Composite shrimp product and process
AssigneeRichard Stowell
InventorPaul J. Sawyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seafood product, generally having the appearance of a single large shrimp, is made from two or more shrimp carcasses. A first of the shrimp carcasses has a throughhole formed in it and may have the shell left on its tail segment. The other shrimp, on the other hand, is completely shelled. The tail segment of a completely shelled shrimp carcass is inserted through the throughhole in the first shrimp carcass, and may be thereafter split axially. The spread apart split portions of the inserted tail segment can act to mechanically interconnect the two shrimp carcasses into a composite seafood product that can be handled in a thawed or a frozen state. The composite seafood product may mimic the appearance of a butterflied shrimp, or of a round shrimp, or it may appear unlike any naturally occurring shrimp.
Claims14
A coated composite seafood product adapted to be handled without accidental disassembly prior the consumption thereof, the coated composite product comprising, in combination,
- a first deheaded, deveined shrimp carcass having a shell removed from at least all but a tail segment thereof, the first shrimp carcass having a butterfly slit formed therein, the first shrimp carcass having a throughhole along or intersecting the butterfly slit;
- a second deheaded and deveined shrimp carcass having the shell entirely removed therefrom, the second shrimp carcass having a tail segment thereof inserted through the throughhole in the first shrimp carcass thereby forming a composite product ;
- and
- a coating disposed about the composite product, whereby the coated composite product simulates a single coated shrimp carcass larger than either the first or the second shrimp carcass.
A method of preparing a coated composite seafood product adapted to resist accidental disassembly prior to the consumption thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) deheading a first unfrozen shrimp carcass, removing at least all but a tail segment of a shell therefrom, deveining the first shrimp carcass and forming therein a dorsal butterfly slit defining two butterfly portions;
- b) cutting a throughhole in the first shrimp carcass, the throughhole along or intersecting the butterfly slit;
- c) deheading, shelling, and deveining a second unfrozen shrimp carcass
- d) inserting a tail segment of the second shrimp carcass through the throughhole, thereby forming a composite product having the appearance of a single large shrimp larger than either the first shrimp carcass or the second shrimp carcass;
- e) coating the composite product;
- f) cooking the coated composite product;and
- g) presenting the coated composite product to the ultimate consumer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.