Back in 1968, the CHICKEN TUCKER, a pre-tied covered elastic food loop was introduced to the poultry industry. It’s primary use – to save time, labor and promote food safety. Prior to that time, most processors and supermarket Delis hand tied the full bird destined for rotisserie cooking or roasting. Costly and a good chance of cross contamination.
Today, more than 42 years later, these poultry ties are still widely used in preparing rotisserie chicken but Delis around the Continent have found many and other varied uses for this ‘food loop’.
With the Hispanic market growing, the ties are widely used to secure corn wrapped tamales, keeping them fresh in the meat case and holding the husk to the tamale masa throughout the entire cooking process. Consumers loved the convenience and Deli managers had no losses from dry-out.
Replacing various binders that could alter the taste of the meat, or avoiding the possible safety hazard with using toothpicks or skewers, Delis and meat departments found yet another use for the handy tie, holding the bacon on bacon-wrapped filets.
The simple little food loop did not stop there. Delis soon found so many other and varied uses for this tie, like beef roll-ups (braciole to the Italian community), several types of stuffed meats, rolled pork loins, tournedos, even stuffed cabbage rolls.
TNI Packaging produces about 3 million loops each and every week and although most of the loops are used on rotisserie birds, TNI owes a special thanks to the Deli industry because, with their inventiveness, the CHICKEN TUCKER has found its place on so many different food items offered in supermarket Delis throughout North America.
For more information or samples, call Ana Calderone toll free at 800-383-0990 or e-mail her at atirado@tnipackaging.com. And, visit the website. Se habla Espanol.
SOURCE TNI Packaging Inc.
