Thawing methods affect quality properties and protein denaturation of frozen beef

Balancing efficiency and meat quality during thawing remains a big challenge for meat industry. In this study, the effects of three thawing methods, including ultrasound-assisted thawing (UT), solid-state microwave thawing (SMT) and traditional air thawing (CT) on the thawing features, quality attributes and protein physicochemical properties of beef in a pilot scale, were investigated. COMSOL Multiphysics simulation was employed to optimize the thawing process, identifying an optimal endpoint of no more than -2 °C. Results showed that optimized SMT helpfully avoided overheating, improved thawing efficiency and kept better water-holding capacity, microstructure and lower oxidation. In contrast, UT maintained better protein conformation and color, especially in a* value, but serious mechanical damage caused worse texture and aggravated protein oxidation, which limited its application. Thus, SMT could be a promising solution for industrial meat thawing applications.