Abstract: A composition is derived from animal muscle may be added to a substrate animal muscle for improving water-binding capacity of the substrate animal muscle. A process for making a composition in accordance with one embodiment may include the steps of providing a slurry of animal muscle and water; increasing the pH of the slurry to an alkaline level sufficient to solubilize at least a portion of the animal protein in the animal muscle so as to form an alkaline slurry; and maintaining the pH of the alkaline slurry at a level sufficient to prevent coagulation of the animal protein. The alkaline slurry may then be dried to form a substantially dry particulate animal muscle product. The particulate animal muscle product may then be reconstituted to form a marinade, and the marinade may be applied to a substrate animal muscle.