Method for preparing poultry for fresh-pack handling
AssigneeMeyn U.S.A., Inc.
InventorRalph S. Zebarth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of preparing poultry for fresh-pack handling in which the eviscerated carcasses are first thoroughly washed, then passed through a non-refrigerated water bath to pick up moisture, then tumbled to substantially equalize the moisture content of the carcasses, and to remove some of the picked-up moisture, then gravity drained to remove more of the picked-up moisture, and finally subjected to a supercold atmosphere for a time sufficient to freeze-crust it, whereby to reduce the picked-up moisture to a permissable level and thereafter to stabilize the carcasses against weepage. Routing of the carcasses and the giblets removed during evisceration may be so arranged that freeze-crusted giblets may be stuffed into carcasses before the latter are crusted, for greater ease of handling.
Claims8
A method of preparing eviscerated poultry carcasses for fresh-pack handling, having a predetermined allowable content of pick-up moisture, said method consisting of the successive steps of:
- a. adding moisture in the form of water to eviscerated poultry carcasses with sufficient intimacy and thoroughness to ensure the pick-up of moisture by said carcasses well in excess of said predetermined allowable content plus the amount of moisture which may be removed from said carcasses by freeze-crusting thereof,
- b. removing moisture from said carcasses to reduce the pick-up moisture content thereof to a level generally equal to said predetermined allowable content plus the amount of moisture which may be removed therefrom by freeze-crusting thereof, and
- c. subjecting said carcasses to a supercold atmosphere for a time sufficient to freeze-crust the skin and surface portions thereof but not to freeze the deeper portions thereof, whereby the carcass skins shrink to expel moisture from said carcasses to reduce their pick-up moisture content to a level generally equal to said predetermined allowable amount.
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said moisture removal step includes the additional step, following said tumbling but prior to said freeze-crusting, of gravity draining said carcasses, whereby to remove surface moisture and moisture which may have collected in variable amounts in the interior cavities of said carcasses, so that the pick-up moisture content of all of the carcasses is further equalized, but still above said predetermined allowable content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.