Quality Changes of Pork in Relation to Packaging Conditions During Chilled Storage in Households

Proper storage of left-over meat in a household refrigerator is important for extending its shelf-life and assuring its safety until it is next used. Various fresh meat packaging methods were examined to determine their effects on the quality characteristics of pork loins during household storage at 5 o C. The packaging methods include 1) wrapping in a polyethylene pouch (WP), 2) keeping in an air-tight plastic container (CP), and 3) using a household vacuum packaging machine (VP). The fastest increase in total aerobic bacteria during storage occurred in the WP samples, followed by the CP and VP samples. The count of Pseudomonas spp. was found to be lowest in the VP, and then the CP and WP samples. Enterobacteriaceae grew fastest in the WP samples, followed by the CP and VP samples. The WP samples also incurred the most significant increase in thiobarbituric acids and volatile basic nitrogen values over the storage period, as compared to the CP and VP samples. Off-odour at 30 min after opening the package, was first notable at day 11 in WP samples, but only at day 15 in the CP and VP samples. The colour also deteriorated earlier in the WP samples than in the CP and VP samples.