Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of unencapsulated and encapsulated clove (Syzygium aromaticum, L.) essential oil

•The essential oil of clove has strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.•The encapsulation process inhibits the characteristic odor of clove essential oil.•Application of the particles in ground meat products has similar action to nitrite.•Clove essential oil can be new alternative to synthetic food preservatives.