(1) Background: Phosphates are used in the food industry to improve water retention and product quality. However, when consumed in excess, they can be harmful to health. Instead, bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates present health benefits such as being a rejuvenating agent, stimulating collagen production, and improving food quality, in addition to being a source of protein. The effect of the addition of bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates on the texture and color of thermally processed chicken meat (boiled type) and antioxidant activity was evaluated. (2) Methods: Hydrolysates were prepared with subtilisin with the degree of hydrolysis being 6.57 and 13.14%, which were obtained from our previous study. (3) Results: The hydrolysates improved the firmness of the meat matrix compared to the control. Additionally, the hydrolysate with a 13.14% degree of hydrolysis reached the same firmness (p > 0.05) as the commercial ingredient sodium tripolyphosphate at its maximum limit allowed in the food industry when it was applied at 5% (w/w meat) in the meat matrix, improving firmness over the control by 63%. Furthermore, both hydrolysates reached a similar color difference to sodium tripolyphosphate at its maximum allowed limit when applied at a concentration of 2% (w/w meat). Additionally, it was found that these hydrolysates obtained the same antioxidant activity as sodium tripolyphosphate, capturing free radicals at 10%. (4) Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates can be applied as an ingredient with functional properties, being an alternative to phosphates to improve the quality of meat products.
Keywords: antioxidant activity; bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates; chicken meat; color; texture.