Effects of Fat Level and Cooking Method on Sensory and Textural Properties of Ground Beef Patties

ABSTRACT Effects of fat level (14, 19, 24%) and cooking method (electric broiling, charbroiling, conventional oven roasting, convection oven roasting, electric grill frying, microwave cooking) were evaluated with ground beef patties using descriptive attribute and texture profile panels. Higher tenderness and juiciness values were associated with higher fat levels in the patties. Texture profile evaluation indicated the higher tenderness associated with higher fat levels and conventional oven roasting to be due to less hardness, density and cohesiveness during initial biting of the sample. Microwave cooking produced low sensory panel ratings regardless of fat level, while patties cooked by frying had the highest ground beef flavor intensity scores. Major textural properties of cohesiveness, hardness and density were influenced by fat level in a similar manner for all cooking methods.