Prediction of pork loin storage period using a compact impedance device

Management of storage period is essential for meat. The purpose of this study was to develop a technique for predicting storage period in pork loins using a compact impedance-measuring device. Eight measurement positions were placed on pork loin block meat from five fattening pigs, and impedance values at frequencies of 2 and 100 kHz, modified K values (mK values), which are derived from nucleotide-related substances were collected during storage ranging from 0 to 14 days. We developed regression equations using the storage days or mK values as the objective variable and both the impedance ratio (2 kHz/100 kHz) and the 100 kHz impedance value as the explanatory variable for one-position measurements, obtaining the coefficients of determination of 0.80 and 0.79, respectively. These results indicated that the compact impedance-measuring device can be used to predict the storage days of pork loins. In this study, we developed a simple technique for predicting pork loin storage period using a compact impedance-measuring device that can be applied nondestructively in the meat processing industry.