High pressure–low temperature processing of uncooked beef under frozen conditions does not promote protein denaturation in the manner of conventional HPP treatments. This yields functional aspects of beef, such as color, purge and cooked tenderness that are similar to non- pressurized, frozen beef. The retention of quality factors subsequent to HPLT is accompanied by lower, but still significant, microbial inactiva- tion rates. This is likely accomplished by physical disruption during ice phase changes under pressure, but limited due to the lack of protein de- naturation. Conventional high pressure processing caused extensive protein denaturation, promoting discoloration, reducing cook yields and decreasing tenderness upon cooking.