The present disclosure relates to a stirrer for stirring a raw material such as flour or meat. Two rotating shafts are installed inside the stirrer such that stirring blades intersect with each other. The two rotating shafts are controlled to simultaneously rotate symmetrically or to rotate in the same direction, and the stirred raw material is discharged through a side surface of a stirring tank of the stirrer. The rotating shafts having the stirring blades fromed thereon are connected to a driving means that can adjust the phase angle of the two shafts, via a position control device. The raw material is stirred while relative positions are adjusted such that the stirring blades formed on the two rotating shafts do not interfere with each other.

The invention provides methods and devices for heating or cooling viscous materials such as meal emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices include a heat exchanger comprising a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.

The invention provides methods and devices for heating or cooling viscous materials such as meal emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices include a heat exchanger comprising a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.

Provided is an apparatus and a method for producing a mix of a first type of food products and a second type of food products that fulfills at least two target criteria including a desired weight ratio between the first and second type of food products and a lean/fat ratio of the mix. At least three controllable in-feed channels at an in-feed end of a conveyor supply separate streams of the first and second food products. One of the in-feed channels supplies the first type of food products and two of the in-feed channels supply a second type of food products being distinguished via a different lean/fat ratio estimate. The determined weight of food products and the measured lean/fat ratio of the food products are used as operation parameters so that the mix fulfills the at least two target criteria.

Provided is an apparatus and a method for producing a mix of a first type of food products and a second type of food products that fulfills at least two target criteria including a desired weight ratio between the first and second type of food products and a lean/fat ratio of the mix. At least three controllable in-feed channels at an in-feed end of a conveyor supply separate streams of the first and second food products. One of the in-feed channels supplies the first type of food products and two of the in-feed channels supply a second type of food products being distinguished via a different lean/fat ratio estimate. The determined weight of food products and the measured lean/fat ratio of the food products are used as operation parameters so that the mix fulfills the at least two target criteria.

A freezer includes a grinder to obtain a ground meat; a mixer to add fat to the ground meat; a payload bay to receive the ground meat; a plurality of evaporators coupled to the payload bay with a multiplicity of coolant tubes in each evaporator, wherein each tube enters and then exits the payload bay, further comprising one or more cryogenic valves coupled to the coolant tubes; a pump to force coolant flowing through the evaporators; and a processor with code for: chopping the ground meat and during chopping, adding salt and ice to the ground meat being chopped and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the meat being chopped below 5 C. to obtain a chopped meat product; adding fat to the chopped meat product and then chopping the fat and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the chopped meat product and fat being chopped between 1 C. and 10 C. to obtain a chopped meat and fat product, wherein the ground meat, added fat, ice and salt are present in amounts so that the chopped meat and fat product has a fat content of from 1% to 20% by weight based upon the weight of the chopped meat and fat product.

A freezer includes a grinder to obtain a ground meat; a mixer to add fat to the ground meat; a payload bay to receive the ground meat; a plurality of evaporators coupled to the payload bay with a multiplicity of coolant tubes in each evaporator, wherein each tube enters and then exits the payload bay, further comprising one or more cryogenic valves coupled to the coolant tubes; a pump to force coolant flowing through the evaporators; and a processor with code for: chopping the ground meat and during chopping, adding salt and ice to the ground meat being chopped and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the meat being chopped below 5 C. to obtain a chopped meat product; adding fat to the chopped meat product and then chopping the fat and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the chopped meat product and fat being chopped between 1 C. and 10 C. to obtain a chopped meat and fat product, wherein the ground meat, added fat, ice and salt are present in amounts so that the chopped meat and fat product has a fat content of from 1% to 20% by weight based upon the weight of the chopped meat and fat product.

An apparatus for producing protein breakdown on meat material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one tool configured for producing protein breakdown on meat material. The tool forms a mixing chamber for meat material. The mixing chamber has opposite chamber walls rotatable relative to each other for controlling forces exerted on meat material therebetween. A method for producing protein breakdown on meat material and a meat production plant including at least one apparatus are further disclosed.

An apparatus for producing protein breakdown on meat material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one tool configured for producing protein breakdown on meat material. The tool forms a mixing chamber for meat material. The mixing chamber has opposite chamber walls rotatable relative to each other for controlling forces exerted on meat material therebetween. A method for producing protein breakdown on meat material and a meat production plant including at least one apparatus are further disclosed.

A food processor includes a grinder to obtain a ground meat; a mixer to add fat to the ground meat; a payload bay to receive the ground meat; a plurality of evaporators coupled to the payload bay with a multiplicity of coolant tubes in each evaporator, wherein each tube enters and then exits the payload bay, further comprising one or more cryogenic valves coupled to the coolant tubes; a pump to force coolant flowing through the evaporators; and a processor with code for: chopping the ground meat and during chopping, adding salt and ice to the ground meat being chopped and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the meat being chopped below 5 C. to obtain a chopped meat product; adding fat to the chopped meat product and then chopping the fat and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the chopped meat product and fat being chopped between 1 C. and 10 C. to obtain a chopped meat and fat product, wherein the ground meat, added fat, ice and salt are present in amounts so that the chopped meat and fat product has a fat content of from 1% to 20% by weight based upon the weight of the chopped meat and fat product.