3.10. Texture
Shear force value for control was 79.3 N while PEF and water bath
treated samples recorded slightly higher shear forces of 83.2 and
83.9 N, respectively. However, these shear forces were not significantly
different. It is thought that the electrical field strength applied
to the beef samples during PEF treatment in the present study may
not have been strong enough to induce physical disruption of fibres
to a point where it could affect tenderisation. Although the texture
values are high (e.g. ≈80 N) compared to what is considered as tender
meat (e.g. ≈30–40 N), it is not unusual to see such high shear
force values at an early stage post mortem (72 h) (Ramsbottom &
Strandine, 1949; Gruber et al., 2006). It is well understood that
tenderisation of beef increases significantly during a conditioning period
of up to 28 days (Koui, 1996).