Synergistic effects of microwave pretreatment and sous-vide cooking on flavor modulation and taste precursor dynamics in chicken breast
Shuqiang Zhang1, Yungang Cao2, Min Li3
1Shandong Key Laboratory of Healthy Food Resources Exploration and Creation, and School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China.
Abstract:
Sous-vide cooking ensures tenderness but often results in limited flavor development. This study investigated microwave pretreatment as a rapid strategy to enhance flavor formation prior to sous-vide processing of chicken breast. The combined treatment significantly increased free amino acids (FAA; 19.51 mg g-1) and umami-related nucleotides, with glutamic acid identified as the dominant contributor. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 57 volatile compounds, and the abundance of key odorants increased by 28%-35% (p < 0.05) following microwave-sous-vide treatment. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant synergistic effects (p < 0.01) between microwave duration and sous-vide conditions on both precursor liberation and volatile formation. Overall, microwave-assisted sous-vide processing enhances flavor while retaining the benefits of mild thermal treatment, providing a practical approach for producing high-quality poultry with superior flavor attributes.
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