Sensory and Physiochemical Comparison of Traditional Bone-In Dry-Aged Beef Loin with Bone-Less Dry Ageing and Ageing Using a Moisture Permeable Bag

Abstract

Beef loins, were de-boned and left unpackaged (n = 12) or packaged using dry-ageing bags (n = 12). A third batch (n = 12) were not boned out and unpackaged. Loins were aged in a chill at 2˚C, with steaks (2.54 cm) tested on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for % yield, colour, texture, pH, cooking losses and microbiological status. Sensory affective analysis and a novel descriptive method (Ranking Descriptive Analysis) were also performed. The dry aged samples had significantly (P < 0.05) higher moisture losses followed by dry-ageing bag samples and bone-in samples. The bone-in samples scored lower for appearance at 21 days, were juicier, but had more off-flavour. Dry aged beef scored significantly higher than the bone-in samples for overall acceptability, but were not significantly better than the dry-ageing bag samples which had reduced moisture losses and greater tenderness. Microbiologically all treatments performed similarly. There were no significant differences in trim losses between dry-aged samples with or without the use of ageing bags. The sensory methods utilised allowed samples to be assessed hedonically and descriptively in real time without the necessity to freeze samples and without reverse storage design.