Methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing irregular pieces 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 a low-phosphate solution and/or a low-salt solution and cooking the combination to produce whole muscle meat logs. Once the whole muscle meat has been cooked, the meat may be pulled, shredded, or sliced on a variety of pulling, shredding, and slicing equipment to create a home-style meat product with an irregular appearance.

A meat smoker/cooker device includes a fuel chamber having a fuel chamber structure which includes a fuel chamber sidewall that defines a fuel chamber cavity, wherein the fuel chamber sidewall includes a first mounting hole, a second mounting hole and a sidewall slot communicated with the chamber cavity. Additionally, the meat smoker device also includes a fuel container having a container rim and being located within the chamber cavity proximate the slot bottom and an ignition article having an ignition article handle, an ignition article mounting structure and a heating element, wherein the ignition article handle includes a handle portion movably located within the sidewall slot and wherein the ignition article mounting structure is configured to mountingly engage with the first and second mounting hole, such that the ignition article is configurable between a first and second configuration.

The disclosed embodiments provide a temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker that enables users to better control the cooking and smoking temperature relative to previous solutions. In some embodiments, for example, a user may place a divider in the interior of a fuel basket to coarsely adjust the amount and type of solid fuel used to heat a food-cooking enclosure of the temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker. In addition, the user can also position a heat deflector tent above one or more heat transfer openings in a grease tray to further adjust the cooking and smoking temperature. Further still, the user can provide even finer control (including closed-loop control) over the cooking and smoking temperature using a controller that controls the speed of a fan that directs combustion air into the fuel basket.

The disclosed embodiments provide a temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker that enables users to better control the cooking and smoking temperature relative to previous solutions. In some embodiments, for example, a user may place a divider in the interior of a fuel basket to coarsely adjust the amount and type of solid fuel used to heat a food-cooking enclosure of the temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker. In addition, the user can also position a heat deflector tent above one or more heat transfer openings in a grease tray to further adjust the cooking and smoking temperature. Further still, the user can provide even finer control (including closed-loop control) over the cooking and smoking temperature using a controller that controls the speed of a fan that directs combustion air into the fuel basket.

Provided is a grill apparatus having an elongated base assembly coupled to a firebox assembly. The base assembly includes a lid with a handle, where the lid is pivotally coupled to a base along the length of the base assembly. The base has a bottom, and a hole in a side portion that is adapted to accept an exhaust piping assembly, while the bottom of the base has a hole that substantially accommodate a fire box assembly. The firebox assembly is coupled to the base assembly and includes a firebox and at least one vent. A removable shield separates the firebox assembly from the base assembly. The shield is slightly larger than the hole in the base in at least one dimension, such that as the shield rests on the base above the hole in the base, a gap is left that allows heat and air to flow from the firebox into the base assembly.

Provided is a grill apparatus having an elongated base assembly coupled to a firebox assembly. The base assembly includes a lid with a handle, where the lid is pivotally coupled to a base along the length of the base assembly. The base has a bottom, and a hole in a side portion that is adapted to accept an exhaust piping assembly, while the bottom of the base has a hole that substantially accommodate a fire box assembly. The firebox assembly is coupled to the base assembly and includes a firebox and at least one vent. A removable shield separates the firebox assembly from the base assembly. The shield is slightly larger than the hole in the base in at least one dimension, such that as the shield rests on the base above the hole in the base, a gap is left that allows heat and air to flow from the firebox into the base assembly.

A system and method for refrigerated smoking items is described herein. For example, a refrigerated smoker may contain a smoke generator configured to generate smoke at a first temperature. In some examples, a first end of the smoke generator may be coupled to a first end of a heat exchanger configured to receive the smoke from the smoke generator. In some examples, the refrigerated smoker may further comprise a refrigerated smoking chamber coupled to a second end of the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerated smoking chamber may receive, from the heat exchanger, the smoke at the second temperature. The refrigerated smoking chamber may be capable of receiving one or more products, such as food items, such that when products are placed in the refrigerated smoking chamber, they may be exposed to the smoke at the second temperature.

A system and method for refrigerated smoking items is described herein. For example, a refrigerated smoker may contain a smoke generator configured to generate smoke at a first temperature. In some examples, a first end of the smoke generator may be coupled to a first end of a heat exchanger configured to receive the smoke from the smoke generator. In some examples, the refrigerated smoker may further comprise a refrigerated smoking chamber coupled to a second end of the heat exchanger, such that the refrigerated smoking chamber may receive, from the heat exchanger, the smoke at the second temperature. The refrigerated smoking chamber may be capable of receiving one or more products, such as food items, such that when products are placed in the refrigerated smoking chamber, they may be exposed to the smoke at the second temperature.

A grilling appliance includes: a lower housing including a cooking surface; a lid overlying and spaced from the cooking surface to define a cooking cavity; a heating element positioned to heat the cooking surface; a power source operatively connected with the heating element; and a flavor-infusion module attached to at least one of the lower housing and the lid. The flavor-infusion module comprises: a smoke generation chamber; and a flavor-infusion conduit fluidly connected between the smoke generation chamber and the cooking cavity.

A grilling appliance includes: a lower housing including a cooking surface; a lid overlying and spaced from the cooking surface to define a cooking cavity; a heating element positioned to heat the cooking surface; a power source operatively connected with the heating element; and a flavor-infusion module attached to at least one of the lower housing and the lid. The flavor-infusion module comprises: a smoke generation chamber; and a flavor-infusion conduit fluidly connected between the smoke generation chamber and the cooking cavity.