Isolation of Debaryomyces hansenii and selection of an optimal strain to improve the quality of low-grade beef rump (middle gluteal) during dry aging.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Debaryomyces hansenii isolated from dry-aged beef on the tenderness and flavor attributes of low-grade beef during dry aging.

Methods: Five D. hansenii strains were isolated from dry-aged beef samples. The rump of low-grade beef was inoculated with individual D. hansenii isolates and subjected to dry aging for 4 weeks at 5°C and 75% relative humidity. Microbial contamination levels, meat quality attributes, and flavor attributes in the dry-aged beef were measured.

Results: Of the five isolates, the shear force of dry-aged beef inoculated with SMFM201812-3 and SMFM201905-5 was lower than that of control samples. Meanwhile, all five isolates increased the total free amino acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, alanine, and leucine contents in dry-aged beef. In particular, the total fatty acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid contents in samples inoculated with D. hansenii SMFM201905-5 were higher than those in control samples.

Conclusion: These results indicate that D. hansenii SMFM201905-5 might be used to improve the quality of beef during dry aging.