not affected by chilling method. Cook yield for fillets deboned from immersion-chilled carcasses was significantly lower than fillets from air-chilled carcasses.