Isolated Soy Protein in Meat Products: Applications, Benefits, and Functional Properties
Isolated soy protein, as a high-quality plant protein, plays a vital role in meat processing. It not only enhances product flavor but also prevents juice separation, improves meat quality, and extends shelf life. In recent years, improving the functional properties of isolated soy protein through various methods, such as enzyme blending, physical and enzyme combined modification, and chemical and enzyme combined modification, has become an important research direction for expanding its application in meat products. Applications in Cut Meat Products Cut meat products mainly refer to large or whole pieces of meat, which are prone to integrity loss during processing. Adding modified isolated soy protein can effectively reduce dehydration shrinkage, improve tissue characteristics, and enhance product quality. For small cuts of meat no more than 6 cm thick, isolated soy protein can be evenly incorporated through tumbling; for larger cuts, injection technology can be used, dissolving mo...