The present invention relates to the use of lactic acid bacteria strains and compositions comprising these strains for manufacturing cooked meat with improved properties. These strains and compositions are particularly suitable for manufacture of cooked ham, frankfurter sausages and mortadella.

Moisture is retained in cooked or thawed food by adding to the food an aqueous suspension of animal muscle protein obtained from animal muscle tissue. The aqueous suspension is obtained by mixing comminuted animal muscle tissue with a food grade base to form an aqueous basic solution of animal muscle protein. The basic solution is mixed with a food grade acid to precipitate the protein in an aqueous composition. The precipitated protein then is comminuted to form an aqueous suspension of comminuted animal muscle protein.

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.

The invention relates to a device and a method that can be carried out using said device, for producing meat products using pieces of raw meat that are joined together and subsequently cooked and/or that absorb a liquid composition. The device has working surfaces that encompass an inner volume, at least one of said working surfaces having a drive for back-and-forth motion and for pressing the at least one working surface against pieces of raw meat situated in the inner volume that is encompassed by the working surfaces.

A method for preparing meat jerky is provided. A whole slab of raw meat is sliced into multiple whole, single slices of meat. A marinade is prepared including dark brown sugar, liquid smoke, worcestershire sauce, clover honey, a hot sauce, and a teriyaki sauce. The whole, single slices of meat are marinated for a predetermined amount of time and temperature in a refrigerator. The marinated whole, single slices of meat are flavored with one of multiple flavoring agents, for example, black pepper, cayenne pepper, jalapeno pepper, sriracha, lemon pepper, garlic, herbs, a barbeque spice blend powder, etc., to obtain the corresponding flavoring agent flavor. The marinated and flavored whole, single slices of meat are cooked in a cooking appliance at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time. The cooked whole, single slices of meat are then cooled to room temperature to produce whole, single slices of meat jerky.

A modular device for introducing an edible fluid to a food product includes a dispenser body having a cartridge receiving cavity associated therewith. A dispenser base is coupled or coupleable to the dispenser body, and a dispenser tip is coupled or coupleable to the dispenser base and is in fluid communication with the cartridge receiving cavity when in place. An actuatable piston is operably coupled to the dispenser body in communication with the cartridge receiving cavity. An insertable and removable cartridge is carriable by the dispenser body in the cartridge receiving cavity, and is positionable so as to be in communication with the actuatable piston. An edible fluid is carried by the cartridge, the edible fluid being dispensable to a food product through the dispenser tip when in place as the actuatable piston is actuated to cause the edible fluid to be expelled from the cartridge through the dispensing tip.

Moisture is retained in cooked or thawed food by adding to the food an aqueous suspension of animal muscle protein obtained from animal muscle tissue. The aqueous suspension is obtained by mixing comminuted animal muscle tissue with a food grade base to form an aqueous basic solution of animal muscle protein. The basic solution is mixed with a food grade acid to precipitate the protein in an aqueous composition. The precipitated protein then is comminuted to form an aqueous suspension of comminuted animal muscle protein.