Patent ID: 8628815

Claim:
A process for making a meat analog comprising the steps of: a) forming an emulsion comprising one or more ingredients supplying 10-28% protein and 0.5-20% fat b) introducing the emulsion into a helical conveyor device having an inlet and an outlet with a screw compression ratio from the inlet to the outlet of 1:1 to 1:6, the device having at least a heated screw and a heated barrel, each having heated surface areas providing for a uniform heat transfer surface area; c) conveying the emulsion through the conveyor device by means of an external pump which provides a feeding pressure of 10 PSI to 100 PSI; d) transferring heat from the surface areas of the heated screw and barrel to the emulsion as it is conveyed through the helical conveyor device wherein a predetermined screw compression ratio results in an emulsion flow of layers of material at different velocities and different residence times as it passes through the device; e) wherein coagulation of the emulsion occurs against the heat transfer surface area of the heated screw and barrel resulting in the layers being cooked at different rates thereby forming a textured meat analog.