Abstract: In order to determine a more suitable method for mutton preservation, the effects of superchilling and icetemperature combined with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were comparatively explored on mutton quality. This experiment examined changes in pH, total volatile base-nitrogen (TVB-N), total bacterial count (TBC) and drip loss rate of mutton subjected to ordinary packaging and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP, 75% O2 + 25% CO2) during storage under superchilling (−3 ℃) and ice-temperature (−1 ℃) conditions. The results showed that compared with ice temperature storage, superchilling allowed better control of TBC and TVB-N in MAP packaged mutton and delayed the increase in pH, but it resulted in a four–five-fold increase in drip loss rate. At the same storage temperature, MAP treatment maintained mutton color better, inhibited bacterial growth and prolonged the shelf life by 10 days during storage compared with ordinary packaging. Taken together, the quality of MAP packaged mutton was maintained best, for up to 40 days, during superchilling storage. After this storage period, TBC was 5.79 (lg(CFU/g)), which was within the range of the national standard (≤6 (lg(CFU/g))), TVB-N value was 14.47 mg/100 g, which met the requirement for first-grade fresh meat according to the national standard (≤15 mg/100 g), and pH was 5.84, which met the requirement for first-grade fresh meat according to National Standard (pH 5.18-6.12).

Key words: mutton, preservation, ice-temperature, superchilling, modified atmosphere packaging