Production of precooked formed meat patties

A method for producing a cooked meat patty, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a ground meat product at a temperature T1 wherein 22° F.≤T1≤40° F.;
• (b) forming the ground meat product into an uncooked patty at temperature T1;
• (c) precooking the uncooked patty to thereby form a precooked patty having a skin of depth D comprising denatured protein, wherein said skin is formed on at least an area on the outside of the precooked patty, and wherein at least a first portion of the meat product disposed beneath said skin is at approximately temperature T1;
• (d) cooking the precooked patty to thereby form a cooked patty wherein said at least a first portion of the meat product is at a temperature T2;
• (e) freezing the cooked patty;
• and
• (f) packaging the frozen cooked patty.

A method for cold forming a meat patty, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) coarse grinding a meat product;
• (b) blending the coarse ground meat product with first ingredients to a temperature T1 wherein 22° F.≤T1≤40° F.;
• (c) fine grinding the blended meat product;
• (d) forming the ground meat product into an uncooked patty at T1;
• (e) cooking the uncooked patty to thereby form a precooked patty having a skin of depth D comprising denatured protein, wherein said skin is formed on at least an area on the outside of the precooked patty at a temperature T2, and wherein at least a first portion of the meat product disposed beneath said skin is at approximately temperature T1, and wherein T2>T1;
• (f) chilling the precooked patty;
• and
• (g) packaging the precooked patty.