Meatballs are a global favorite, enjoyed in diverse formats for countless occasions. Served hot or cold, in sauces, soups, sandwiches, as a main dish, or a snack, their versatility is unmatched. From fresh to pre-cooked, fried, chilled, or frozen, meatballs cater to all markets. Here are five ways to elevate your formulation and appeal to more consumers.
Read on to discover how ScanPro™ 1015 can enhance your product as a natural meat replacer.
1. Lower formulation costs
ScanPro™ 1015 offers a cost-effective solution for meatball recipes. By replacing a portion of the meat with ScanPro™ 1015 and water (in a 1:4 ratio), you can significantly reduce costs without compromising quality. In fact, this reformulation enhances the texture and bite of meatballs (see section 2).
For example, replacing 5% of the meat can result in substantial savings. Based on a European price index where 1 kg of meat costs 100%, the equivalent amount of ScanPro™ 1015 costs just 54%. For precise cost projections tailored to your business, contact our protein specialists.
2. Enhanced texture and bite
ScanPro™ 1015 is available in various forms, each with specific particle sizes and water-binding capacities (finer powders bind 1:8, while coarser versions bind 1:4). When mixed with water and heated, the collagen unfolds, and as it cools, it re-forms a structure that binds water, adding elasticity and enhancing the bite of your meatballs.
This texture enhancement creates a superior eating experience. Essentia’s experts can guide you in choosing the ideal version for your desired mouthfeel.
3. Boosted flavor and juiciness
Made from thermally treated pork rind, ScanPro™ 1015 has a naturally roasted pork flavor that complements most meatball recipes. Adding it enhances the meatball’s flavor and retains moisture, giving a juicy, succulent mouthfeel that stands out.
4. Improved appearance and consistency
Consumers are selective when choosing fresh meat products, and appearance is key. Fresh meat often releases juices during storage, but ScanPro™ 1015 helps retain moisture, stabilizing meat structure and enhancing the cohesiveness and shape of the meatballs. The result is a visually appealing product with consistent shape that’s more likely to attract consumers.
5. Clean label ingredient
ScanPro™ 1015 is a pure, clean label ingredient derived from 100% pork skin. It contains primarily collagen, with no additives, allergens, or GMOs. This aligns perfectly with consumer preferences for natural, minimally processed ingredients.
Optimizing minced or ground meat ScanPro™ 1015
ScanPro™ 1015 is a 100% natural ingredient made from defatted, dehydrated pork skin. When hydrated, it closely matches the protein, collagen, and moisture content found in pork meat, making it an excellent meat replacer.
By substituting 5-10% of meat with ScanPro™ 1015 in a 1:4 ratio with water, you maintain the same nutritional profile as 100% meat—essentially adding meat back into meat. This replacement not only reduces costs but also retains volume while enhancing juiciness and mouthfeel.
ScanPro™ 1015 is also significantly lower in fat compared to typical pork cuts. A 1:4 mixture with water has just 2.6% fat, whereas pork shoulder, for instance, contains around 27% fat. With today’s preference for lower-fat options, ScanPro™ 1015 provides an effective way to create healthier, lower-cost meatballs that still deliver on taste and texture.
Consider incorporating ScanPro™ 1015 to optimize your recipe.
We have you covered
Essentia offers a diverse range of meat, skin, bone, blood, and insect-derived raw materials, bringing the best of nature directly to your formulation. For more details or to explore co-creation opportunities with our experts, contact your local Essentia representative today.
