Which factor does not affect the diffusion rate of curing ingredients into meat products?

• A. Method of application
• B. Pigmentation of the tissue
• C. Size of the piece
• D. Temperature of the curing solution

Answer: (B)

Pigmentation of the tissue does not change how fast curing ingredients move into meat. The diffusion rate is driven by how easily molecules can travel through the tissue, which depends on the temperature (which increases molecular motion and diffusion coefficients), the distance they must travel (the size or thickness of the piece), and how the curing solution contacts the meat (method of application, such as immersion, injection, or surface application). The color of the tissue, determined by pigments like myoglobin, doesn’t alter the diffusion pathways or the mobility of curing molecules, so it doesn’t affect the rate at which curing agents diffuse.