Clextral
s og l a n a d oo af se d Meat an from plant proteins with twin screw extrusion The plant protein trend has continued to grow worldwide. In this relatively new market, there are two distinct styles of plant protein products that have emerged: meat and seafood analogs that closely replicate the mouthfeel and texture of animal products, and other foods including snacks, breakfast cereals, and beverages, that utilise plant protein ingredients to provide enhanced nutrition.
W
e will focus on the technology for converting plant
proteins into meat and seafood analogs in this article. Although it is important to note that many consumers of meat analogs are not vegetarian or vegan; they are either meat consumers or flexitarian eaters who are seeking plant-based foods to improve their health or because of their awareness of the environmental impacts of the animal farming industries. (50-70%) and high temperature
elements and thermal energy
PROCESSING PLANT PROTEIN INTO MEAT
(around 140°C) process, also
added through the barrel. Due to
AND SEAFOOD ANALOGS
known as HME. Typically, the
the efficient mixing ability of the
Clextral has two processes
formulation starts with a plant
twin screw extruder, the process
available to convert plant proteins
protein-rich base. Depending
requires a very short residence
into meat analogs. One for dry
on the desired functionality and
time for the proteins to “unfold”
meat analogs, which is called
appearance of the final product,
(typically less than one minute).
Texturized Vegetable Protein (TVP).
the plant protein base may
This natural consequence of the
The other one is for wet meat
be in different forms: isolate or
process prepares the plant protein
analogs, also called High Moisture
concentrate.
for the second stage of fibration.
Extrusion (HME). The rest of the
This is completed in the fibrating
article will mostly cover the HME
protein fibration process with
die. As the extrudate travels
standpoint.
twin screw extrusion. The first is
through the long, thermoregulated
the thermomechanical processing
die, the protein melt is cooled and
of the most widely accepted
of the plant protein inside the
shaped, the proteins crosslink to
processes for protein fibration as
extruder barrel. In their native
form covalent and non-covalent
the technology is able to produce
state, plant proteins have a
bonds and new networks of fibers
fibrous plant protein products
complex structure. Inside the
in the protein matrix are formed.
with sensory characteristics
extruder, they are subjected to
Forming the plant proteins into
comparable to animal meat
mechanical energy exerted by
the right fibrous textures to mimic
muscle. It is a high moisture
the twin intermeshing screw
different animal muscles is an
Twin screw extrusion is one
10
There are two stages to the
Just Vegan
