Abstract: The moisture distribution and key volatile flavor compounds of beef tallow from Qinchuan cattle roasted for different periods were analyzed by low field-nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) spectroscopy and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that the L* value significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the a* and b* values first increased and then decreased with roasting time. The proportion of bound water in beef tallow did not change significantly (P > 0.05), while the proportion of immobile water first increased and then decreased, and the proportion of free water showed an overall downward trend (P > 0.05). The relaxation time T23 and T24 showed a significant decreasing trend as roasting time increased (P < 0.05), indicating that the binding between water molecules and macromolecular substances such as protein and lipid became tighter. Beef tallow samples roasted for different periods could be effectively distinguished by electronic nose and the roasting process had a significant effect on the contents of alcohols, aromatic compounds, terpenes, and organic sulfur compounds in beef tallow according to principal component analysis (PCA) of the electronic nose data. A total of 95 volatile compounds were identified in all samples. The contents of 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-octene-3-ol, hexanal, nonanal, acetic acid, nonanoic acid, and acetamide were relatively higher in each sample, whereas ketones, heterocycles and amine compounds occurred mostly in the later stages of roasting. In total 19 key aroma components were identified based on odor activity value (OAV) and most of the substances have the largest OAV at 12 min of roasting.

Key words: Qinchuan cattle; beef tallow; low field-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; electronic nose; moisture migration; volatile flavor compounds; odor activity value