EFFECT OF GINGER RHIZOME EXTRACT ON TENDERNESS AND SHELF LIFE OF PRECOOKED LEAN BEEF

The inclusion of crude ginger rhizome (zingiber officinale) extract at 0.5 to 1.0% (v/w) in the marination of marginally acceptable lean beef improved meat tenderness by 20-30% in the absence of 2% salt and by 35-45% in the presence of 2% salt. Ginger extract also retarded the development of rancidity and increased shelf-life of precooked lean beef two-fold in saran-wrap (no vacuum) storage at $4^{\circ}C$. Ginger rhizome improves the palatability and acceptability of lean beef from carcasses of marginal quality. It is particularly beneficial for the preparation of pre-cooked ready-to-eat beef products that are not vacuum-packaged.