Yields, Color, Moisture and Microbial Contents of Chicken Patties as Affected by Frying and Internal Temperatures

Frozen, raw, battered and breaded chicken patties were tempered to an internal temperature of 1.1 ± 0. 1°C. The patties were fried to three different internal temperatures (48.9°, 60.0° and 71.1°C) in each of three shortenings preheated to 168.3°, 179.4°, and 190.6°C. Yields and selected quality characteristics of the patties were measured. At the same internal cooking temperature, frying yield and moisture content of the patties were not different (P > 0.05). Higher frying temperature and longer frying time yielded lower Hunter “L” values and a tendency to produce higher Hunter “a” values. An interaction between frying temperature and internal temperature was significant for microbial counts. No difference (P > 0.05) in microbial count was observed when patties were fried to an internal temperature of 60.0° or 71.1°C.