Cold gelation is a useful means for binding meat particles together
without cooking. This processing technique requires proper
binders, such as the cross-linking enzyme transglutaminase (TG)
and its substrates, to completely bind the cubes of meat together.
Although the heating process enhances the gelation of myofibrillar
protein and other meat protein combinations, low temperature
incubation with TG and its substrates would be beneficial for
restructured meat products. Current methods of gel formation
using TG treatments at low temperatures require long incubation
time for the enzymes to activate the meat proteins and added
substrates.