A cutting device for cutting an edible product into several pieces, the cutting device including a base frame, a main receiving area, a main pushing assembly, and a main cutting assembly, for receiving and cutting the edible product into a series of main cuts, via an array of holes, provided by a main cutting interface. The cutting device further includes a preliminary cutting assembly removably mountable about the base frame for first receiving and cutting the edible product into a series of preliminary cuts, via an array of holes provided by a preliminary cutting interface, prior to insertion of the edible product into the main receiving area, wherein the edible product is ultimately cut into a series of pieces resulting from the passage through at least one, and/or both, of the main and preliminary cutting interfaces of the cutting device.

The invention relates to a motorized food-processor apparatus (100) which comprises: a housing (101) containing a drive motor (102) for rotating a shaft (103) about an axis of rotation (115), at least one cutter (104) rotated by the motor about the axis, a cover (106) provided with a supply conduit (107) for the foodstuff, an outlet opening (110) for the cut foodstuff; a guide plate (109) for guiding the cut foodstuff to the outlet opening (110), comprising at least one guide ridge (111), an outlet tool (112) located in the path of the foodstuff towards the outlet opening, and at least one drive unit (114) for driving through the outlet tool.

The outlet tool comprises a series of blades (113) in which, for any pair of adjacent blades, the portions of these two adjacent blades do not have any intersection of their orthogonal projections on a plane that is parallel to the axis of rotation (115) and parallel to the segment formed by the intersection of one of these two blades with a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The manual food processor includes a first shelf configured to receive a blade cartridge. The first shelf includes a first slider configured to selectively retain the blade cartridge at the first shelf. The manual food processor also includes a pair of guide rails extending from the first shelf and a second shelf slidable along the pair of guide rails. The second shelf is configured to receive a pusher block cartridge and includes a second slider configured to selectively retain the pusher block cartridge at the second shelf. The manual food processor also includes a handle mechanism operable to cause the second shelf to slide along the guide rails between an open position and a closed position. The first shelf is spaced apart from the second shelf in the open position, and the pusher block cartridge interfaces with the blade cartridge in the closed position.

Processes for the production of a meat analogue include: a) preparing a meat batter comprising protein by mixing water, raw material of meat and/or meat by-product, and optionally further ingredients, in a mixer, b) conveying the meat batter obtained in step a) by means of a first positive displacement pump to a single heating unit comprising a single scraped surface heat exchanger, c) heating the meat batter in the single heating unit to a temperature above the melting temperature of the protein to produce a heat-treated product, d) transferring the heat-treated product of step c) to a cooling unit by means of a second positive displacement pump, e) cooling the heat-treated product by moving through the cooling unit, so that the heat-treated product reaches a temperature below water boiling temperature at ambient pressure when exiting the cooling unit, and f) dividing the cooled heat-treated product into pieces.

A method and apparatus is provided for assessing the current state of doneness of a cooking food item. In a preferred embodiment, a sharpened hollow tubular cutting member of relatively small diameter is rotationally activated to cut and remove from a cooking food item a cylindrical core sample, preferably throughout its entire thickness, without substantial distortion of the shape of the sample. Upon expulsion from the cutting member, inspection of the core sample permits visual determination of the current state of doneness of the food item.

A method and apparatus is provided for assessing the current state of doneness of a cooking food item. In a preferred embodiment, a sharpened hollow tubular cutting member of relatively small diameter is rotationally activated to cut and remove from a cooking food item a cylindrical core sample, preferably throughout its entire thickness, without substantial distortion of the shape of the sample. Upon expulsion from the cutting member, inspection of the core sample permits visual determination of the current state of doneness of the food item.

An adjustable food cutter that allows to cut food having a predetermined thickness into equal portions having a user selected cubic volume. The adjustable food cutter comprises a male cutter element and a female cutter element each having a U-shaped configuration oppositely slidably engaged relative to one another so as to form a telescopic cutter body. The adjustable food cutter further comprises a telescopic handle connected between opposed longitudinal end portions of an upper edge of the telescopic cutter body. The telescopic cutter body and the telescopic handle are cooperatively movable between a retracted and an extended position.

A deagglomerator for use in resizing masses of cells is disclosed. The deagglomerator may include a plurality of apertures defined by a plurality of front and back edges. The masses of cells may be passed through the plurality of apertures from the front to the back, and from the back to the front, repeatedly. The deagglomerator may also include a plurality of blades that may aid in the deagglomeration of the cell masses. The deagglomerator may be configured between two syringes so that the tissue may be passed back and forth from the first syringe through the device to the second syringe, and then back again from the second syringe through the device and to the first syringe. In this way, the masses of cells may be properly deagglomerated.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.