Abstract: A plant-based food product and methods of producing thereof. The plant-based food product may include a gel matrix formed from about 20% to 80% w/w of a liquid and about 15% to 50% w/w of a flour, a plant-derived protein or a combination thereof. The flour and/or plant-derived protein may be pretreated by impregnation and enriched with an additive, an amino acid, a peptide, a protein or a dietary supplement. The gel matrix may be formed by mixing the components, optionally pressurizing the mixture within a cooking container and heating at a maintained temperature to form a gel matrix to provide a plant-based food product that mimics the characteristics of meat fat. The gel matrix may be incorporated into plant-based meats or other non-meat base products as a visual, taste and/or mouthfeel mimicker of fat.

Abstract: A plant-based food product and methods of producing thereof. The plant-based food product may include a gel matrix formed from about 20% to 80% w/w of a liquid and about 15% to 50% w/w of a flour, a plant-derived protein or a combination thereof. The gel matrix may be formed by mixing the components, optionally pressurizing the mixture within a cooking container and heating at a maintained temperature to form a gel matrix to provide a plant-based food product that mimics the characteristics of meat fat. The gel matrix may be incorporated into plant-based meats or other non-meat base products as a visual, taste and/or mouthfeel mimicker of fat.

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 cooking a food product, in particular pieces of protein, includes a first station that receives uncooked pieces and applies an effective amount of a spoilage inhibitor to the pieces to delay growth of toxigenic bacteria; a batter applicator that receives the pieces of uncooked protein and applies a high-gluten batter to the outer surfaces of the pieces of uncooked protein; a packaging machine that receives the pieces of uncooked 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 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 at a time and temperature below which the batter hardens, whereby the batter is sufficiently tacky such that breading can adhere thereto.

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: 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.