Comparison of the Real‐time Microrespirometer and Aerobic Plate Count Methods for Determination of Microbial Quality in Ground Beef

ABSTRACT Real‐time microrespirometer measurements were compared with the aerobic plate count (APC) method to assess microbial quality of ground beef stored at 4°C and 7°C with and without previous freezing. The samples were monitored daily for CO2 evolution rate (CER) using a microrespirometer, APC, and were evaluated for color and odor changes by a sensory panel. The CER was highly correlated with the APC for all storage conditions ( r 2 = 0.787 to 0.952). The onset of meat spoilage was more closely associated with a specific CER value (>25 μL/h/g) than APC. The new method was found to be more accurate in predicting meat spoilage, especially for previously frozen samples.