Trained sensory perception of pork eating quality as affected by fresh and cooked pork quality attributes and end-point cooked temperature

The present study evaluated individual and interactive influences of pork loin (n = 679) ultimate ph (pH), intramuscular fat (IMF), Minolta L∗ color (L∗), Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and internal cooked temperatures (62.8 °C, 68.3 °C, 73.9 °C, and 79.4 °C) on trained sensory perception of palatability. Logistical regression analyses were used, fitting sensory responses as dependent variables and quality and cooked temperature as independent variables, testing quadratic and interactive effects. Incremental increases in cooked temperature reduced sensory juiciness and tenderness scores by 3.8% and 0.9%, respectively, but did not influence sensory flavor or saltiness scores. An increase of 4.9 N in WBSF, from a base of 14.7 N (lowest) to 58.8 N (greatest) was associated with a 3.7% and 1.8% reduction in sensory tenderness and juiciness scores, respectively, with predicted sensory tenderness scores reduced by 3.55 units when comparing ends of the WBSF range. Modeled sensory responses for loins with pH of 5.40 and 5.60 had reduced tenderness, chewiness, and fat flavor ratings when compared with responses for loins with pH of 5.80 to 6.40, the range indicative of optimal sensory response. Loin IMF and L∗ were significant model effects; however, their influence on sensory attributes was small, with predicted mean sensory responses measurably improved only when comparing 6% and 1% IMF and L∗ values of 46.9 (dark) when compared with 65.0 (pale). Tenderness and juiciness scores, were related to a greater extent to loin WBSF and pH, and to a lesser extent to cooked temperature, IMF and L∗.