Abstract: Disclosed is a food product formed from the leg of a fowl comprising: a) a central leg bone having a foot end and a thigh end, said leg bone preferably being substantially without at least a foot knuckle; and b) a first portion of natural meat originally located around a portion of the foot-end of said bone and displaced from said foot end toward said thigh-end such that at least a portion of said foot-end bone is exposed and such that said displaced portion of meat remains indirectly attached to the bone.

Abstract: A steak product is made by cutting a piece of meat which is initially generally in the shape of a parallelepiped along four generally curved first cut lines extending generally parallel to the grain of the meat to remove four corners of the meat and create a meat portion which is cylindrically shaped. The cylindrically shaped meat portion is cut along each of a plurality of parallel second cut lines each generally perpendicular to the grain of the meat and spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance to create a plurality of disk-like generally cylindrical meat portions each having a thickness corresponding to the first predetermined distance and each having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrically shaped meat portion.

Abstract: A method of cutting beef short ribs having a first, concavely shaped inside surface and a second convexly shaped outside surface comprises the steps of: separating the short ribs into a plurality of generally equally sized individual rib meat portions, each having a rib bone, by cutting completely through the short ribs from the first surface to the second surface along cut lines extending generally midway between and generally parallel to the rib bones; and making a series of generally parallel cuts into the meat on at least one of the first and second surfaces of each of the rib portions, the cuts made into each rib portion extending generally perpendicular to the rib bone along the entire length of the meat from one end of the rib bone to the other end of the rib bone and being spaced apart from each other by a first predetermined distance.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting elongated meat includes a frame that has a longitudinal axis and a motor proximate the frame. At least two generally circular blades are rotatably mounted to the frame each about a respective blade axis. Each blade axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The blades axes are positioned generally on an imaginary plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The blades are rotated by the motor and cut the elongated meat when the elongated meat is placed generally collinear with the longitudinal axis and contacts the blades.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting elongated meat includes a frame that has a longitudinal axis and a motor proximate the frame. At least two generally circular blades are rotatably mounted to the frame each about a respective blade axis. Each blade axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The blades axes are positioned generally on an imaginary plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The blades are rotated by the motor and cut the elongated meat when the elongated meat is placed generally collinear with the longitudinal axis and contacts the blades.

Abstract: A method of cutting beef short ribs having a first, concavely shaped inside surface and a second convexly shaped outside surface comprises the steps of: separating the short ribs into a plurality of generally equally sized individual rib meat portions, each having a rib bone, by cutting completely through the short ribs from the first surface to the second surface along cut lines extending generally midway between and generally parallel to the rib bones; and making a series of generally parallel cuts into the meat on at least one of the first and second surfaces of each of the rib portions, the cuts made into each rib portion extending generally perpendicular to the rib bone along the entire length of the meat from one end of the rib bone to the other end of the rib bone and being spaced apart from each other by a first predetermined distance.

Abstract: A steak product is made by cutting a piece of meat which is initially generally in the shape of a parallelepiped along four generally curved first cut lines extending generally parallel to the grain of the meat to remove four corners of the meat and create a meat portion which is cylindrically shaped. The cylindrically shaped meat portion is cut along each of a plurality of parallel second cut lines each generally perpendicular to the grain of the meat and spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance to create a plurality of disk-like generally cylindrical meat portions each having a thickness corresponding to the first predetermined distance and each having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrically shaped meat portion.

Abstract: A method of cutting a piece of meat which is initially generally in the shape of a parallelepiped to produce at least one steak portion includes cutting the meat along four generally curved first cut lines extending generally parallel to the grain of the meat to remove four corners of the meat and create a meat portion which is cylindrically shaped. The cylindrically shaped meat portion is cut along each of a plurality of parallel second cut lines each generally perpendicular to the grain of the meat and spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance to create a plurality of disk-like generally cylindrical meat portions each having a thickness corresponding to the first predetermined distance and each having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrically shaped meat portion.

Abstract: A method of cutting a whole bird to form bird meat products comprises: removing a portion of each of the wings of the bird including the wing tip sections and the center, two bone sections; removing both of the breasts and the drumettes of the wings from the remainder of the bird leaving the drumettes attached to the removed breasts; and cutting through each of the removed breasts along cut lines extending approximately one third of the distance along the length of each of the removed breasts and generally parallel to the bones of the removed drumettes to create two breast products and two breast/drumette products. In one embodiment the breast products are cut in half lengthwise to form smaller breast products.

Abstract: A method of cutting the back of a bird provides two boneless meat products. The back includes a backbone, a tail at the rear end of the backbone and an area of meat on each side of the backbone. The method includes cutting the back along a first cut line extending generally perpendicular to the backbone and proximate to the rear end of the backbone to remove the tail. The back is also cut along a second cut line extending at a first angle with respect to the backbone and proximate to the rear end of a first side of the backbone to remove a first generally triangularly shaped boneless meat product. The back is further cut along a third cut line extending at a second angle with respect to the backbone and proximate to the rear end of a second side of the backbone to remove a second generally triangularly shaped boneless meat product.

Abstract: A method of cutting the thigh of a bird forms a boneless thigh meat product. The thigh has a bone, first and second lateral sides, top and bottom surfaces, a thin muscle proximate the first lateral side and a thick muscle proximate the second lateral side. The method comprises removing the bone and any other inedible components from the thigh to provide a boneless thigh. The boneless thigh is cut from the top surface to the bottom surface along a first cut line to remove the thin muscle. The thick muscle is cut along a second cut line extending generally parallel to the top surface to remove a small top (red) muscle. The thick muscle is then cut along a third cut line extending generally parallel to the top and bottom surfaces and generally half way between the top and bottom surfaces to create two generally equal sized thigh meat pieces.

