The effect of alginate coating containing pomegranate peel extract on shelf life, texture and color characteristics of chicken breast meat

In this research pomegranate peel extract was used alone or in combination with alginate to coat raw chicken breast meat pieces to evaluate the effect of this extract on its shelf life. Also, the effectiveness of these coating to inhibit the activity of some microorganism in chicken meat was investigated. The coated sample with alginate containing the extract in comparison to the extract coating alone and control samples (the sample submersed in sterile distilled water and the coated sample with alginate solution without extract) was more resistant to microbial contamination (psalmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) in all of the samples increased over time, the increasing rate in the sample coated with alginate containing extract was 1 to 3 logarithmic cycles less than other samples. In order to investigate the effect of pomegranate peel extract alone along with alginate coating on the texture and color of chicken breast meat, the texture and color analysis was carried out on samples. The results of texture analysis showed that extract had a significant effect (pth day, hardness and cohesiveness were diminished but adhesiveness and reactiveness were increased in all samples (p* and b* factors in coated samples with extract alone and containing alginate were more than samples submersed in distilled water and alginate. The mentioned samples showed the least amount of factor L* (p<0.05).