Contributions of initial and retained levels of oxygen consumption and reducing capacity to animal variation in color stability were evaluated. Instrumental color values were determined on longissimus steaks (n=257) during 6 d of display. Oxygen consumption (OC), nitric oxide metmyoglobin reduction (NORA), initial metmyoglobin formation (IMF), and post-reduction metmyoglobin (PRM) were measured on d 0 and 6. During display, color variables, OC and reducing ability decreased (P<0.05). Color stable steaks had greater (P<0.05) reducing ability on d 0 and 6 and lower (P<0.05) OC on d 0 than unstable steaks. Color change was correlated to OC, NORA, and PRM on d 0 (r=0.19, -0.44 and 0.45, respectively) and to NORA and PRM on d 6 (r=-0.50 and 0.52, respectively). These data suggest that initial capacity for OC and reducing ability, combined with retained reducing ability contribute to animal variation in color stability.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.