Processed Meat Products

Processing of meat began as early as people realized that cooking and salting prolongs the shelf life of fresh meat. Processed meat products are an integral part of various cuisines around the world, offering a rich tapestry of flavors and textures that cater to diverse palates. Meat based products that has been treated by single or combination of processing methods including salting, curing, fermentation, canning, smoking, boiling, dehydration, frying, addition of condiments/spices and/or the addition of chemical preservatives in order to either improve taste or to extend shelf life are called processed meat products. Processed meat products include traditional processed meat products of different parts of the world, sausages, bacon, ham, salami, corned beef, jerky, hot dogs, lunch meat, canned meat, chicken nuggets, and meat-based sauces. During recent past meat industry analysts reported that there is a tremendous growth opportunities for the meat sector and demand for processed meat products is rapidly increasing caused by rising urbanization, change in consumer eating habits as well as rising demand for wellness and lifestyle products, together with inflated take-home packages and rise in family incomes. This chapter is aimed to summarize the some popular processed meat products of India and other countries and exploring their origins, ingredients, preparation methods and cultural significance.