Effects of fat meat and storage temperature on the qualities of frozen minced beef products

The purpose of this study was to identify the ideal storage period for frozen minced beef products and to understand key factors affecting their quality. Frozen minced beef products with 10 and 15% of fat content were kept at −5, −15, and −23°C, and over a 6-month period, they were assessed for moisture content (MC), peroxide values (POV), acid values (AV), 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, total volatile basic nitrogen content (TVB-N), and the sensory test in order to identify the effect on quality. This helped to determine their appropriate storage duration at a given temperature. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the correlations between storage temperature, fat meat percentage, characteristic factors, and overall acceptance (OA). Five months for -23°C, 4 months for -15°C, and 2 months for -5°C met 3.7 points or more of OA, in accordance with global sensory analysis standards, and were determined as acceptable frozen storage durations. The very high multiple regression analysis R² (0.97–0.99) verified the correlation between the characteristic factors and OA. In addition, TVB-N, MC, and POV, respectively, were the main quality factors affecting OA at −5, −15, and −23°C (R² > 0.8). These findings may prove useful and practical for manufacturers to improve storage and distribution practices in maintaining the quality of frozen minced beef products.