Relationship between volatile compounds and consumer-based sensory characteristics of bacon smoked with different Brazilian woods.

Bacon is a product made from pork meat that is subjected to curing, drying, and smoking. Researchers aim to associate the worldwide high-acceptance of such a product with the sensory and chemical properties of bacon. In this context, the objective of the present study was to characterize bacon samples smoked with different woods from reforestation using chemical and sensory methodologies, which were subsequently correlated by means of statistical multi-block analysis. Volatile compounds (VCs) of the smoked bacons were studied using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the consumer sensory perception was explored by the Napping technique. VCs were identified in smoked samples, which triggered sensory attributes related to odor, flavor, and texture, such as "smoky flavor", "salty taste", "pleasant taste", "woodsy flavor", and "hard texture". Multi-block analysis showed that the sensory attributes were associated with a group of VCs and not by a single compound.

Descriptive and hedonic sensory perception of Brazilian consumers for smoked bacon.

The descriptive and hedonic sensory perception of bacon manufactured using different smoking processes was studied. Six bacon samples were evaluated: three manufactured with woods, two with liquid smokes, and a commercial bacon. Consumers rated their overall liking (OL) and responded the check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions coupled with ideal profile method (IPM).1 The preliminary result showed that LS2 and Bamboo were the best-rated bacons. However, data analysis indicated two segments of consumers (both n = 50), with significant differences in the OL. The first segment liked fatty and smoked bacons, while the second valued the texture and appearance. The drivers of liking in both segments were the attributes related to texture, juiciness and the smoky aroma. The use of different woods in the bacon smoking process modified the descriptive and hedonic sensory perception of consumers.