Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Abstract Addition of natural antioxidants is one of the ways to extend the durability of meat and meat products. The effects of added pepper extracts on the colour and potential redox changes of beef patties during storage were studied. There were four types of ethanol based extracts of two types of pepper (sweet and hot), compacted at different tempera-tures: 35 and 50°C. Experimental material consisted of meat samples produced from lean beef 24-hours postmortem. The colour in a CIE L*a*b* systems was examined using an X-Rite reflection spectro-colorimeter. Oxidation-reduction potential was determined using a pH meter (CPC-501) set to the milivolt scale and equipped with a redox electrode ERPt- -13. The results indicate the influence of extracts of different types of pepper added on oxidation-reduction potential values. Meat samples with pepper extract compacted at 35°C addition had a lower oxidation-reduction potential compared with the samples with pepper extract compacted at 50°C addition. Oxidation-reduction potential values of meat samples increased during storage. No significant effects of type of a particular pepper ex-tract on redox potential values were observed. Pepper extracts increased redness (a* value) of meat samples compared to the control, but had no effects on L* values (light-ness). During storage of meat samples slight changes of CIE a* parameters were noted.