Method for improving the qualities of meat

摘要

A method for improving the qualities of meat which comprises treating a meat piece with an ester represented by the following formula (1): wherein one of R<1> and R<2> represents a saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acid residue having 2 to 24 carbon atoms while the other represents a dicarboxylic acid residue; a meat piece which has been treated by this method, and a composition comprising the ester and a protease are disclosed. By treating a meat (for example, cattle meat, fowl meat) in accordance with the method of the present invention, a meat piece having a tender texture and a high juiciness can be obtained, in particular, in the case of a meat piece of a certain size or larger or minced meat.