The aim of the study was to determine the effect of marinating with fermented milk products (buttermilk and sour milk) on the physical characteristics, microbiological quality, and sensory acceptability of Rhode Island Red (RIR) hen meat after the first year of laying use. The hen breast meat was marinated with fermented dairy products, buttermilk and sour milk, by the immersion method for 12 h at 4 °C. The assessed features included the quality of raw and roasted marinated and non-marinated meat in terms of physical characteristics (marinade absorption, water absorption, pH, L*, a*, b* colour, shear strength, texture profile analysis (TPA) test), microbiological parameters, and sensory characteristics. Bacteria were identified by the mass spectrometry method (MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper). Marinating meat with fermented dairy products lightened the colour, decreased the value of shear force, reduced hardness and chewiness, and limited the growth of aerobic bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. Additionally, after heat treatment, the number of identified aerobic bacteria families in the marinated in buttermilk and marinated in sour milk groups was smaller than in the non-marinated muscle group. The sensory evaluation showed a beneficial effect of marinating with buttermilk and sour milk on the tenderness, juiciness, and colour of roasted meat.
Keywords: buttermilk; microbiological quality; old layer hen meat; sensory quality; sour milk.