Meat Glue Substitutes: 3 Ingredients You Can Use

Meat glue, also known as transglutaminase, is a popular ingredient in the food industry. The primary purpose of it is to glue different parts of meat together to make larger pieces.

It can be used to improve the texture of meat products, like sausages and chicken nuggets. It can be used to make cheese, bread, and a lot of other products.

Meat glue can cause many health problems, from food poisoning to extreme allergic reactions, making it one of the most controversial food Additives.

Transglutaminase is not allowed in the European Union. Since it was approved by the FDA as a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) product, it was declared safe to consume in the US.

People who work in the meat production industry are concerned about meat glue, so they wonder about meat glue alternatives. 

Gelatin, carrageenan, and sodium caseinate are some of the best ingredients that you can use to make a meat glue substitute.

Nature of Meat Glue

It’s possible to get meat glue with the help of blood plasma. Pork and meat are the primary sources of it.

Several vegetables and plants contain this enzyme. This means that you can still get it from non-meat environments.

The main function of the enzyme is to join meat pieces and make shapes. The glue is useful in securing other meat pieces like bacon, ham, chicken skin, etc.

Many food industries use it in processed food. Good strong meat glue should have some of the following qualities.

What Makes a Good Meat Glue Alternative?

Most of the meat glue comes from pigs and cows, but it can come from other animals. It can also be found in various vegetables and plants.

It is supposed to glue two or more meat pieces together and make different shapes.

It helps to secure wrappings to other pieces of meat, like ham, bacon, chicken skin, and so on.

It is utilized in many other processed foods as well. A good meat glue substitute should have properties that would glue different pieces of meat together.

There isn’t an alternative with strong adhesive power like meat glue, but there are other much healthier options you can try.

Meat Glue Alternatives

Some of the best meat glue substitutes are:

• Gelatin
• Carrageenan
• Sodium caseinate

Gelatin

Meat glue and gelatin are often used together to make sure the meat pieces stick together. Gelatin may be the option for you if you don’t want to use meat glue.

The liquid form of gelatin has to be heated before it can be used, so keep in mind that you can use powder or liquid.

Make sure to combine the liquid with the water solution after you heat it.

Gelatin powder is usually used at the end of the curing process of sausages before they are placed in the casing.

There are a lot of health benefits to using gelatin powder as a substitute for meat glue. It is made from boiled animal bones and cartilage.

A lot of minerals are present, such as copper and selenium.

Other ingredients, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or various salts and spices, can also be mixed with Gelatin powder.

If you want the meat to stick together, make sure to keep it refrigerated after you add the gelatin.

When the meat is fully prepared, leave enough for the crust to stick to the meat so that it doesn’t get soggy.

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a frequently used ingredient in the food industry. It is derived from red seaweeds.

It is so widespread in the dairy and meat industry because of its ability to stabilize the texture of meat.

Both refined and semi-refined versions of carrageenan are used in preparing meat. The quality and texture of the meat can be improved by using carrageenan as a substitute for meat glue.

It increases the water and yeast binding properties that help the meat pieces stick together.

The use of carrageen helps capture the moisture inside of the meat, and it also helps bind vitamins and minerals to the meat.

Smoked products, chicken, poultry sausages, Frankfurters, hamburgers, and minced meat products are some of the best uses for Carrageenan.

It is an overall healthier alternative to meat glue, and it is much easier to come by as well.

Sodium Caseinate

The white color of caseinate comes from the casein that is found in cow’s milk.

It’s possible to improve and stable the texture of a large variety of food products with the help of sodium caseinate.

In processed meats, sodium caseinate can be useful, even though it’s more frequently used in dairy products.

Since it can absorb water, it can be used to change or improve the texture of food. It is possible to reduce fat and oil levels in processed meat.

Meat glue has the same health benefits as sodium caseinate, but it doesn’t have the same strength.

Betterment Tips

• If you want to get better results with liquid gelatin, boiling it is a must before mixing it with water solutions.
• Meat glue works in a way that meat pieces are bonded together to form coarse shapes, but also give rise to a lump of meat with enhanced taste and quality.
• The meat glue comes from pigs and cows and is formed as a result of the bacterium Escherichia coli.
• Meat glue is an important part of the meat industry to make sure the meat pieces are bound together.

FAQ

Can I use mat glue in a restaurant?

This substance is essential for the dining industry. Large hotels, restaurant chains, and catered events have invested in it.

It’s a good idea for any place that serves large filet mignon amounts to use glue.

How do you define food glue?

It’s meat glue or transglutaminase. Food glue is a food substance that is used to improve the texture and appearance of your food.

Conclusion

Meat glue is used in the meat industry to make sure the pieces stick together and form a specific shape.

Meat glue can be very bad for your health, so you should use healthier alternatives for your meat.

Gelatin, carrageenan, and sodium caseinate are some of the best ingredients that can be used as a meat glue substitute.

The most widespread ingredient is Gelatin, and it has the most adhesive power among these alternatives.

It is a much healthier option because of the stabilizing qualities of carrageenan. It is possible to modify the quality and texture of your meat products with the help of sodium caseinate.

Meat glue substitute is only going to enhance the taste of your meat products, no matter which meat glue substitute you choose.