Effect of Heat Treatment by the Sous-Vide Method on the Quality of Poultry Meat

An increase in the consumption of poultry meat has been observed due to its availability, nutritional value, and delicate flavor. These characteristics make it possible to prepare, with the use of spices and other additives, many different dishes and products for increasingly demanding consumers. The sous-vide technique is increasingly being used to give new sensory attributes to dishes in gastronomy. The study aimed to assess the impact of the heat treatment method, i.e., the sous-vide method, as compared to traditional cooking, on the sensory quality of poultry meat, as well as the efficiency of the process with regard to technological quality. The cooking yield with the sous-vide method of processing poultry meat was higher than with the traditional method of cooking in water (88.5% vs. 71.0%, respectively). The meat was also found to be redder (a* = 254 vs. 074) and less yellow (b* = 1512 vs. 1649), as well as more tender. The sensory quality of chicken breast meat obtained by the sous-vide method was higher in terms of attributes such as color tone, tenderness, juiciness, and overall quality. At the same time, it was lower in terms of the odor of cooked meat and the flavor of cooked meat as compared to meat subjected to traditional cooking.

Automated summary

The prevalent sous-vide technique has increased the cooking yield, color vibrancy, and tenderness of poultry meat. While the sous-vide method enhances the sensory quality of chicken meat in terms of color, tenderness, and juiciness, it falls short in terms of the odor and flavor when compared to traditional cooking methods.