Quality and Microstructural Changes in Salted Goose Meat Dried by Hot-Air, Infrared, and Microwave Techniques

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different drying methods on salted goose meat, with a particular focus on its microstructure, drying kinetics, color, TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), rehydration, and shrinkage parameters. Goose breast meat with 6% (w/w) salt was dried using hot air and infrared drying at temperatures of 55 °C, 65 °C, and 75 °C, as well as microwave at power levels of 120 W, 350 W, and 460 W. The results revealed that increasing temperature and power levels increased the drying rate in all drying methods. The microwave-dried samples at 460 W and 350 W showed the highest average L* values, followed by the samples dried at 75 °C using infrared and hot air. On the other hand, the lowest temperature (55 °C) and power (120 W) levels resulted in the highest average TBARS values across all drying processes. Furthermore, the highest shrinkage rate was observed at the highest temperature (75 °C) or power level (460 W), while the highest average rehydration rate was recorded in the samples dried at 75 °C using infrared and hot air. Considering the microstructure of the dried meats, the drying method and the temperature/power conditions were found to cause a change in the fibril structures to varying extents.