The left M. iliofibularis was frozen in a blast freezer set at −20 °C with a wind speed of 2.6 m/s. Thermocouples were inserted at two sites in the muscles (prior to freezing), the thermal centre and ±1 cm below the surface (EBI-6, Ebro Electronic GmbH & Co. KG, Ingolstadt data logger with thermocouple attached). Freezing was stopped when the thermal centre reached a temperature of −20 °C. The samples were stored for 1 month at −20 °C before thawing. Prior to thawing, one thermocouple was inserted in up to the thermal centre (using an electric drill) and the frozen muscles were placed in
a refrigeration unit at 4 °C with a wind speed of 1.2 m/s until the thermal centre reached 0 °C. The muscles were then packaged as notedabove and prepared for analysis.