A process for separating of a minced, chopped, crushed or mashed food slurry into solid and liquid components after the application of steam for heat treatment. The process extracts the condensed steam water absorbed by the slurry. The process includes: a. heating by direct steam injection the finely divided slurry, b. separating the heated slurry into a solid product and an aqueous liquid, c. heating and pressurizing the aqueous liquid, and d. reducing the pressure of the aqueous liquid thereby generating steam and the liquid product, wherein the steam generated in step d is returned to step a for injection into the slurry.
