EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FILTER-PAPER PRESS METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY OF MEAT

Assessment was made of the effectiveness of the nonplanimetric filter-paper press method as a rapid and practical means of determining the water holding capacity of meat, based on the ratio, M/T, of pressed meat film (M), and total moist area (T) on filter paper, instead of the liquid ring zone. The values obtained agreed closely with those obtained by the conventional method. PSE-type meat was prepared and M/T and M were seen to decrease significantly with the drop in pH. Values for M and T determined planimetrically and by the intersection of axes method were found to be essentially the same. The effect of pH (4.2 almost-equal-to 7.0) on M/T as determined by the intersection of axes method was basically the same as that on water holding capacity according to the conventional method. It is thus evident that M/T determined by the intersection of axes method can be used for quick determination of the water holding capacity of meat.