This study evaluated the effect of freezing method (FM) (air blast freezer, freezing tunnel, or nitrogen
chamber) and frozen storage duration (FSD) (1, 3, or 6 months) on the instrumental measurements of
quality of thawed lamb, aged for a total of 72 h, throughout a 10-d display period, compared to the
quality of fresh meat. pH, colour, lipid oxidation, thawing, and cooking losses in Longissimus thoracis
and lumborum muscle, were determined following standard methods. FM affected yellowness, FSD redness
and thawing losses, and both affected oxidation (increased as freezing rate decreased and/or as storage
duration increased). When compared with fresh meat, the main differences appeared on oxidation
(where a significant interaction between treatment (3FM 3FSD + fresh meat) with display duration
was detected), and on total losses (thaw + cook losses). Oxidation was lower in fresh meat, but values
were not significantly different from those stored frozen for 1 month. Fresh meat had smaller total losses
than did thawed meat, but losses were not significantly different from meat frozen in the freezing tunnel
and stored frozen for 1 month. Display duration had a greater effect on instrumental quality parameters
than did FM or FSD. pH, b*, and oxidation increased, and L* and a* decreased with an increase in the number
of days on display. In conclusion, neither freezing method nor frozen storage up to 6 months influenced
extensively the properties of lamb when instrumental measurements of quality were measured
in meat that had been displayed for 1 d after thawing. The small deterioration shown in this study should
not give consumers concerns about frozen meat.