There was an interaction (Pb0.05) between pressure and freezing temperature for instrumental color lightness (Fig. 1). L* values were higher (Pb0.05) for samples treated with HHP than control samples when treated at −15 °C, with no differences (PN0.05) in lightness
between 400 and 600 MPa. However, there were no differences (PN0.05) in L* among treatments when samples were treated at −35 °C. These results may indicate a protection effect from the HHP of
the cured color by the lower freezing temperature. Many studies have demonstrated severe meat discoloration when using HHP at temperatures above 0 °C for beef muscle, minced beef , and fresh and cured minced pork . Carlez et al. (1995) support that these color changes are due to globin denaturation and/or heme group displacement or release, and Goutefongea et al. (1995) suggested that the increase in lightness could be related to myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins coagulation. Different approaches have been proposed to reduce meat discoloration such as addition of oxygen scavengers, sodium nitrite, and antioxidants (Carlez et al., 1995).