A method for preparing meat jerky comprises (a) cooking the meat in an aqueous salt solution; (b) shredding a meat into shredded meat; (c) marinating the shredded meat with an aqueous solution of acid and salt; (d) shredding the shredded meat a second time to form a twice shredded meat; and (e) drying the twice shredded meat. A meat jerky that is at least one of crisp, crunchy, or friable is also disclosed, and can be prepared by the method.

The present invention provides a process for the production of a meat analogue, comprising the steps of: a) introducing a meat batter comprising i) animal protein other than egg powder, ii) plant fiber and/or starch, and iii) egg powder, into a heating unit and heating the meat batter to a temperature above the melting point of the protein to produce a heat-treated product, b) cooling the heat-treated product by moving through a cooling unit, so that the heat-treated product has a temperature below water boiling temperature at ambient pressure when exiting the cooling unit, and c) dividing the cooled heat-treated product into pieces.

The present invention provides a process for the production of a meat analogue, comprising the steps of: a) introducing a meat batter comprising i) animal protein other than egg powder, ii) plant fiber and/or starch, and iii) egg powder, into a heating unit and heating the meat batter to a temperature above the melting point of the protein to produce a heat-treated product, b) cooling the heat-treated product by moving through a cooling unit, so that the heat-treated product has a temperature below water boiling temperature at ambient pressure when exiting the cooling unit, and c) dividing the cooled heat-treated product into pieces.

The present invention relates to the creation of meat-analogs, including bacon or jerky. The present invention further can relate to the use of hydrocolloid gels or films as structural components of meat analog food products. Hydrocolloid gels or films are used in order to improve the similarity of meat analog food products to whole muscle cuts of meat and seafood, including animal sourced bacon.

The proposed invention includes an extruder apparatus (1) for a minced meat product with a distribution chamber (10) provided with an inlet opening (11) and with multiple outlet openings (12) of identical section, each one in communication with an extruder head (50) through a distribution duct (40) to produce the extrusion on a conveyor surface (2) movable through an air treatment unit (60), wherein each extruder head is connected to one of the distribution ducts and comprises a cutting device including a plunger inserted in the extruder head movable from an extruding position, in which the plunger does not interfere with the connection with the distribution duct, to a cutting position in which the plunger completely blocks said connection and in which the plunger reaches or goes beyond an extruding opening of the duct to eject all of the extruded meat product from the interior of the duct.

The proposed invention includes an extruder apparatus (1) for a minced meat product with a distribution chamber (10) provided with an inlet opening (11) and with multiple outlet openings (12) of identical section, each one in communication with an extruder head (50) through a distribution duct (40) to produce the extrusion on a conveyor surface (2) movable through an air treatment unit (60), wherein each extruder head is connected to one of the distribution ducts and comprises a cutting device including a plunger inserted in the extruder head movable from an extruding position, in which the plunger does not interfere with the connection with the distribution duct, to a cutting position in which the plunger completely blocks said connection and in which the plunger reaches or goes beyond an extruding opening of the duct to eject all of the extruded meat product from the interior of the duct.

Animal muscle portions are treated to form an enhanced muscle portion by providing a comminuted meat emulsion made from a first animal muscle tissue and having a pH of from about 6.5 to about 9.5, and adding the emulsion to an animal muscle portion in a manner that promotes uptake and/or distribution of the emulsion into the animal muscle portion to form an enhanced muscle portion. In an aspect, at least about 70% by weight of the protein of the tissue in the emulsion is solubilized, and the protein is not isolated from the tissue. In an aspect, no more than about 30% by weight of the protein of the tissue is precipitated. In an aspect, the tissue is not exposed to acid in a manner that would cause the pH of the tissue to be less than about 5.3. Products prepared by the processes are also described.

Animal muscle portions are treated to form an enhanced muscle portion by providing a comminuted meat emulsion made from a first animal muscle tissue and having a pH of from about 6.5 to about 9.5, and adding the emulsion to an animal muscle portion in a manner that promotes uptake and/or distribution of the emulsion into the animal muscle portion to form an enhanced muscle portion. In an aspect, at least about 70% by weight of the protein of the tissue in the emulsion is solubilized, and the protein is not isolated from the tissue. In an aspect, no more than about 30% by weight of the protein of the tissue is precipitated. In an aspect, the tissue is not exposed to acid in a manner that would cause the pH of the tissue to be less than about 5.3. Products prepared by the processes are also described.

A method of producing raw, boneless and rindless cured meats with a short maturation is described, comprising a phase of receiving the raw material in the fresh state on the production line, a dry salting phase, a vacuum packing phase of the salted product, a resting phase of the vacuum-packed product in a salting cell, a filling phase of the anatomical piece in natural or artificial casing, after eliminating the vacuum bag, a cold resting phase of the bagged and tied product, a drying phase, a phase of seasoning of the product, a phase of washing the product from seasoning molds, peeling it and putting it into vacuum bags, and an optional aging phase; a bagged product, bresaola, made with this method and its plant is also described.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing irregular slices of meat from meat products. Further, a method of mass-producing a home-style meat product with an irregular appearance includes combining whole muscle meat with a mixture having no phosphates and a limited amount of salt. Further, the whole muscle meat mixture is loosely stuffed into casings such that void space is permitted between the individual whole muscles. Once the whole muscle meat has been cooked and cooled, the meat may be sliced on a variety of slicing equipment to create a home-style meat product with an irregular appearance.