Composition of Cooked Pork Chops: Effect of Removing Subcutaneous Fat Before Cooking

Conventionally trimmed (0.6 cm) and completely trimmed (0 cm) prok chops were used to evaluate the effect of removing subcutaneous fat on lipid retention during broiling of pork. Composition of the lean portion of cooked chops was not affected by removal of external fat before cooking. Conventional chops contained 4.4% either extractable lipid and completely trimed chops contained 4.3%. Lipid retention was also the same at 94–99%. Recovery of moisture, protein, and lipid was 98–99%, using ether extraction or chloroform:methanol extraction. Therefore, the concept of lipid migration during cooking was not a tenable explanation for reports of lipid retention exceeding 100% during broiling of pork chops typical of those available to consumers.