Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the moisture distribution, eating quality and flavor properties of Xinjiang-style roasted chicken made from different chicken breeds. Five chicken breeds from Xinjiang, namely Liangfenghua, Huangma, Suqinhuang, 817, and Hyline Brown, were selected as research subjects. A comprehensive analysis, including color, texture, water-holding capacity (WHC), moisture distribution, and volatile flavor compounds, was conducted to evaluate the quality characteristics of roasted chicken products made from five chicken breeds. Additionally, a multidimensional quality assessment was implemented using fuzzy mathematics-based sensory evaluation methodology. The results showed that Liangfenghua breed had superior water-holding capacity, with a 30.69% reduction in roasting loss relative to Suqinhuang breed. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis demonstrated that Liangfenghua and 817 breeds contained higher levels of immobilized water, along with high and uniformly distributed hydrogen ion content, exhibiting stronger moisture retention capacity. Moreover, 817 and Liangfenghua breeds showed higher
redness (
a*) and
yellowness (
b*) values, presenting a glossy and bright surface. Hyline Brown breed had a tight texture and significantly higher shear force (
P<0.05), which was unfavorable for chewing. The comprehensive scores of the five roasted chicken products, based on the fuzzy mathematics sensory evaluation, were ranked as follows: 817 > Liangfenghua > Suqinhuang > Huangma > Hyline Brown. Among the 29 important volatile compounds identified from the five roasted chicken samples, methylpyrazine, 2-pentanone, pentanal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal, 1-octen-3-ol, and
α-pinene were served as the characteristic flavor compounds that distinguish roasted chicken from different breeds. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the selection of Xinjiang roasted chicken breeds, roasted chicken product quality regulation, and the modernization of ethnic meat processing technologies.