Abstract: The growth of Clostridium botulinum and the production of enterotoxin in smoked meat products, such as bacon, is inhibited by adding to the meat products a compound selected from the group consisting of hypophosphorous acid and sodium potassium, calcium and manganese salts thereof.

Abstract: The growth of Clostridium botulinum and the production of enterotoxin in smoked fish is inhibited by adding to the fish a compound selected from the group consisting of hypophosphorous acid and sodium, potassium, calcium and manganese salts thereof. Such additive may be present in combination with minor amounts of sodium nitrite.

Abstract: A partially dehydrated food product, especially sliced bacon, that results in improved cooked yield and reduced shrinkage is prepared by subjecting the product to hydration with a curing solution and then to vacuum dehydration conditions to partially, but not totally, reduce the moisture content without substantially affecting the other food components.

Abstract: A brine flavor concentrate of hydrophillic liquid containing a minimum of 2 mg/g phenolic materials extracted from smoke flavored edible oil and less than one percent titratable acidity per each 10 mg/g of phenol content. The process of smoking and curing the meat with said concentrate in brine as well as the smoked and cured meat itself is included.

Abstract: The preparation of sausage meats without fermentation to achieve preservation and coagulation wherein the mixed ingredients of the sausage meat are immersed, with or without encasement, in an aqueous bath having a titratable acidity of 1-20%, in which at least 20% of the acidity is in the form of lactic acid while the remainder is selected of edible organic acids and thereafter cooking and/or smoking the treated sausage meat.

Abstract: To produce food-flavoring smoke and vapor in a gas or charcoal burner, a bed of wood flour is placed underneath the gridiron of the burner at a location which is out of the flames of the gas or burning charcoal. For example, a bed of wood flour may be placed upon a tray suspended from the gridiron. When placed at a location and in a manner to protect the wood flour and ignited, the wood flour will smolder, like burning punk, to emit smoke and vapor which is absorbed by food being cooked upon the gridiron.

Abstract: A puffable, thermoplastic composition derived from animal parts is prepared by drying substantially raw animal parts to a moisture content between 10% and 25%, comminuting those parts and mechanically defatting the comminuted particles to a fat content of less than 18%. The defatted particles are macerated in an extruder at temperatures less than 330.degree. F. and under sufficient pressure to cause gelatinization of the particles. The resulting thermoplastic moldable mass is extruded to a shape sustaining form and cooled to below 215.degree. F., after which it is cut into puffable pellets. The pellets will be at least partially gelatinized animal parts, have a moisture content of less than 15%, a fat content of less than 15% and the protein thereof will not be subjected to denaturing temperatures in excess of 330.degree. F. The pellets may be puffed in hot oil to a product which resembles fried port skins or they may be thermo-formed into a decorative shape, e.g., in the shape of a chewable dog bone.

Abstract: Various meats including beef, pork and poultry are smoked under low temperature smoking conditions in which the temperature of the meat reaches no higher than approximately 100.degree. F., following which the meats are coarse or fine ground, mixed with various additives and binders, and then processed into sausage by utilizing normal procedures.

Abstract: A process for preparing a tender, tasty, dehydrated protein snack food from protein material such as raw meat, poultry, fish, vegetable protein, and all mixtures thereof. The process involves the sequential steps of preparing thin slices of the protein material, intimately exposing these slices to a flavoring composition, eliminating entrapped air from the protein material to compact it and thoroughly impregnate it with the flavoring composition, maintaining the protein material at a temperature above freezing for a time sufficient for it to absorb the flavoring, freezing the flavored protein material, slicing the frozen, flavored protein material, and then dehydrating the flavored protein material slices to reduce their moisture content to an acceptable level. When this process is carried out on animal protein such as meat, poultry, fish, or combinations thereof, a curing composition is added with the flavoring composition to permit a higher moisture level with lower salt content in the final product.

Abstract: A simulated bacon is made of two separate components, one a mixture of various pork and bacon components and added ingredients having appearance, flavor and texture properties somewhat like the lean meat in bacon, and the other being a mixture of high-fat pork items and added ingredients having appearance, flavor and texture properties somewhat like the fat in bacon. The two components are fed together into molds, the fat-like component serving as a binder for the meat-like component. Then follows cooking, smoking, tempering and cooling. The end product appears and tastes somewhat like bacon and can be sliced and packaged like bacon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dried or semi-dried meat product, such as casingless sausage, especially such a sausage popularly known as "meat sticks," though not limited thereto. A pre-formed meat emulsion with a moisture content in excess of 30% by weight, and a fat content in the range from about 5% to 50% by weight, is formed into the desired cross sectional shape and then frozen; thereafter, the sausage is optionally smoked, but, whether smoked or not, it is then dried at temperatures in excess of about 40.degree. F until the moisture content is in the range from about 10% to 30% by weight.

Abstract: A cooking and smoking apparatus for food products comprising two distinct chambers with common outer walls, and interior walls, spaced from the outer walls, containing a plurality of openings. The spaces between the walls form ducts or air passages which allow smoke and heat to rise from a lower combustion chamber and enter an upper cooking chamber through said openings in the interior walls. Adjustable dampers in the ducts control the amount of smoke and heat entering the cooking chamber, while additional dampers control the air entering the combustion chamber and combustion products being vented from the apparatus through a chimney. One or more access doors is provided in each of the combustion and cooking chambers. The cooking chamber is provided with a flush pan or the like at the bottom thereof connected to a drain pipe to permit flushing of the cooking chamber.