The effect of heat treatments at different temperatures (80–120 ℃) on carbonyl content, gel strength and waterholding capacity of pork myofibrillar protein gels was examined as well as the effect of medium-temperature sterilization on texture properties of emulsified sausages. The results showed that with increasing sterilization temperature, the structure of heat-induced pork myofibrillar protein gels was damaged more obviously. The texture of sausages was maintained well during sterilization at a temperature lower than 100 ℃ but was substantially damaged when sterilization temperature was higher than 100 ℃. Therefore, sterilization at medium temperature (100 ℃) can effectively maintain the texture of emulsified sausages, having good application prospects in the meat processing industry.