Effects of thymol and rosemary essential oils and red beet extract on low-nitrite and carmine-free beef Mortadella

In the present study, essential oils were used in order to reduce the nitrite in beef Mortadella, and the red beet extract was used instead of carmine. Beef Mortadella samples containing thymol and rosemary essential oils and red beet extract were produced. Chemical, physical, sensorial, and microbiological analyses were performed during the storage period. The antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of nitrite can be achieved by using thymol and rosemary essential oils. Thiobarbituric acid values of nitrite-free samples were found to be higher than nitrite-containing samples. Redness values of samples containing red beet extract and samples containing nitrite were highest. It can be recommended to use rosemary essential oil and red beet extract in reduced-nitrite and carmine-free meat products. The rosemary essential oil was reported to be more acceptable than thymol from sensorial aspect, although thymol has high antimicrobial and antioxidant effects and high phenolic content when compared with rosemary essential oil.