The effects was studied of different salt quantities during salting process in qualitative parameters of sheep meat. Were used 18 boned legs from ram lambs ½ Ile de France ½ Ideal, slaughtered with 30kg of body weight. The treatments were: T1 - control; T2 - salting at 15%; T3 - salting at 20%. Meat slices were washed with water to remove salt excess and dried in shadow. Analysis were done before salting and 67 hours after salting. Cooking losses, tenderness, colour, humidity (2, 4, 16, 28, 40 and 67 hours after the beginning of the process) and number of TBARS (2-tiobarbituric acid reactive substances) were done on Semimembranosus muscle. Different quantities of salt had no effect on meat lightness (P>0.05), although redness and yellowness were affected (P<0.05). Cooking losses and humidity were lower (P<0.05) for salted meat. The tenderness was higher (P<0.05) for meats submitted to control treatment and 15% of salting, compared to meats salted with 20%. Meats submitted to 20% of salting showed higher number of TBARS, not differing 15% of salting. The utilization of 15% of salting showed better results, with cooking losses, colour, humidity and number of TBARS similar to salting at 20%, however the meat was more tender.
meat; ovine; salting process
