Ipomoea batatas as a novel binding agent for hot-set restructured binding systems and green coffee bean for improved lipid oxidative stability and storage quality

Purpose This paper aims to to explore the possibility of utilization of Ipomoea batatas as a novel binding agent for hot-set restructured meat products. Further, green coffee bean (GCB) extract was used as a natural ingredient to improve the lipid oxidative stability and storage quality of the developed restructured mutton blocks. Design/methodology/approach Restructured mutton blocks were used as a model and were prepared by incorporating different levels of I. batatas, namely, 1, 3 and 5 per cent and analyzed for various quality parameters. Restructured mutton blocks containing optimum level of I. batatas were further treated with GCB (1 per cent) extract as a natural ingredient and assessed for various lipid oxidative stability and storage quality parameters under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 1°C). Findings Restructured mutton blocks containing 3 per cent level of I. batatas were optimized as best on the basis of various quality parameters. Although a significant declining trend was observed in the sensory characteristics with storage; however, the products containing GCB extract showed significantly ( p < 0.05) higher acceptability. The mean scores for overall acceptability for products with GCB extract on day 0 was 7.4 ± 0.1 and for control was 7.3 ± <0.1. Significantly ( p < 0.05) lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS, mg malonaldehyde/kg) and free fatty acid (FFA, % oleic acid) values were observed for the products containing GCB extract. The mean TBARS and FFA values for products with GCB extract on day 0 were 0.2 ± <0.1 and 0.08 ± <0.1 and for control were 0.3 ± <0.1 and 0.09 ± <0.1, respectively. The restructured mutton blocks containing GCB extract also showed significantly ( p < 0.05) lower values for various microbiological characteristics like total plate count (log cfu/g) and psychrophilic count (log cfu/g). Originality/value The results showed herein indicate a promising industrial application of I. batatas (3 per cent) as a binding agent for restructured meat products and GCB extract (1 per cent) as a novel natural ingredient for improved lipid oxidative stability and storage quality.