Effects of pre-emulsifying fat/oil on meat batter stability, texture and microstructure

Summary The effects of pre‐emulsified beef fat and canola oil (CO) (25%) with Tween 80 (T‐80) or sodium caseinate (SC) were studied in beef meat batters prepared at three protein levels (9%, 12% and 15%). Raising meat protein level to 15% resulted in low emulsion stability of products prepared with CO. Using pre‐emulsified beef fat with Tween 80 (BF‐T80) showed significantly higher fat and water losses at all protein levels. There were no differences in fat and water losses between pre‐emulsified beef fat and CO when SC was used at the 9% and 12% protein levels compared to the controls (non pre‐emulsification). Light microscopy revealed fat globule coalescence in the CO meat batters prepared with 15% protein and BF‐T8 treatments, as well as formation of fat channels and more protein aggregation; both resulted in lower emulsion stability. Using SC to emulsify fat/oil produced a finer dispersion of fat globules compared to all the other treatments.