Effects of Drying Method and Medicinal Herb Extract Addition on the Microstructure of Beef Jerky

We investigated the effects of manufacturing method on the quality of beef jerky using electron micrography. Six types of beef jerky were prepared by the addition of sugar (A), licorice (B), one of three kinds of spice extract (clove: C, fennel fruit: D, and Chungyang green pepper extract: E), or a mixture of all spice extracts (F). Microstructural changes in beef jerky during preparation by drying, with respect to drying method and the nature of the added spice extract, were observed by scanning electron micrography (SEM) and transmission electron micrography (TEM). The latter technique showed that the microstructure of fresh meat showed actin and myosin in myofibril lines, and also mitochondria and inner membranes. Beef muscle structure was broken at many myofibril lines and decomposition of inner membrane material was evident after seasoning. SEM of air-blast dried beef jerky with added medicinal herb extracts showed both large spaces and regular myofibrils, whereas hot air-dried beef jerky had no spaces and the muscle myofibrils were still evident. After review of all available micrographs from SEM and TEM, we concluded that use of medicinal herb extracts could be helpful in preserving the muscle myofibril structure during drying, and the air-blast drying method is recommended to optimize the textural quality characteristics of beef jerky.