Predictive Correlation between Apparent Sensory Properties and the Formation of Heterocyclic Amines in Chicken Breast as a Function of Grilling Temperature and Time

In the present set of experiments, we studied the correlation between the heterocyclic amine (HCA) concentration and the color changes of the chicken breast with or without skin during grilling under open or closed conditions as a function of the applied temperature and time. The concentration of the HCAs formed during grilling was measured by a validated LC–MS/MS method, whereas the color changes were determined either instrumentally or by visual observation. In general, higher temperatures and longer heat treatment times resulted in a more substantial HCA formation, especially on the surface of the samples and in the skin, where the total levels reached 746 ng/g. Results of regression analysis demonstrate a strong correlation (r > 0.7) between the HCA content of the grilled chicken breast and the L* and a* values indicating the significance of brightness and the red parameter of the color scale, respectively. In the case of open grilling, the skinless breast samples showed correlation (r > 0.7) between the HCA content and the color analysis results in both the full sample and the crust, respectively. Breast samples with skin exhibited the same level of correlation when they were grilled closed. In the case of open grilling the breast with skin, and closed-grilling the skinless breast, the linear regression analysis yielded a weaker correlation (0.7 > r > 0.4 or less) between the HCA concentrations and the color. Our results demonstrate that there is a predictive correlation between the color changes perceptible for the consumers and the HCA formation during grilling of chicken breast as a function of time and temperature depending on the type of grilling and the presence of skin.