Flavor is the sensory impression sensed by taste and smell buds and is a leading factor determining the meat
quality and purchasing decision of the consumer. Meat flavor is characteristic of volatiles produced as a result
of reactions of non-volatile components that are induced thermally. The water soluble compounds having low
molecularweight and meat lipids are important precursors of cooked meat flavor. TheMaillard reaction, lipid oxidation,
and vitamin degradation are leading reactions during cookingwhich develop meat flavor fromuncooked
meat with little aroma and bloody taste. The pre-slaughter and postmortem factors like animal breed, sex, age,
feed, aging and cooking conditions contribute to flavor development of cooked meat. The objective of this review
is to highlight the flavor chemistry, meat flavor precursors and factors affecting meat flavor precursors.