A first brine free of salt and phosphate for treating a food product by injection of the brine into the food product. The brine is formed from an emulsion consisting of water, saltless flavoring and protein. The protein is from the same type of food product as the food product being injected with the brine. A second brine especially for ham with the bine being similar to the first brine, but with a low sodium content of a maximum of 0.5% to 1.0% of the weight of the food product. A third brine for pork bellies without phosphate. A fourth brine consisting of only protein from the same type of food product as the food product being injected with the brine and water.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectade into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectade towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectade towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.

A handheld injector is provided for injecting liquid, such as flavoring or basting material, into meat or poultry. The injector includes a pistol-shaped housing which encloses a battery-powered motor for constant-rate delivery of liquid from a peristaltic pump. The injector also includes a fluid conduit within the housing through which liquid is pumped from a reservoir of liquid to a needle for injection into the meat.

The utility model discloses a flavor injector. The flavor injector includes: a shroud tube, a storage tube, a sealing cap, a pushing rod, and a needle connector; wherein one end of the shroud tube is detachably or fixedly connected to the needle connector; the storage tube is sealingly fixed inside the shroud tube via the needle connector and the sealing cap; the sealing cap is provided with a through hole allowing the pushing rod to be pushed or pulled; one end of the pushing rod is passable through the through hole and is disposed inside the storage tube; and one end of the pushing rod extending into the storage tube is provided with a sealing plug that is detachably or fixedly connected thereto. Parts of the flavor injector according to the utility model may be separately cleaned in a detachable fashion, which solves the problem of flavor residues.

A protein composition corresponding to that of a natural pork belly is injected into a green pork belly together with standard pork belly brine. This mixture can be emulsified to facilitate injection into the pork belly. The injected pork belly can be massaged and then allowed to cure for a certain length of time. Thereafter, the pork belly is smoked in a standard manner and then shaped into a rectangular form for slicing into bacon.

The invention relates to an automated station for salting meat pieces in a predetermined manner, enabling a method for salting poultry meat pieces to be automated, thus increasing productivity and thereby improving safety conditions. The station comprises motorised supply means for supplying meat pieces (P) in a forward direction, handling means for handling meat pieces in order to handle the meat piece coming from the supply means, salt supply means configured to provide salt on an inner and outer area of the meat piece (P), as well as a retrieval system for retrieving salt coming from the salt supply means.

In some aspects, the systems and devices described herein relate to an injection needle for injecting fluid into a substrate such as a food product, including: an elongated hollow shank having a center longitudinal axis, an inner shank wall, and an outer shank wall; and a needle tip, including: an injection opening; and a curved end portion extending from the elongated hollow shank and having a radius of curvature, the curved end portion terminating distally in a bottom outer edge and a cutting face extending from the bottom outer edge toward the inner shank wall at a bottom end of the injection opening, wherein the bottom outer edge and the cutting face are in substantially vertical alignment with an axis of a first portion of the inner shank wall extending from a top end of the injection opening.

The present invention relates to an improved meat tenderizing and cooking device for domestic use for the item to be thoroughly cooked from inside and outside. The invention has a fluid reservoir that will be transmitted to inner-parts of the food to be cooked through needles once pressed.

A needle cleaning system that backflushes an inner passage of needles (40) successively with a cleaning solution, such as caustic soda, pressurized air and a washing liquid. The needle cleaning machine has an airtight container (17) closed at the top by a support base (15) with holes (16) where a group of needles (40) are inserted in a position in which an upper portion of the needles, where an inlet opening is located, is outside the airtight container and a lower portion of the needles, where outlet ports are located, is inside the airtight container (17). The container (17) is connected to ducts (19, 21, 23, 25, 27) provided with valves (20, 24, 26, 28) by which the cleaning solution driven by a pump (29), the pressurized air (23) and the washing liquid (25) are supplied to the containers (17).

An apparatus including a timer connected to a housing. The timer includes a time display and a control mechanism for controlling the timer. A pump is inside the housing and connected to the timer. A switch is connected to the timer and to the pump. The switch controls operation of the pump according to a signal received from the timer. A power source is connected to the pump. An inlet tube and an outlet tube are connected to the pump. The inlet tube extends outside the housing through a first housing opening. The outlet tube extends outside the housing through a second housing opening. A manifold is connected to the outlet tube. Hollow needles are connected to the manifold to receive the liquid pumped through the pump, through the outlet tube, and into the manifold.