Abstract: An improved shirring device for sausage casing includes a fixed station having opposed shirring wheels for shirring casing onto a mandrel. Opposed jaws positioned transverse to the mandrel operate to engage shirred casing and transport it axially along the mandrel to compact the shirred casing.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating meat comprises introducing pieces of meat into a tumbling drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and which contains circumferentially spaced rods on the inside of the drum adjacent to its periphery and parallel to the axis of rotation. The rods contain teeth so that upon rotation of the drum the meat is tumbled causing the teeth to produce a mass of small cuts in the surface of the meat. The drum is sealed by a watertight door that is readily opened and closed, as needed. The tumbling process takes approximately 20 minutes. The tumbling in combination with the formation of small cuts in the surface of the meat increases the exposure of myosin protein at the meat surface and also improves color uniformity and dispersion of pickling solution in the meat.