System and method for preparing meat products

A system for handling and preparing jerky, the system comprising:

• a lifting frame comprising a plurality of horizontal supports and a plurality of vertical supports;
• an upper frame member that is selectively securable to the lifting frame, and wherein the upper frame member comprises at least one lifting member operable to receive and transmit force to the lifting frame;
• a plurality of racks that are sized and operable to be received by the lifting frame, each of the plurality of racks comprising at least one of a mesh and a grate that is operable to support a meat product and to allow at least a portion of the meat product to be exposed to an external environment;
• a tank comprising an internal volume operable to receive a liquid;
• the internal volume of the tank being larger than a volume of the lifting frame;
• and
• a lifting assembly comprising a connecting member that is operable to selectively communicate with at least one of the lifting frame and the upper frame member.

A method of producing jerky, the method comprising:

• providing a meat product;
• slicing the meat product into a plurality of meat segments;
• providing the meat segments on at least one rack;
• providing the at least one rack in communication with a lifting frame;
• providing a tank with an internal volume, and providing a liquid marinade within the internal volume;
• positioning the lifting frame and the at least one rack within the internal volume of the tank such that each of the plurality of meat segments are in contact with the liquid marinade;
• allowing the meat segments to rest in contact with the liquid marinade for a predetermined amount of time;
• removing the lifting frame from the internal volume of the tank by vertically displacing the lifting frame;
• and
• conveying the meat segments to at least one further processing step.