A system for producing food product may include an inner tube configured to extrude a first component, and an outer tube provided about the inner tube to define an annular space through which a second component is extruded, the inner and outer tubes (alone or in conjunction with a nozzle or other extrusion mechanism defining an outlet. Additionally, a collagen head can be configured to apply a layer of collagen gel over the second component. The inner and outer tubes are sized, and flow rate may be configured such that an initial diameter of the first component exiting the outlet is substantially smaller than a final diameter of the first component, and an initial thickness of the second component exiting the outlet is substantially greater than a final thickness of the second component.

A system for producing food products may include an inner tube configured to extrude a first component, and an outer tube provided about the inner tube to define an annular space through which a second component is extruded, the inner and outer tubes (alone or in conjunction with a nozzle or other extrusion mechanism defining an outlet. Additionally, a collagen head can be configured to apply a layer of collagen gel over the second component. The inner and outer tubes are sized, and flow rate may be configured such that an initial diameter of the first component exiting the outlet is substantially smaller than a final diameter of the first component, and an initial thickness of the second component exiting the outlet is substantially greater than a final thickness of the second component.

A food product composition similar to foie gras includes a non-fattened duck liver and duck skin mixed with a plurality of ingredients in the following amounts per 2 pounds of non-fattened duck liver and duck skin placed in the bag: 0.2 pounds of white wine; 0.04 pounds of salt; 0.005 pounds of white pepper; 0.005 pounds of sugar; and 0.5 grams of nutmeg. The method for making the food product composition results in a food composition that closely mimics the flavor of traditional foie gras.

An essentially carbohydrate-free, protein-based flour substitute and methods for preparing the same are disclosed herein. The flour substitute may be used to make pizza crusts, chips, taco shells, tortillas, crackers, sandwich thins, and other food products that are traditionally flour-based. The organoleptic properties of the disclosed flour substitute preferably resemble the organoleptic properties of traditional baked goods and are substantially different from the organoleptic properties of traditional meat products. The disclosed flour substitute comprises a meat or nut flour, a flavor-masking spice, salt, and a vegetable oil, fruit oil, or plant-based oil or an oil-based spray. The disclosed flour substitute is used to make substitute food products that preferably resemble, in both appearance and taste, traditional food products that the substitute food products are replacing. The flour substitute is preferably fiber-free and does not contain any other non-digestible carbohydrates. Methods of preparing the disclosed flour substitute are also disclosed herein.

Various aspects of this disclosure relate to flours that comprise ground meat powder, which may be used as a flour substitute in baked goods. The flours generally comprise a water activity of less than 0.65 at room temperature and a minimal fat content such as less than 25 percent fat by mass, which synergistically inhibit the ground meat powder from clumping and cohering. The ground meat powders may be prepared, for example, by trimming fat from meat, cooking and dehydrating the meat, and then grinding the lean, dehydrated meat into a powder.

A cold forming process for forming a meat patty includes heating a ground meat product to a temperature T.sub.1, wherein T.sub.140 F. The ground meat product is formed into an uncooked patty at temperature T.sub.1. The uncooked patty is precooked to form a precooked patty having a skin of depth D comprising denatured protein. The skin is formed on at least an area on the outside of the precooked patty. At least a first portion of the meat product disposed beneath said skin is at approximately T.sub.1. The precooked patty is cooked to form a cooked patty, wherein said at least a first portion of the meat product is at a temperature T.sub.2. The cooked patty is then frozen and then packaged.

A meat-containing puffed pellet, a meat-containing puffed food prepared therefrom, and a preparation method for such are described. The method includes feeding meat into a meat grinder and sequentially passing the meat through a first orifice plate, a double-sided reamer, and a second orifice plate of the meat grinder to obtain minced meat. Thereafter, the minced meat may be fed to an emulsification apparatus for emulsification to obtain emulsified meat, which may then be mixed with grain to form a mixture. The mixture may be feed into an extrusion apparatus for extrusion to obtain meat-containing puffed pellet. The prepared puffed pellet has a high meat content (for example, 42 wt. % or more), uniform distribution, and a loose texture, and it is suitable for subsequent pressure-molding to prepare the puffed food with high meat content and crispy texture.

Refined poultry fat comprising less than about 300 ppm of minerals and metals, wherein the refined poultry fat is resistant to bacterial growth when challenged with a bacterial species. The refined poultry fat is prepared from rendered poultry fat by a process comprising introducing moisture into the rendered poultry fat product to form a hydrated poultry fat product; (b) agitating and heating the hydrated poultry fat product such that droplets of water are dispersed throughout and coalesce with water-soluble impurities and/or particulate impurities in the hydrated poultry fat product to form a plurality of water-laden particles; and (c) removing the plurality of water-laden particles. The refined poultry fat can be used as an ingredient in the animal food industry, or can be used in the renewable energy industry.

A sausage formulation, characterized in that it comprises: Corn starch (20-30%), Modified corn starch (20-30%), Water (30-40%), Animal protein (20-30%), Salt (1-3%), Preservative (1-3%).

Methods and devices heat or cool viscous materials, such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices have a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.