The effects of high salt and low pH on the water-holding of meat

The study investigated the water-holding (WH) in meat in the pH–NaCl (ionic strength) combinations that prevail in dry sausages during fermentation and drying. WH in raw beef homogenates, with 230% added water, was determined by centrifugation at pH values of 5.47–4.60, and ionic strengths (μ) 0.50–1.50. The minimum WH in relation to pH was at pH 4.8, but at higher pH values, the WH optimum was at 1.0–1.5 μ; at lower pH-values (< 5.0) the optimum was more pronounced at 1.0 μ. The WH reducing effect by pH decrease was stronger than the effect of μ. At lower pH values, the relative effect of μ on WH was higher compared to that of pH than at higher pH values. The pH–salt combinations prevailing in fermented sausage in the beginning of the ripening produced a high WH, which decreased, first with pH decrease and then in the last period of ripening mainly due to the increase of ionic strength.