A comparative study of chemical composition, color, and thermal gelling properties of normal and PSE-like chicken breast meat

The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences between normal and pale, soft, exudative (PSE)-like chicken breast meat in the chemical composition, pH, color, water binding capacity, textural properties, salt-soluble protein (SSP) extraction as well as dynamic rheological properties. Compared with normal meat, PSE-like chicken meat showed similar moisture, fat, and ash content (P > 0.05), but significantly lower protein content (P < 0.05). It had a significantly higher L* and lower pH and SSP extraction (P < 0.05). Heated PSE-like meat batter had lower water-binding capacity, textural characteristics (P < 0.05) and reduced gel elasticity (G′) and viscosity. However, the color variation of PSE-like meat gels was decreased. No significant changes were observed in the SSP electrophoretic patterns by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In conclusion, PSE-like poultry meat changed the chemical composition and impaired protein functionality; however, the difference in color was small when used in further products.