Wheat Flour Meat Quality Improver for Moisture Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for improving the texture of cooked meats, such as farm-animal meats and fish, often result in dry and tough textures due to moisture and fat loss during heating, despite the use of proteolytic enzymes, polymer phosphates, or other additives.

Innovation Solution

A meat quality improver containing wheat flour, specifically GA-SX wheat flour that lacks certain enzyme activities, is used to treat meats before heat cooking, enhancing the texture to be tender, juicy, and chewy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If heating is applied to cook meat, then the meat is cooked and edible, but moisture and fat are lost causing tough and dry textures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking temperatureVSAvoidmoisture and fat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by treating meat with wheat flour containing specific enzyme activities (GBSSI-A1, SSIIa-A1, SSIIa-B1) before heating. This pre-treatment modifies the meat structure in advance, creating a protective effect that prevents moisture and fat loss during subsequent heating, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooking and maintaining juiciness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the meat by introducing specific enzymes through wheat flour treatment. The enzyme activities (GBSSI-A1, SSIIa-A1, SSIIa-B1) modify protein structure and starch content, altering the meat's physical and chemical properties to resist moisture loss during heating, thus solving the contradiction between cooking and texture preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If heating is applied to cook meat, then the meat is cooked, but proteins denature and coagulate causing tough textures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking temperatureVSAvoidmeat toughness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by treating meat with wheat flour containing specific enzyme activities (GBSSI-A1, SSIIa-A1, SSIIa-B1) before heating. This pre-treatment modifies the meat structure in advance, creating a protective effect that prevents moisture and fat loss during subsequent heating, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooking and maintaining juiciness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the meat by introducing specific enzymes through wheat flour treatment. The enzyme activities (GBSSI-A1, SSIIa-A1, SSIIa-B1) modify protein structure and starch content, altering the meat's physical and chemical properties to resist moisture loss during heating, thus solving the contradiction between cooking and texture preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If proteolytic enzyme is applied to soften meat, then meat texture is improved, but special enzymes and additives are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeat tendernessVSAvoidcomplexity of enzymes and additives
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using wheat flour, a common and simple material, to perform multiple functions: it provides GBSSI-A1 enzyme activity for protein modification, SSIIa-A1 and SSIIa-B1 enzyme activities for starch modification, and acts as a coating material. This single material replaces the need for multiple specialized enzymes and additives, simplifying the system while achieving comprehensive meat quality improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses wheat flour, a cheap and readily available material, instead of expensive specialized enzymes and additives. The wheat flour serves as a cost-effective solution that provides all necessary enzymatic activities and functional properties, making the meat treatment process more economical and accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Quantity of substance

If polymer phosphate is applied to enhance moisture-holding capacity, then pH increases and texture improves, but special additives are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture-holding capacityVSAvoidcomplexity of additives
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using wheat flour, a common and simple material, to perform multiple functions: it provides GBSSI-A1 enzyme activity for protein modification, SSIIa-A1 and SSIIa-B1 enzyme activities for starch modification, and acts as a coating material. This single material replaces the need for multiple specialized enzymes and additives, simplifying the system while achieving comprehensive meat quality improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses wheat flour, a cheap and readily available material, instead of expensive specialized enzymes and additives. The wheat flour serves as a cost-effective solution that provides all necessary enzymatic activities and functional properties, making the meat treatment process more economical and accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20250134143A1Meat quality improver
Publication Date: 2025.05.01 NIPPN CORP

AI summary

A meat quality improver is disclosed. The meat quality improver makes it possible to produce processed meat food products having a tender, juicy texture, and chewy fleshiness, even when meat such as farm-animal meat and fish meat is subjected to processing such as thermal cooking. The meat quality improver contains flour. A method for improving meat quality is disclosed, which includes a treatment of the meat with the meat quality improver containing flour when manufacturing the processed meat food products to obtain processed meat food products having a tender, juicy texture, and chewy fleshiness, even when meat such as farm-animal meat and fish meat is subjected to processing such as thermal cooking.