Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products, the surrogate including an open container of a liquid and a probe in the form of a toroidal conductivity sensor that measures electrical conductivity of the liquid; wherein the electrical conductivity of the liquid increases as smoke is absorbed by the liquid and simultaneously into the food products; and a control that receives a signal from the toroidal conductivity sensor and in response generates a signal and/or a display indicative of the electrical conductivity of the liquid that corresponds to a selected amount of smoke absorption by the food products exposed to the smoke.

Abstract: A system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products; and the surrogate is configured to change a state to a preselected degree after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by a selected food product. A method of making the system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes placing the surrogate in air ambient to the surrogate in a smokehouse where the food products are to be smoked, configuring the surrogate to change a state after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by the food products; and measuring the change of state of the surrogate.

Abstract: A system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products; and the surrogate is configured to change a state after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by a selected food product. A method of making the system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes placing the surrogate in air ambient to the surrogate in a smokehouse where the food products are to be smoked, configuring the surrogate to change a state after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by the food products; and measuring the change of state of the surrogate.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing a cooked egg product includes an automated egg cracker that receives the raw, shelled eggs from the infeed conveyor and removes the shells from the eggs; a cooking conveyor having a plurality of cooking pans that receives the whole eggs and induction heats the cooking pans sufficiently to completely cook the eggs contained in the cooking pans, resulting in cooked eggs; a pasteurization tunnel that receives the cooked eggs in the cooking pans from the induction heater; and a control that actuates the pasteurization tunnel to heat the surfaces of the eggs to a pasteurization temperature. A freezer freezes the cooked and pasteurized eggs, and a packaging machine packages the frozen, cooked and pasteurized eggs. Alternatively, the induction cooked eggs are frozen after cooking and individually vacuum packaged, sous vide heated to a pasteurization temperature, then chilled or frozen for storage or shipment.

Abstract: A system for cooking pieces of protein may include a batter applicator that receives a batter made from high-gluten flour and coats the batter on pieces of protein, a thermoforming packaging machine that receives the pieces of protein coated with the batter from the batter applicator and seals the pieces of protein in plastic pouches, and a heating unit that receives the plastic pouches from the thermoforming packaging machine and cooks the battered protein in the plastic pouches. A method for cooking pieces of protein may include coating a batter made from high-gluten flour on the pieces of protein; sealing the pieces of protein coated with the batter in plastic pouches; and cooking the battered protein in the plastic pouches to make cooked, battered protein pieces in which the batter is tacky after cooking. The cooked protein pieces may be removed from the plastic pouches, breaded, and flash fried.

Abstract: A system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products; and the surrogate is configured to change a state after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by a selected food product. A method of making the system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes placing the surrogate in air ambient to the surrogate in a smokehouse where the food products are to be smoked, configuring the surrogate to change a state after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by the food products; and measuring the change of state of the surrogate.

Abstract: A system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products; and the surrogate is configured to change a state to a preselected degree after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by a selected food product. A method of making the system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes placing the surrogate in air ambient to the surrogate in a smokehouse where the food products are to be smoked, configuring the surrogate to change a state after an exposure to the smoke for a time sufficient to effect a predetermined amount of smoke absorption by the food products; and measuring the change of state of the surrogate.

Abstract: A system for processing pieces of protein includes an optional flour applicator that applies a coating of flour, and optionally seasoning, to uncooked protein pieces; an optional seasoning applicator that applies a coating of seasoning on the uncooked protein pieces; a packaging machine that receives uncooked protein pieces, optionally coated with flour and/or seasoning, and retains the optionally coated, uncooked protein pieces in pouches; a batter applicator that deposits a batter made from flour containing gluten directly into the cooking pouches; the packaging machine programmed to vacuum seal the cooking pouches, thereby coating the uncooked protein pieces with the batter in the cooking pouches to make batter-coated uncooked protein pieces; and a heating unit programmed to completely cook the batter-coated protein pieces in the pouches for a time and temperature selected to completely cook the protein pieces and leave the batter sufficiently tacky to adhere to breading.

Abstract: A system for cooking pieces of protein may include a flour applicator that receives the pieces of protein in an uncooked state and applies a coating of flour to outer surfaces thereof; a batter applicator that receives the pieces of uncooked protein coated with the flour from the flour applicator and applies a batter made from high-gluten flour to the coated outer surfaces thereof; a packaging machine that receives the pieces of uncooked protein coated with the batter made from the high-gluten flour from the batter applicator and seals the pieces of protein in plastic pouches; and a heating unit that receives the sealed plastic pouches containing the uncooked protein coated with the batter from the packaging machine and cooks the battered protein pieces in the plastic pouches.

Abstract: A system for processing pieces of protein includes a freezer unit that receives the protein pieces in an uncooked state and retains the uncooked protein pieces at a temperature and for a time interval to crust freeze the protein pieces to a depth sufficient to impart dimensional stability to the uncooked protein pieces; a packaging machine that receives the protein pieces from the freezer unit and retains the protein pieces in cooking pouches; a batter applicator that deposits a batter made from high-gluten flour in the cooking pouches to coat the outer surfaces of the protein pieces; the packaging machine programmed to vacuum seal the batter-coated protein pieces in the cooking pouches; and a heating unit programmed to sous vide cook the protein pieces in the cooking pouches for a time and temperature selected to completely cook the protein pieces and leave the batter sufficiently tacky to adhere to breading.

Abstract: Provided herein are packaging materials that include a non-foamed layer and a foamed layer including a polyethylene.

Abstract: A method for making a protein loaf, which may take the form of whole-muscle poultry, beef, pork, or veal, may include coating at least a portion of at least one of two pieces of protein with a bonding enzyme preparation along a bonding surface of one of the pieces; nesting the two pieces of protein in a mold and orienting the pieces such the coated bonding surface contacts a bonding surface of the other of the two pieces of protein; evacuating and sealing the pieces in a package such that the pieces are urged together along the bonding surfaces thereof and conform to the mold to form a loaf shape; and holding the pieces in the sealed package a time interval sufficient to allow the bonding enzyme preparation to cause cross-linking to occur between the bonding surfaces to form a unitary protein loaf from the two pieces of protein.

Abstract: A system for cooking pieces of protein may include a flour applicator that receives the pieces of protein in an uncooked state and applies a coating of flour to outer surfaces thereof; a batter applicator that receives the pieces of uncooked protein coated with the flour from the flour applicator and applies a batter made from high-gluten flour to the coated outer surfaces thereof; a packaging machine that receives the pieces of uncooked protein coated with the batter made from the high-gluten flour from the batter applicator and seals the pieces of protein in plastic pouches; and a heating unit that receives the sealed plastic pouches containing the uncooked protein coated with the batter from the packaging machine and cooks the battered protein pieces in the plastic pouches.

Abstract: A system for cooking pieces of protein may include a batter applicator that receives a batter made from high-gluten flour and coats the batter on pieces of protein, a thermoforming packaging machine that receives the pieces of protein coated with the batter from the batter applicator and seals the pieces of protein in plastic pouches, and a heating unit that receives the plastic pouches from the thermoforming packaging machine and cooks the battered protein in the plastic pouches. A method for cooking pieces of protein may include coating a batter made from high-gluten flour on the pieces of protein; sealing the pieces of protein coated with the batter in plastic pouches; and cooking the battered protein in the plastic pouches to make cooked, battered protein pieces in which the batter is tacky after cooking. The cooked protein pieces may be removed from the plastic pouches, breaded, and flash fried.