This study aimed to investigate the drying yield, meat quality, oxidation stability and sensory properties of Hanwoo beef loin subjected to different dry-aging conditions. A total of 54 Hanwoo beef loins (bone-in, 6th-13th ribs) with fat cover at 2 d postmortem were assigned to four groups and hung in a dry-aging room at a controlled temperature (2℃-4℃), humidity (65%-85%) and air velocity (3 m/s). Four treatment conditions were tested; the respective temperature, humidity and treatment duration are as follows: T1, 2℃, 85%, 60 d; T2, 2℃, 65%, 20 d+2℃, 75%, 20 d+4℃, 85%, 20 d; T3, 2℃, 75%, 20 d+4℃, 85%, 40 d; T4, 4℃, 85%, 60 d. The drying yield, total aerobic counts and fat contents increased, whereas the moisture content, meat color (CIE L*, a*, and b*), and Warner-Bratzler shear force values decreased significantly during the aging period for all treatments (p<0.05). The cooking loss (%) did not change significantly until 40 d, and it was significantly higher in T1 and T4 than in T2 and T3 at 60 d (p<0.05). The water-holding capacity, pH and lipid oxidation [thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values] increased during aging (p<0.05). The sensory scores for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall acceptability of dry-aged loin muscles increased as the aging period increased. T2 and T3 had significantly higher sensory scores and T1 had significantly lower scores for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall acceptability at 20, 40, and 60 d for loin muscles (p<0.05).
Keywords: Hanwoo beef; dry aging; meat quality; sensory property; storage stability.