Meat analog from agglomerated protein

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A process for making a simulated comminuted meat product comprising the steps of: A.
contacting, under conditions of mild agitation and in the presence of from about 5% to about 35% fat, a mixture of from about 5% to about 20% of a first heat-coagulable protein and from about 5% to about 20% of a second heat-coagulable protein with from about 25% to about70% water having a temperature at least equal to the temperature of coagulation of said first protein but less than the temperature of coagulation of said second protein, said agitation being sufficient to form agglomerates; and B.
heating the agglomerates of step (A) to a temperature at least equal to the temperature of coagulation of said second protein thereby coagulating said second protein.
2.
The process of claim 1 wherein said first heat-coagulable protein is selected from the group consisting of egg protein and 7S soy protein isolate.
3.
The process of claim 2 wherein said second heat-coagulable protein is derived from soybeans.
4.
The process of claim 3 wherein step (A) is carried out with from about 15% to about 20% fat, from about 5% to about 15% of said frist heat-coagulable protein, from about 5% to about 15% of said second heat-coagulable protein and from about 50% to about 60% water.




Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for making simulated natural meat which has been comminuted such as hamburger.
The products are made from alternate protein sources such as vegetable protein and egg albumen.
THE PRIOR ART There are many prior art methods for making meat analog products.
Some employ "spinning" techniques such as U.
S.
Pat.
No.
2,682,466, June 29, 1954 to Boyer.
Many techniques involve thermoplastic extrusion, for example, U.
S.
Pat.
No.
3,488,770, Jan.
6, 1970, to Atkinson.
Other methods of making simulated natural meat products from alternate protein sources include forming a "chewy protein gel" as in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
2,830,902, Apr