Açaí extract powder as natural antioxidant on pork patties during the refrigerated storage.

The current trends among consumers are pushing for the use of natural antioxidants options. Açaí fruit is rich on polyphenolic components but no studies have been carried out to evaluate their effect in meat products. The objective was to investigate the effect of açaí extract on refrigerated pork patties quality. Five treatments were done: without antioxidant (CON), Sodium Erythorbate 500 mg.kg -1 (ERY), Açaí Extract: 250 (AEL), 500 (AEM), 750 mg.kg -1 (AEH). Açaí extract did not affect the proximate composition, pH and cooking parameters. The concentrations of açaí extract studied increased antioxidant activity and reduced lipid oxidation (0.379, 0.293, and 0.217 vs. 0.889 mg MDA.kg-1 for AEL, AEM, AEH vs. CON, respectively). However, only the AEL treatment did not affect the color parameters, showing the best option for the application on pork patties. Thus, açaí extract at 250 mg.kg-1 can be used as a natural antioxidant replacing sodium erythorbate to preserve the quality of refrigerated pork patties.

Red pitaya extract as natural antioxidant in pork patties with total replacement of animal fat.

The antioxidant effects of red pitaya extract (PE) were evaluated in pork patties for 18 days at 2 °C. The following treatments were prepared: control (CON, without antioxidant), sodium erythorbate (ERY, 500 mg kg-1), PE low dose (PEL, 250 mg kg-1), PE medium dose (PEM, 500 mg kg-1), and PE high dose (PEH, 1000 mg kg-1). No significant effect was observed on chemical composition and cooking loss with the addition of PE, while a significant effect was noticed in cohesiveness (P < 0.05). The intense pink colour of PE enhanced the colour stability during storage (9.33, 7.92 and 7.69 vs. 6.77 for PEH, PEM and PEL vs. CON, respectively; (P < 0.05). TBARS (1.21 vs. 2.44 mg MDA/kg) and carbonyl values (5.45 vs. 6.87 nmol carbonyl/mg) of treated samples were lower than those observed in CON. Similar values were found between samples with PE and ERY. PE improved colour acceptance and the preference of pork patties. Therefore, PE is a very effective natural antioxidant by delaying colour and oxidative deterioration.