Abstract: A method for preparing a whole bird for grilling comprises removing the tips from each of the wings of the bird and cutting a notch into each of the joints of each of the wings of the bird. The backbone and attached neck are removed from the bird by cutting along both sides of the backbone where the backbone meets the ribs of the bird. Excess skin and fat are removed from the bird proximate the thighs and the skin is removed from the bird around the breasts so that the whole bird is separated into two relatively flat halves. A notch is cut into the knee joint between each of the drumsticks and thighs of the bird and each of the thighs is partially separated from the rest of the body of the bird at the hip joint.

Abstract: A method of making a food product including: selecting a thigh of an animal, the thigh comprising a thigh bone at least partially surrounded with thigh meat, the thigh bone having a first end and a second end; and partially deboning the thigh causing the first end of the thigh bone to extend from the thigh meat to form a handle for holding the food product, the thigh meat being generally positioned proximate to the second end of the thigh bone after the partial deboning. A fun to eat food product is also detailed herein. The fun to eat food product is formed from an animal's thigh, including a thigh bone having a first end and a second end. Thigh meat having an overall generally elongated shape extends from the second end of the thigh bone and is generally secured thereto. A handle is formed by the first end of the thigh bone extending from the thigh meat.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a meat including a frame and a driving mechanism attached to the frame. A carriage is attached to the driving mechanism and is movable along a path. The carriage is adapted to support the meat. A cutting head is disposed along the path to cut the meat into at least two pieces of meat when the driving mechanism forces the meat through the cutting head.

Abstract: A method of making a meat product from a bird, comprises cutting a first boneless breast lobe from the bird and cutting a second boneless breast lobe from the bird. Each of the first and second boneless breast lobes are cut lengthwise into at least two boneless breast portions. A first whole leg and a second whole leg is cut from the bird. The bones are removed from the first and second whole legs and each of the first and second whole legs are cut lengthwise into at least two boneless leg portions, each leg portion containing both thigh meat and drumstick meat. The boneless breast portions and the boneless leg portions are assembled to simulate the appearance of a bird. The method may alternatively include cutting a first boneless breast lobe and a second boneless breast lobe from a bird. A first and second whole leg are cut from the bird.

Abstract: A restructured meat product is prepared by passing the meat through a meat grinder having an outlet plate containing a plurality of spaced slot-like openings. Each of the openings has a predetermined width in the range of from one millimeter to six millimeters to provide meat sheets having a thickness corresponding to the width of the slot-like openings and having a substantial major surface area. The sheets of meat are then kneaded together in a tangled mass in a manner similar to kneading dough to cause the juices of the meat to exude from the meat sheets until the meat sheets begin to stick together by means of the juices. The tangled mass of meat sheets are formed into a restructured meat product. The restructured meat product is held together by the adhesive nature of the meat juices and the entanglement of the meat sheets. The restructured meat product has a substantially uniform consistency and tenderness and is substantially devoid of chunks or cubes.

Abstract: A method for cutting a pork butt to provide pork products having substantially enhanced value involves first removing the blade bone from the pork butt. The principal shoulder muscles of the pork butt are located and identified and one or more seams extending around portions of at least one of the muscles is cut to remove at least one principal shoulder muscle from the remainder of the pork butt. The removed shoulder muscle is denuded by removing substantially all cartilage, fat, connective tissue, membrane, and other non-muscle material from each outer surface to provide essentially a solid pork muscle. The denuded shoulder muscle is cut into one or more generally solid pork products, each pork product being very low in fat content and of relatively high economic value. Each of the pork products is tenderized prior to being offered for sale.

Abstract: A food product is provided and includes a hot dog having a generally elongate shape with a cylindrical midsection and first and second generally curved ends; and a plurality of cuts extending longitudinally through the entire width of the hot dog from a first end to a location proximate the second end to establish a plurality of segments and an uncut end portion to which the segments are attached; wherein at least a portion of the segments are covered by batter. Individual segments extracted from a hot dog that are covered with a batter are also provided. Methods to prepare the food products are also provided.

Abstract: A method of cutting a boneless turkey breast into a plurality of individual turkey products which resemble different types of steak products, includes the steps of cutting the breast along a natural seam into a thick portion and a thin portion, removing the silver from the thin portion to create a turkey product which physically resembles and tastes like a sirloin strip steak, cutting off the ends from the thick portion and further cutting the separated ends into cube-shaped pieces suitable for use as kebabs, and cutting the remaining part of the thick portion perpendicular to the grain into about one inch thick pieces to form turkey products which resemble filet mignon, eye steaks or medallions. Pound for pound, the total perceived value of the resulting turkey products is higher than the total perceived value of the original uncut turkey breast.

Abstract: A method of cutting a whole chicken carcass into a chicken ribs product includes the steps of removing wings, hind quarters and breast lobes from the carcass to form a stripped carcass containing ribs and tenders. Next, the tenders are cut along the keel bone, the backbone is removed, and the rib cage is split into two sides, leaving the keel bone attached to one of the two sides, and leaving a tender attached to each side. The keel bone is stripped off, thereby creating two chicken rib products, each having ribs, rib meat and a tender thereon. The tenders may also be removed to form two chicken rib products, each having ribs and rib meat thereon.