Abstract: A two-stage meat straining apparatus is provided in which a pair of communicating presses separate meat from bone. Each press has a cylindrical pressure chamber for containing meat and bones to be separated, a sealing wall for closing off one end of the pressure chamber, and an exchangeable cylindrical lining sleeve within the pressure chamber having openings extending therethrough and debouching into collector channels in the pressure chamber, through which openings meat is forced to separate meat from bones when suitable pressure is exerted on the meat and bone combination. Pressure is exerted on the contents of the pressure chamber of the first stage of the apparatus by a hydraulically activated pressure piston slidably mounted within the pressure chamber.

Abstract: The method and means of compressing meat products is described which ensure that the top and bottom portions of the meat or poultry product or the like will be flattened and so that the meat product will have a predetermined thickness.