Use of chuck muscles and their acceptability in restructured beef/surimi steaks

Ten major muscles along with any unidentifiable lean, were carefully excised from 16 Choice square-cut chucks Yield Grade 2, and placed according to previously determined tenderness rankings, into one of three muscle groups. Group 1 was composed of the most tender muscles, and contained the infraspinatus, longissimus, and triceps brachii. Group 2 contained intermediate tenderness muscles and was composed of the serratus ventralis, deep pectoral, and complexus. Group 3 contained the least tender muscles and was composed of the biceps brachii, supraspinatus, rhomboideus, trapezius, deltoids, and neck muscles. Each group was restructured into beef/surimi steaks and was evaluated. Total muscle yield before trimming accounted for 66.2% of the chuck. Careful fat trimming, desinewing, and internal seam cutting on individual muscles resulted in 34.7% lean available for the restructuring of steaks. The triceps brachii, longissimus, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus required the least trimming and were easiest to excise. These muscles made up 49% of the trimmed meat and 13.7% of the total chuck. Steaks were evaluated by a consumer sensory panel for tenderness, flavor, overall preference, and intent to purchase. There were no differences detected by consumers among the muscle groups for the sensory traits studied. Tenderness and flavor were rated equal to intact steaks for all muscle groups studied. The consumer sensory panel indicated that Groups 1 and 2 would be purchased twice a month and Group 3 once a month.