Various experiments have been carried out for the effect
of thawing conditions on the drip loss of frozen meats. Some
authors suggested that fast thawing leads to a lower amount
of drip loss. As an example, Ngapo et al. [9] reported that
drip loss from frozen pork at thawing time of 12 minutes was
significantly lower than that from frozen pork at thawing time
of 180 minutes. Others demonstrated that fast thawing caused
greater amount of drip loss [14] and others showed there was
no significant effect [9].
On the other hand, the shape and size factors also affect
freezing process. Ilicali et al. [15] suggested that freezing
or thawing times of foods depend on the shape and the
dimensions of the food which influence the heat transfer
coefficient during freezing and thawing periods. Furthermore,
it was also said that the wider surface of meat and air contact
each other, the more available condition for hemoproteins
which are major oxidative catalyst active; causing not only
oxidative rancidity but also discoloration [16].
Hence, this study was carried out to examine the effects of
meat shape and size, freezing method and thawing temperature
on the drip loss of beef brisket and the protein content of its
thaw exudates.