An apparatus and method for processing meat slabs into meat strips,
particularly pork belly slabs into bacon strips. The apparatus includes a
massager, a slab press station, a sleeve for holding the pressed slab, an
oven or smokehouse, a blast chiller, a slab removable device and a spiral
freezer. The method for processing the meat slab into meat strips
includes massaging the slab, pressing the slabs and inserting the slabs
into sleeves in the pressed condition. The sleeves are then transported
to an oven for cooking and then a blast chiller. Once chilled, the slabs
are removed from the sleeve and sliced to the appropriate thickness.