Abstract
The effects of deionized water thawing (DT), plasma-activated water thawing (PT), ultrasound (150 W, 40 kHz) combined with deionized water thawing (UDT), and ultrasound combined with plasma-activated water thawing (UPT) on the thawing characteristics and the physicochemical properties of the beef were investigated. The results showed that the UPT group had a faster thawing rate (38 % higher compared to the PT group) and good bactericidal ability (75 % higher compared to the UDT group), and had no adverse effect on the color and pH value of the beef. Plasma-activated water (PAW) can maintain the stability of the beef fiber, improve the water holding capacity (WHC), inhibit lipid oxidation, and reduce the loss of soluble substances such as protein. Therefore, UPT thawing is a promising meat thawing technology, which provides practical guidance and methods for the wide application of UPT in the field of meat thawing.