An apparatus and method for accelerating food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.

A molding and cooking apparatus for pieces of stuffed product such as cooked hams, which includes one or more molding cavities long enough so that more than one piece of stuffed product can be introduced in the same molding cavity, inserting separators which help to shape the ends of the pieces of vacuum stuffed product, both ends of the cavities are open and are sealed during product cooking, which permits a quick discharge of the already cooked and cooled pieces when the cavities bottoms are unsealed, and permits the product to fall because of gravity onto a collecting tray, likewise a procedure is revealed on the efficient use of this apparatus herein disclosed.

A system and method for manufacturing and processing a food product, such as forming, cooking, transporting, and slicing. The food product includes an elongated body having a generally D-shaped cross section. Additionally, the system includes a buffering and equilibrating apparatus which compensates for a difference in cycle times between the cooking system and the slicing system.

A frozen, microwaveable, coated food product that includes: a core of cooked edible material having a weight equal to 15-95 wt % of the food product, a fried coating that envelops the core of edible material and having weight equal to 5-85 wt % of the food product, the coating being formed from at least four coating layers, including successively: a primary aqueous coating, a bonding crumb layer and a coating crumb layer; a secondary aqueous coating layer. The secondary aqueous coating layer separates the bonding crumb layer from the coating crumb layer. The primary and secondary coatings are not flour containing batter compositions and both the bonding crumb layer and the coating crumb layer include a milled farinaceous dough extrudate containing 0.05-5 w. % of added hydrocolloid.

A method of preparing a frozen, microwaveable, coated food product that includes the successive steps of: providing a portion of a solid or solidified substrate; preparing a breaded portion comprising the portion of substrate and a crumb-based coating by the steps of: coating the portion with a first aqueous coating liquid to form a primary coated portion; applying a coating of bonding crumb to the primary coated portion to form a bonding crumb coated portion; applying a second aqueous coating liquid to the bonding crumb coated portion to form a secondary coated portion; applying a coating of coating crumb to the secondary coated portion to form a breaded portion; frying the breaded portion by contacting said breaded portion for at least 100 seconds with hot oil having a temperature of at least 150 C.; and freezing the fried coated portion.

Mixtures and liquid compositions containing the mixtures are provided for treating a food product, especially a meat product. The mixtures can include a soluble fiber and an insoluble fiber, optionally including an ascorbic acid source. The soluble fiber can be a psyllium husk. The insoluble fiber can be a citrus fiber. The ascorbic acid source can be any source high in ascorbic acid, e.g. a citrus juice powder. Methods of treating a food product using the mixtures and liquid compositions are also provided. Treated food products are further provided. The treated food product can be a beef, poultry, pork, fish, or a combination thereof The food product can include an effective amount of the mixture or liquid composition to increase the shelf life of the food product, e.g. by increasing the water holding capacity of the food product and/or decreasing the discoloration of the food product.

A frozen, microwaveable, coated food product that includes: a core of cooked edible material having a weight equal to 15-95 wt % of the food product; and a fried coating that envelops the core of edible material and having weight equal to 5-85 wt % of the food product, the coating being formed from at least four coating layers, including successively; a primary aqueous coating, a bonding crumb layer, a secondary aqueous coating and a coating crumb layer. The primary aqueous coating and the secondary aqueous coating contain less than 10 wt % flour, preferably 5 wt % flour, by weight of dry matter and at least 10% cellulose ether by weight of dry matter.

A process for continuously producing a plurality of fully cooked, cured and battered frank products such as mini corndogs on a single production line is provided. The process comprises fully cooking the frank products after they have been battered.

Microwavable crispy wrapped or enrobed foods that have a crispy exterior texture and retain moisture in an interior filling after microwaving. The crispy exterior is formed from a batter that may comprise soft wheat cake flour, oxidized tapioca starch, and rice flour. The wrapped or enrobed foods may be cooked, frozen, and reheated in the microwave to produce a crispy product.

Compositions and methods that enhance tenderness in meat by reducing muscle contraction and rigor mortis following slaughter are disclosed. The compositions are natural products, including organic acids and polyphenols derived from natural sources, and derivatives and salts thereof.