Systems for Prolonged Storage of Beef Quarters.

Beef quarters were used in a study which had all combinations of the following treatments: 14 or 21 days storage, with or without PVC film wrapping, with or without NaOCl spraying and with nitrogen atmosphere or ambient air environments. In this study, best results for storing beef quarters 14 days were obtained by using PVC film (with or without NaOCl spraying); best results for storing beef quarters 21 days were obtained from PVC film wrapped (with or without NaOCl spraying) or unprotected quarters (with or without NaOCl spraying). Use of a nitrogen atmosphere did not consistently decrease bacterial counts and did not improve the physical appearance of quarters. Even the best system for protecting beef quarters during 21 days of storage did not result in beef that was desirable in appearance or condition at the conclusion of the storage trial.