Model updating method is used to maintain the hyperspectral models established to predict water content, pH value, and TVB-N content of cold fresh pork. After adding 11 slave variety samples to the calibration set of the master variety samples, the prediction results of the updated model of water content for the slave variety samples were $$ {\text{R}}_{\text{p}}^{ 2} \, = \,0. 8 2 2 4 $$ and RPD = 1.94. After adding 45 slave variety samples, the prediction results of the updated model of pH value for the slave variety samples were $$ {\text{R}}_{\text{p}}^{ 2} \, = \,0. 6 1 60 $$ and RPD = 1.34. After adding 9 slave variety samples, the results of the updated model of TVB-N content for the slave variety samples were $$ {\text{R}}_{\text{p}}^{ 2} \, = \,0. 90 7 3 $$ and RPD = 3.04. The findings show that the model updating method can well maintain the TVB-N content model but shows poor maintenance ability for water content model, and it cannot be used to maintain the pH value model. Therefore, the applicability of the model updating method varies in different detection index models for cold fresh pork.