MVSc

A study was conducted to examine the feasibility of formulation of quail meat patties from deboned minced meat of Japanese quails and to evaluate it shelf-life.

The ready-to-cook yield, total loss and meat to bone ratuio averaged 69.11+ 0.45, 30.80 + 0.45 and 2.04 + 0.03 per cent respectively for quails (25 weeks of age) used for the study.

The quail meat patties prepared as per the recipe was kept at 50 C for six days and at -150 C upto 60 days. Representative samples were analysed qualitatively and evaluated organoleptically by a taste panel on zero, four and six days under refrigeration (50 C) and zero, 15,30,45 and 60 days of storage under frozen condition (-150 C). It was found that irrespective of different temperatures and duration of storage the proximate components viz., moisture, protein, fat and total ash of the product remained unaltered. The thiobarbituric acid (TBA) number remained unaffected at 50 C irrespective of different days of storage. At -150 C the TBA number increased as the storage period increased. The total bacterial count increased at 50 C and decreased significantly (p<0.01) at -150 C with increase in the duration of storage. The quail meat patties prepared as per the recipe was found to be well acceptable organoleptically. It was observed that 12 quail meat patties could be made from each kg of deboned minced quail meat patty weighing 100 g was found to be Rs. 7.84.

From the above findings it was concluded that a highly acceptable, nutritious, ready-to-cook quail meat product could be prepared from deboned minced quail meat. Under refrigeration (50 C) and frozen (-150 C) conditions the product could be stored upto six and 60 days respectively without any quality deterioration or consumer acceptance of the product.