MULTI-STEP PROCESS FOR PRODUCING INTERMEDIATE MOISTURE FOODS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

Food processing methods and associated apparatuses are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a food processing method includes heating a meat product in an oven to a pasteurizing temperature of the meat product followed by drying the meat product at the oven temperature that is below the maximum oven temperature of the processing cycle. In another embodiment, the method includes heating a meat product in a continuous belt grill, followed by drying the meat product in a temperature/relative humidity controlled oven. By breaking the food processing method into at least two phases, the method can result in a shorter processing time with better control of the process end points.

主权项

1. A method for processing a meat product, the method comprising:
heating the meat product to at least a pasteurizing temperature of the meat product in a first oven and after heating the meat in the first oven, drying the meat product in a second oven, wherein drying the meat in the second oven includes reducing a water activity of the meat product form a first water activity of at least 0.92 to a second water activity of at most 0.85.