Improving the Shelf Life and Quality of Minced Beef by Cassia Glauca Leaf Extracts during Cold Storage

Abstract

Minced beef is a popular meat product due to its low price and superior nutritional value. The contamination of minced beef is a significant risk for the worldwide meat market. Both natural and synthetic preservatives are used to expand the shelf life and improve the quality properties of meat. The harmful effects of synthetic preservatives make natural preservatives more appealing. Therefore, this research was performed to study the impact of different concentrations of Cassia glauca leaf extract (CGE) on increasing the shelf life of minced beef. Seventy-two minced beef samples were divided into control, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% w/w CGE treated groups. The control and treated samples were kept at 3 ± 1 °C in the refrigerator for 15 days. Minced beef samples’ sensory, chemical, and microbiological properties were assessed every three days. The gained results showed that the CGE addition effectively decreased the microbial count and maintained the minced beef’s sensory and chemical quality. Additionally, CGE extended the shelf life of minced meat up to 15 days under the proper refrigeration condition compared to the control group, which decomposed after the sixth day of refrigeration. Our study suggested that CGE could be used as a natural preservative for refrigerated minced meat.