A thermal process used to modify the moisture content and appearance of food, primarily meat, poultry and fowl, so that the resulting product will meet the USDA label requirement as “Jerky”. The process takes place in one or more enclosed insulated chambers which have temperature and relative humidity controls and reversing horizontal air flow. The process preconditions the product and also controls the application of superheated steam to the product, thereby controlling the reduction of free and bound moisture (water activity) exiting from the product. In addition, enhanced heated vapors can be added to be absorbed into the product's surface pours, thereby changing the appearance and flavor of the product and improving the end products' yields. The completed process also has the advantages of meeting lethality treatment requirements while also reducing the thermal processing time and energy associated with existing Jerky manufacturing methods.
