Lipid oxidation in chicken as affected by cooking and frozen storage

Oxidative rancidity in fresh, frozen and cooked chicken breast and leg meat was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) in fat from meat with an improved 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay with antioxidant protection, and by measuring the relative fluorescent products of organic and aqueous layers from FOLCH extracted meat. Fresh samples were frozen for 3 and 6 months at -18 degrees C and cooked in convection and microwave ovens. Frozen storage for 3 and 6 months either before cooking or after convection and microwave cooking substantially increased MDA concentrations in fat from meat, whereas cooking was more effective in generating fluorescent products. There were no significant differences in free MDA concentrations or TBA numbers in chicken meat between convection and microwave cooking methods. The certain secondary fluorescent products were significantly higher in meat cooked by convection oven. The initial levels of either MDA or fluorescent products in meat are of primary importance in determining the final MDA and fluorescence levels after processing.