Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers

Contrast stimuli created between high- and low-taste concentration zones have been shown to enhance the perception of sensory trait intensity. The objective of this study was to determine if layering beef formulations with contrasting salt contents in salt-heterogeneous burger patties could evoke a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Artur Głuchowski, Emily Crofton, Limin M. Baby, Maurice G. O’Sullivan, Joe P. Kerry, Ruth M. Hamill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11373
_version_ 1797574904209473536
author Artur Głuchowski
Emily Crofton
Limin M. Baby
Maurice G. O’Sullivan
Joe P. Kerry
Ruth M. Hamill
author_facet Artur Głuchowski
Emily Crofton
Limin M. Baby
Maurice G. O’Sullivan
Joe P. Kerry
Ruth M. Hamill
author_sort Artur Głuchowski
collection DOAJ
description Contrast stimuli created between high- and low-taste concentration zones have been shown to enhance the perception of sensory trait intensity. The objective of this study was to determine if layering beef formulations with contrasting salt contents in salt-heterogeneous burger patties could evoke a more intense perception of sensory flavours compared to a burger matched in overall salt content but with a homogeneous salt distribution. The study material consisted of one patty batch with a homogeneous salt distribution (HM 0.7% NaCl) and six patty batches with an average NaCl content of 0.7% but distributed in six different heterogeneous (HT) salt structures. Sensory profiling and consumer tests in a group of 105 Irish residents were performed. The heterogeneity of salt in beef patties produced significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) among formulations in the intensity of salty taste, salty and beefy aftertaste, and taste uniformity. An analysis of the proximate composition of the burgers showed that the raw burgers did not differ in their moisture, protein, or fat contents, while the cooked ones did not differ in their salt contents. The results of a hedonic assessment of beef burgers with varied spatial distributions of salt did not show any significant differences in the liking of any sensory traits. Our data suggest an alternative approach involving preparing burgers with layers of varied salt concentrations with similar sensory experiences while potentially facilitating lower salt inclusion levels.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T21:28:39Z
format Article
id doaj.art-b5d941e54f4945d3b2558f43cd98a726
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-3417
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T21:28:39Z
publishDate 2023-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj.art-b5d941e54f4945d3b2558f43cd98a7262023-11-19T15:31:20ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-10-0113201137310.3390/app132011373Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef BurgersArtur Głuchowski0Emily Crofton1Limin M. Baby2Maurice G. O’Sullivan3Joe P. Kerry4Ruth M. Hamill5Food Quality and Sensory Science Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, D15 KN3K Dublin, IrelandFood Quality and Sensory Science Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, D15 KN3K Dublin, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, T12 E138 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, T12 E138 Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, T12 E138 Cork, IrelandFood Quality and Sensory Science Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, D15 KN3K Dublin, IrelandContrast stimuli created between high- and low-taste concentration zones have been shown to enhance the perception of sensory trait intensity. The objective of this study was to determine if layering beef formulations with contrasting salt contents in salt-heterogeneous burger patties could evoke a more intense perception of sensory flavours compared to a burger matched in overall salt content but with a homogeneous salt distribution. The study material consisted of one patty batch with a homogeneous salt distribution (HM 0.7% NaCl) and six patty batches with an average NaCl content of 0.7% but distributed in six different heterogeneous (HT) salt structures. Sensory profiling and consumer tests in a group of 105 Irish residents were performed. The heterogeneity of salt in beef patties produced significant differences (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) among formulations in the intensity of salty taste, salty and beefy aftertaste, and taste uniformity. An analysis of the proximate composition of the burgers showed that the raw burgers did not differ in their moisture, protein, or fat contents, while the cooked ones did not differ in their salt contents. The results of a hedonic assessment of beef burgers with varied spatial distributions of salt did not show any significant differences in the liking of any sensory traits. Our data suggest an alternative approach involving preparing burgers with layers of varied salt concentrations with similar sensory experiences while potentially facilitating lower salt inclusion levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11373contrast stimuliproduct reformulationsensoryconsumersbeef pattiessaltiness
spellingShingle Artur Głuchowski
Emily Crofton
Limin M. Baby
Maurice G. O’Sullivan
Joe P. Kerry
Ruth M. Hamill
Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers
Applied Sciences
contrast stimuli
product reformulation
sensory
consumers
beef patties
saltiness
title Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers
title_full Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers
title_fullStr Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers
title_short Influence of Heterogeneity of Salt Content in Food Structure on the Sensory Profile and Consumer Perception of Beef Burgers
title_sort influence of heterogeneity of salt content in food structure on the sensory profile and consumer perception of beef burgers
topic contrast stimuli
product reformulation
sensory
consumers
beef patties
saltiness
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11373
work_keys_str_mv AT arturgłuchowski influenceofheterogeneityofsaltcontentinfoodstructureonthesensoryprofileandconsumerperceptionofbeefburgers
AT emilycrofton influenceofheterogeneityofsaltcontentinfoodstructureonthesensoryprofileandconsumerperceptionofbeefburgers
AT liminmbaby influenceofheterogeneityofsaltcontentinfoodstructureonthesensoryprofileandconsumerperceptionofbeefburgers
AT mauricegosullivan influenceofheterogeneityofsaltcontentinfoodstructureonthesensoryprofileandconsumerperceptionofbeefburgers
AT joepkerry influenceofheterogeneityofsaltcontentinfoodstructureonthesensoryprofileandconsumerperceptionofbeefburgers
AT ruthmhamill influenceofheterogeneityofsaltcontentinfoodstructureonthesensoryprofileandconsumerperceptionofbeefburgers