'Hand-pulled' meat research project

The increasing popularity of the ‘hand-pulled’ look for beef, lamb, pork and chicken has resulted in a research collaboration between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Summit Machinery.

Using the FAM Yuran dicer, the research project will investigate the different appearances that can be created in a range of red meat products.

According to Summit, the machine has proven its capability is slicing, dicing and strip cutting various products. Trials run by MLA will investigate its ability to produce various pulled beef and lamb products.

The FAM Yuran dicer.

To understand the shapes and textures that can be commercially achieved with the Yuran dicer, MLA will conduct trials using cooked beef brisket, lamb shoulder and extruded meat, as well as raw ‘hot boned’ cuts - meat which has been boned out prior to the onset of rigor mortis.

Once the trials determine the viability of the end product and process, MLA intends to conduct a series of workshops for interested parties to undertake their own evaluation and trial the machinery.

The Yuran dicer is currently used by one of the largest pork processors in the US for pulled-look meat. A Melbourne chicken processor has also installed the unit to produce pulled chicken meat products. The Melbourne company has reported great success with the machine.