We did not taste a difference between sheep and lamb – Rome Blad

The experts believe fårestek of taste tends towards cattle and game.

Trials of food research institute Nofima suggests that emotions and attitudes and myths can get in the way of assessing sheep meat objectively. “All” will have autumn lamb, but considerably fewer are willing to put a sauelår in the oven.

Nofima before 90 consumers taste the meat samples of roast from three lambs and three sheep. They were asked to respond to how well they liked the meat and choose which words to describe the taste. Test Panel did not know what kind of meat they got taste.

No ullsmak

No one said that mutton has ullsmak but many gave characteristics as “mild”, “juicy”, “cattle” and “tender” to fåresteken.

– They used the same words to describe both sheep and lambs. Nor were there any differences in how well consumers enjoyed three of lambs and two sheep. The third sheep was slightly worse alike, says Senior Scientist Margrethe Hersleth Nofima said.

Morera and fatter

Professional assessors underwent the same tests. They assessed the lamb to have a more pronounced fårekjøttlukt and be more acidic. Lamb meat is perceived as more tender, but also fatter than fåresteken.

OSLO 20060403: The traditional lamb hang connects far up against half the population with Easter dinner with big P. Here cooked by chef Knut – alias Knut I. Munthe Olsen in Opplysningskontoret for meat. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / Scanpix. (Photo : Solum, Stian Lysberg )

– A little surprising was the that experts wondered if the blind test were served beef as they tasted the sheep’s meat. It was probably much color that did it. Maybe they could see that the meat from sheep is somewhat darker than meat from lamb, says Hersleth.

The professional sensory assessors considered otherwise lame hang as tender, but also somewhat fatter than sheep hang.

In a similar test with meatballs Rated consumers sheep and lambs as well. Nofima summarizes tests there that experts find differences on sheep and lambs, but that these differences are not felt by consumers in blind test.

Insight changes taste

But when you know what you eat, change also taste experience, in line with the attitude you have.

– If we get information that is positive, we tend to like the food better. In tests with true and false information turn this psychological aspect out. It is this that makes us seem an expensive wine tastes better than plonk. We believe that wine is better once it has a high price, says Hersleth.

Happy New

Nofima testing of sheep and lambs are ordered by foods group Nortura, Noting that consumers have low expectations of mutton. They want to utilize this resource better and identify attractive products of sheep.

– We wanted to find out where the problems lie, and if there are large differences in sheep and lambs. The tests from Nofima is good news. This is very much about information and attitudes. It is biased that sheep should taste wool, and perhaps has one marketed lamb so much that it goes beyond the sheep, says project manager Elin Rasten Brunsdon Nortura said.