EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FILTER-PAPER PRESS M ETHOD FOR DETERMINING THE WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY OF MEAT

Assessment was made of the effectiveness of the nonplanimetric filter- paper press method as a rapid and practical means of determining the w ater holding capacity of meat, based on the ratio, M/T, of pressed mea t film (M), and total moist area (T) on filter paper, instead of the l iquid ring zone. The values obtained agreed closely with those obtaine d by the conventional method. PSE-type meat was prepared and M/T and M were seen to decrease significantly with the drop in pH. Values for M and T determined planimetrically and by the intersection of axes meth od were found to be essentially the same. The effect of pH (4.2 almost -equal-to 7.0) on M/T as determined by the intersection of axes method was basically the same as that on water holding capacity according to the conventional method. It is thus evident that M/T determined by th e intersection of axes method can be used for quick determination of t he water holding capacity of meat.