Binding of comminuted meat: Effect of high pressure

Patties prepared from comminuted meat were pressure-treated at up to 150 MPa at 0-3°C and the cohesion between meat particles in the cooked patty investigated from tensile strength measurements. Pressure treatment increased tensile strength, the magnitude of the increase depending upon the intensity and duration of pressure treatment, the concentration of salt in the patty and pH value. The effect was most pronounced in patties of pH 5 to 6 and with 1% salt in the aqueous phase. Under these conditions cooking losses were reduced. When compared with the effect of addition of 0·5% tetrasodium pyrophosphate in a patty with 1% salt, pressure treatment retained its effect at lower pH values.