Encapsulation process showed a tendency to reduce this beneficial effect of STP, however, cooking loss was still lower in samples containing eSTP than other groups
(p b 0.05).
The slight increased cooking loss in the samples containing eSTP may be the result of the delayed release of STP into meat system. A delayedrelease would minimize effectiveness of STP onwater-holding capacity.
Li et al. (1993) also found that the higher water holding capacity was achieved with addition of STP into meat prior to cooking rather than after cooking. It has been suggested that an increase in the waterholding capacity can be achieved by a difference in pH from the isoelectric point of meat proteins (Claus et al., 1994).
Furthermore, it was stated that more effective water-holding capacity can be accomplished by alkaline phosphates due to the increase in pH than acidic phosphates which cause a decrease in pH (Townsend & Olson, 1987).
Higher pH is known to protect proteins from heat denaturation.