and by pre-salting. WLwas also influenced by sample thickness and by nature of the surrounding fluid. These effects were significant at 50 °C and in thinner
samples but decreased as meat temperature and sample thickness increased. WL showed no significant difference
in response to prior freezing, applying a surface constraint during heating or varying meat salt content
from 0.8 to 2.0%. The results were interpreted from literature knowledge on protein denaturation, contraction
and, transport phenomena. Reliably predicting WL fromwater content variation during heating hinges on taking
into account the loss of dry matter and the possible effects of meat pH, sample size or surrounding fluid.