An article includes a mixture release component defining a mixture release volume and also includes a heated mixture located within the mixture release volume. The heated mixture includes undenatured meat protein and water condensed from steam. A mixture release opening is included at an outlet end of the mixture release volume and this mixture release opening defines a passage from the mixture release volume to a vacuum chamber volume defined by a vacuum chamber. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber volume. The steam from which the water has condensed comprises steam that has been placed in direct contact with a stream of undenatured meat protein in a direct steam injector having a mixture outlet operatively connected to the mixture release component.

There is disclosed a super critical hydrolysis extraction apparatus including a pressure container comprising a body and a lid coupled to the body to close a space formed therein to accommodate an object; a contact unit configured to open and close the body, while moving the lid forward and backward; and a pipeline unit comprising a supply line where a liquid for filling in the pressure container and a discharge line for discharging the liquid of the pressure container.

A heating medium injector includes an injector structure defining a heating medium flow path and a product flow path. The heating medium flow path extends to a contact location, while the product flow path also extends to the contact location. The contact location comprises a location at which the heating medium flow path and product flow path merge within the injector. A mixture flow path is defined within the injector structure between the contact location and an injector outlet of the injector structure and is defined at least in part by a mixture flow path outer surface comprising a mixture flow path wall. A cooling structure extends along both a product flow path boundary wall and the mixture flow path wall so as to traverse a plane extending transverse to the foodstuff flow path at the contact location.

When a food processing vessel under vacuum is repressurized, the tendency of product in the vessel to be forced into feed lines is relieved or overcome by establishing an effectively high pressure in the feed lines.

Provided is a method for producing meat-based dried food that is to be reconstituted by pouring hot or cold water thereto before eating, comprising: a step of processing a meat raw material or meat-based food with superheated steam; a step of freezing the meat raw material or meat-based food processed with superheated steam; and a step of drying the frozen meat material or meat-based food under reduced pressure. It is possible to reconstitute the dried food produced by the production method in a short time of about 3 to 5 minutes even if the dried food is thick.

An article includes a heating medium injector, a mixture flow path, and a vacuum chamber. The heating medium injector has a heating medium path connected to receive a heating medium such as steam and a product path connected to receive undenatured meat protein. The heating medium injector also includes a mixing structure and a mixture outlet. The mixing structure comprises a structure within the heating medium injector at which the heating medium path and product path merge and the mixture outlet is connected to receive material from the mixing structure. The mixture flow path defines a mixture flow path volume and is connected at one end to the mixture outlet of the heating medium injector and at the opposite end to the vacuum chamber. Undenatured meat protein is contained within the vacuum chamber outside of the mixture flow path volume.

A process for producing a protein product for addition to raw meat wherein the source of the protein product is animal muscle or mechanically deboned meat. The animal muscle tissue is homogenized. Protein in the homogenate is solubilized. Solubilized homogenate is heated to a temperature required for pasteurization and/or sterilization according to known standards. The homogenate is then optionally adjusted to a value at which the protein precipitates. The protein product of the present invention is free of bacteria and toxins and can be used as meat or added to raw meat for delivery to a consumer as uncooked meat.

The continuous pasteurization system (100) that pasteurizes raw food products (104) while substantially maintaining the raw state of the raw food products includes a conveyor (102) on which the raw food products (104) are loaded for delivery to a pasteurization apparatus 36, wherein the raw food products are quickly heated so that the temperature of the outer surface of the raw food products is raised sufficiently to achieve a desired pathogen kill level. Thereafter, the raw food products (104) are immediately cooled in a cooling apparatus (110) to remove the heat applied to the raw food product and maintain the substantial raw state of the raw food product. A control system (24) is connected to a processor (30) as well as various measuring devices and instruments, including temperature measurement devices (T.sub.1-T.sub.5) to control the operation of the pasteurization system (100).

A system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum source, and a mixture flow path adapted to be connected to receive the output of a direct steam injector. The vacuum source is operatively connected to a vacuum port of the vacuum chamber, while a product outlet port from the vacuum chamber is adapted to be connected to an arrangement for removing treated product from the vacuum chamber. The mixture flow path includes a flow path segment outside of the vacuum chamber volume and a flow path segment within the vacuum chamber volume. At least some of a surface defining the flow path segment within the vacuum chamber is in substantial thermal communication with one or more cooling structures.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a food processing system that allows processed food that is sterilized and has a good texture to be identically provided on a large production scale. The food processing system is provided with: a heating unit equipped with a heating mechanism for indirectly heating food; a cooling unit equipped with a cooling mechanism for cooling the food heated by the heating unit; and a transfer unit for transferring the food through the heating unit and the cooling unit. The integrated food processing system according to the present invention allows a large amount of sterilized food having a good texture, good taste and long shelf life to be provided.