Release agent compositions for treating food netting include hydrophilic (e.g., acidic) and hydrophobic (e.g., surface active amphiphilic modifier, oil) components that both enhance the releasability of a food product from the treated netting material. The acid of the release agent composition denatures proteins along an outer surface of the food article, forming a skin of insolubilized proteins between the netting material and the remainder of the food product. This protein skin, along with the oil, if present, and a surface active amphiphilic modifier of the release agent, inhibit absorption and/or adsorption of hydrophilic food proteins from the food product into or onto the netting, which inhibits strong mechanical binding between the netting and the food product. Subsequent release of the netting from the food product is relatively easy, without damaging the food product itself. Related articles and methods are also disclosed.

A cutting tool for cutting netting used for encasing meat products comprises a blade and a guard. A control circuit is electrically connected to the blade, and configured to maintain the temperature of the blade at a cutting temperature in the range of 300° C. to 500° C. The guard defines an interior cavity surrounding the blade and further comprises a slot exposing a portion of the blade. The guarding is further shaped to define a funnel at a distal end of the cutting tool leading to the slot such that in use the funnel guides a netting to be cut towards the blade. The cutting tool may be provided as a hand tool or in a bench mounted form.

A shrinkable food preparation product used for cooking layered or rolled meat products such as cooked ham has improved characteristic for squeezing the meat.

The present disclosure relates to packaging equipment for continuous automatic net sleeving of a casing, a shirring machine and a packaging method. The packaging equipment is provided with a shuttle; a first gripper, capable of being opened or closed to release or clamp and fix the shuttle; a second gripper, capable of driving an open end of the net bag to make reciprocating motion between a first position and a second position on the shuttle when being closed, and capable of allowing the net bag to move freely in a net bag conveying direction when being opened; a third gripper, configured to clamp the open end of the net bag and pull the net bag to sleeve a whole shirred casing in a penetrating mode; and a fourth gripper, configured to pull the net bag, and designed to be capable of moving with the third gripper.

The present disclosure relates to packaging equipment for continuous automatic net sleeving of a casing, a shirring machine and a packaging method. The packaging equipment is provided with a shuttle; a first gripper, capable of being opened or closed to release or clamp and fix the shuttle; a second gripper, capable of driving an open end of the net bag to make reciprocating motion between a first position and a second position on the shuttle when being closed, and capable of allowing the net bag to move freely in a net bag conveying direction when being opened; a third gripper, configured to clamp the open end of the net bag and pull the net bag to sleeve a whole shirred casing in a penetrating mode; and a fourth gripper, configured to pull the net bag, and designed to be capable of moving with the third gripper.

An improved tubular openwork fabric or net for food products, the openwork fabric including a plurality of filament assemblies. Each filament assembly is formed from one or more filaments and the filament assemblies are knitted as alternating conjoined and intermediate members. Each intermediate member includes a single filament assembly and each conjoined member includes a pair of filament assemblies that are worked together. The openwork fabric further includes an extension limiting member to limit a longitudinal extension of the openwork fabric.

An improved tubular openwork fabric or net for food products, the openwork fabric including alternating cojoined and intermediate members, each intermediate member including a filament assembly and each cojoined member including a pair of filament assemblies that are worked together, the filament assemblies being extensible and the open work fabric being extensible in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

Provided is a netted food casing, which prevents a net from being easily separated from a nonwoven fabric, can inhibit inclusion of foreign substances, and is used as an inexpensive packing material. A netted food casing (X) includes a nonwoven fabric (1) and a net (2). The nonwoven fabric (1) includes a thermoplastic synthetic fiber, and the net (2) includes one of a thermoplastic resin and a thermoplastic synthetic fiber. The nonwoven fabric (1) and the net (2) are thermally laminated to form the netted food casing (X).

An improved tubular openwork fabric or net for food products, the openwork fabric including a plurality of filament assemblies. Each filament assembly is formed from one or more filaments and the filament assemblies are knitted as alternating cojoined and intermediate members. Each intermediate member includes a single filament assembly and each cojoined member includes a pair of filament assemblies that are worked together. The openwork fabric further includes an extension limiting member to limit a longitudinal extension of the openwork fabric.

A shrinkable food preparation product used for cooking layered or rolled meat products such as cooked ham has improved characteristic for squeezing the meat.