Method and apparatus for storing and aging meat
AssigneeTenderland Limited
InventorRoger Keith Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of storing and aging a meat which comprises the steps of containing said meat in a controllable environment under a mechanical compression, substantially separating a majority of a surface of said meat from direct contact with a gas present in the controllable environment, controlling said gas in said controllable environment by reducing free oxygen gas in said controllable environment and controlling gas pressure in said controllable environment while protecting a majority of the surface of said meat from the effects of a pressure variation, and holding said meat under said controllable environment for a period of time within a predetermined temperature range; provided that said meat is held under the mechanical compression during the controlling of said gas in said controllable environment.
Claims8
A method of storing and aging meat which comprises the following sequence of steps:
- placing said meat on a lower support portion positioned inside a container, engaging an upper support portion on said meat placed on said lower support portion;
- said upper support portion being linked to said lower support portion,
- compressing said meat placed in between said lower and upper support portions by tightening a compression means attached to said upper support portion;
- said compressing step serving to expel excess weepage or drip and air containing free oxygen from within said meat to a region spaced from said meat,
- placing a lid on said container
- reducing the amount of free oxygen gas that is present contiguous to the meat within said container by applying a vacuum through a valve thereto and then flushing with a gas through said valve, wherein the surface of the meat is protected from direct contact with the vacuum and the flushing gas, and
- holding said meat under compression between said upper and lower portions for a period of time within a predetermined temperature range and maintaining said compression on the meat during storage and aging.
A meat storing and aging apparatus, which comprises:
- a closeable container defining a closed chamber,
- a lower support portion positioned within said chamber;
- said lower support portion being capable of being raised and lowered for placing a meat on said lower support portion,
- an upper support portion positioned within said container and above said lower support portion;
- said upper support being linked to said lower support portion,
- a compression means attached to said upper support portion to apply compression to a meat contained between said upper and lower support portions,
- a valve for controlling the type of gas and gas pressure in said closed chamber,
- a region that is spaced from said meat wherein said region is in communication with said closed chamber and is capable of receiving a weepage or drip from said meat in said closed chamber,
- said lower and upper support portions protecting a major portion of the surface of said meat from gas and pressure fluctuations in said closed chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.