Effects of High Pressure and Sodium Nitrite Levels on Cured Color Development and Residual Nitrite Concentration in Pork Homogenates

This study investigated the effects of high pressure with or without thermal treatment on the cured color development and residual nitrite contents of model meat systems (pork, NaCl and sodium nitrite). At low nitrite levels (${\leq}50{\mu}g/g$), 200 MPa of pressure alone (P) did not develop the cured meat color (p>0.05). Thermal treatment (T) showed curing pigmentation (higher CIE L* and CIE a*), and the impacts were more effective when pressure was combined with thermal treatment (PT). In contrast, nitrite levels did not contribute to the cured meat color when ${\geq}200{\mu}g/g$ of nitrite was added to the meat. At high nitrite levels, although the typical cured color that is induced by thermal treatment did not present by pressure alone, the PT treatment still showed a pinker color with low residual nitrite content compared to the T treatment. The higher the pressure level (300 MPa), the greater the cured meat pigmentation with lower residual nitrite. Therefore, the present study demonstrates the possible application of high pressure, both for cured pigmentation and reducing residual nitrite, respective to typical thermal treatments.