Some Factors Influencing the Nonheme Iron Content of Meat and Its Implications in Oxidation

Three different methods for determining nonheme iron content of meat extracts which differed in final pH and either in heating or not heating of the samples, were compared. The final pH of meat extracts had little effect on the level of nonheme iron but heating gave higher values. Both final temperature and rate of heating influenced release of nonheme iron from meat pigment extracts, with the optimum temperature being 63‐70°C. Slow heating resulted in release of more noneheme iron than fast heating. Nitrite was shown to prevent release of heme iron, apparently through stabilizing the porphyrin ring. Sources of nonheme iron and their relationship to oxidation in cooked meat are discussed.