Magnetic resonance imaging and relaxation analysis to predict noninvasively and nondestructively salt-to-moisture ratios in dry-cured meat

The current systems are unable to control and predict the cured meat composition nondestructively and in a reasonable time for production needs. In this work, T1 and T2 maps were obtained, with a monoexponential model, on internal sections of Longissimus dorsi muscle at increasing salting times. The maps allow one to visualize the salting process nondestructively and noninvasively. The method goes beyond the simple qualitative visualization, because, for each section of the sample and in any region of the section, it is possible to obtain quantitative information on the progress of salting and to predict salt-to-moisture ratios. In addition, detailed relaxation measurements were performed on samples cored after imaging in order to define better the relaxation properties of the dry-cured meat.