Method for reducing protein exudate on meat product

1. A method for reducing protein exudate formation on meat mixtures, the steps including:

providing a mixer having a plurality of mixing elements in a mixer housing;

inputting a plurality of meat mixture constituents to the mixer;

applying a shear force to the constituents such that the mixing elements rotate around a shaft in the mixer housing and the shear force is applied by moving the meat mixture through openings defined between the mixing elements and the interior surface of the housing; wherein the meat mixture moves in a generally continuous manner from an input of the housing to an output; and

outputting the mixture after the meat mixture has undergone sufficient protein extraction to form a stable meat mixture, wherein the shear force is applied for a period of less than thirty minutes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the time period is less than one minute.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the time period is between 10 seconds and 45 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the time period is less than is required for protein extraction to produce visible exudate.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the extracted protein is utilized in bonding the mixture during a thermal process.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of outputting the mixture includes discharging the mixture to a hopper for further processing.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the further processing includes at least one of stuffing the mixture into a casing and delivering the mixture to a form.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the protein extraction substantially ceases when the mixture is discharged.

9. A method for processing meat to form a low-fat and stable meat emulsion with a texture substantially similar to that of a higher-fat meat emulsion, the steps including:

providing a mixer with a pair of rotating shafts including mixing elements located thereon; and

forming a meat emulsion within the mixer including:

inputting meat emulsion constituents within the mixer, the constituents including at least a first meat and a salt solution, and

applying a shear force to the constituents input into the mixer sufficient to result in protein extraction, the shear force applied by rotating the mixing elements around the shafts in the mixer and by moving the meat emulsion constituents through openings defined between the mixing elements and an interior surface of the mixer; and

wherein the meat emulsion constituents move in a generally continuous manner from an input to an output of the mixer, the shear force being applied to the meat emulsion constituents for a period of time of less than thirty minutes to retard the formation of extensive protein bonds.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the constituents further includes a second meat.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the constituents further includes additives.

12. The method of claim 9 further including combining constituents at an input end of the mixer.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the mixer includes a housing, the steps further including:

positioning the rotating mixing elements in close proximity to each other and to the interior surface of the housing; and

rotating the rotatable shafts within the mixer housing.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the mixer includes an input end and an output end, the method further including:

forcing the constituents from the input end to the output end.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of applying a shear force includes extracting protein to form a stable emulsion.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the method further includes outputting the meat emulsion.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the period of time is between 10 seconds and 45 seconds.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the mixing elements may rotate to within ⅛ inch of the interior surface of the mixer.

19. A method of continuously processing meat to extract protein to enable the meat to form a stable emulsion that may be formed into a meat product with structural integrity and with a desirable texture, the steps including:

providing a system including a mixer having a housing with an input end and an output end, and at least a first moving shaft having mixing elements for working constituents within the housing;

inputting constituents in the form of meats and additives into the system including a salt solution;

moving the constituents in a generally continuous manner from the input end towards the output end;

applying a shear force to the constituents between the mixing elements and a housing interior surface sufficient to form a stable meat emulsion by rotating the mixing elements; and

outputting the stable meat emulsion within thirty minutes of inputting the constituents into the system.

20. The method of claim 19 the steps further including positioning the mixing elements in close proximity to each other and to the housing interior surface.

21. The method of claim 19 the method further including rotating the mixing elements to apply high shear force.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of positioning the mixing elements includes arranging the elements on rotating shafts so as to rotate within ⅛ inch of another mixing element.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the moving elements may rotate to within ⅛ inch of the housing interior surface.

24. The method of claim 19 further including the step of extracting protein to form the stable meat emulsion.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of outputting is performed prior to extensive linking of protein bonds in the emulsion.

26. The method of claim 19 including outputting the stable meat emulsion in less than a minute from inputting the constituents into the system.

27. The method of claim 19 including outputting the stable meat emulsion in a time period of 10 seconds to 45 seconds from inputting the constituents into the system.