Suitability of pigeon pea and soybean flours as extenders and binders in restructured meat product (sausage)

Abstract

The suitability of pigeon pea and soybean flours as an alternative to chemical binders and extenders in meat restructuring technology was investigated in this study. Pigeon pea flour (PPF) and soybean flour (SBF) were separately developed, assessed for their protein contents and each was used for sausage preparation at 2, 4, and 6% with plain (CB) and chemical phosphate binder (PhB) sausages serving as control samples. The processed sausages were then subjected to texture profile, water solubility index (WSI), sensory profile, and consumer acceptability analyses to assess the flours‘ performance. Soybean flour had a significantly (p<0.05) higher protein content (31% DM) than pigeon pea flour (22-24% DM). Texture profile parameters differed significantly(p<0.05) between samples with the highest hardness value observed in CB(424.0±1.53g) and lowest values in SBFs (277±1.11-332±1.5 g). The PhB and 4 and 6% SBFs samples had higher cohesiveness (0.46±0.02-0.54±0.03g), adhesiveness (9.0±0.10-10.9±0.25g) and WSI (2.8-3.0%) than respective lower values of 0.29± 0.04-0.42±0.04, 2.5±0.10-6.0±0.66and 1-2.4% in plain control and PPFs samples. The sensory analysis results revealed that PhB samples had significantly (p<0.05) higher colour (8.2±1.30), saltiness (5.8±1.56), and mouthfeel (6.9±1.20) intensities than other samples. Furthermore, the PhB, and 4 and 6% SBFs samples had significantly (p<0.05) higher moistness (0.46±0.02-0.54±0.03g), consumer acceptability (7.1±1.67-7.3±1.88) and preference (125-177)as well as lower hardness intensity (5.9±2.54-6.0±2.82) than other samples. In conclusion, soybean is richer in protein than pigeon pea and its incorporation of up to 6% in sausage produces a more acceptable product than plain control samples but with WSI, texture, and sensory profiles comparable to chemical binder samples. However, further studies to establish appropriate pigeon pea flour levels that will produce acceptable products with similar physical and sensory properties to chemical binder is recommended.