6 Ways to Be a More Informed Meat Buyer

Going to the butcher shop can be intimidating. If all you've known is pre-packaged big box supermarket whatever, the sheer sensory overload of a full meat case can leave even the strongest person catatonic. But the good news is that just by going into your local butcher's place you've already made the biggest step towards getting great meat, the trick is just to avoid being paralyzed by choice. Here's five-ish tips that I think can help anyone become a more clued-in meat buyer

3 Ways to Cook Bacon

There are three ways to cook bacon, and the way you do it is a matter of choice. In a skillet
A mistake that many people make is putting cold bacon into a frying pan that has been heated to a hot temperature. Take the bacon out of the refrigerator and let it sit for a few minutes before you cook it, which allows it to soften a bit. Then place it in an unheated pan on medium heat. It will cook more evenly and is less likely to burn. This method also helps to avoid spattering, which is caused by moisture in the bacon coming into contact with a hot pan. To further reduce spattering, the slices may be wiped with a paper towel to get rid of moisture before cooking, especially if they have just been thawed.

Do Not Mess Up With Chicken Mishandling

Chicken is the most versatile meat found all over the world. So it becomes quite necessary to know the basics about handling of chicken and their storage.

I tried to mention here certain points from the web to just make things easier especially for beginners.For better safety you need to be sure that chicken is properly handled and stored. The bacteria which are there on its surface are not visible to us and if consumed like that they can cause many foodborne diseases.
Let me discuss here points to handle chicken:
Clean them properly: It is always better to wash your hands before starting the cleaning process of chicken. The chopping board, utensils must be cleaned well

The Benefits of Sous Vide Cooking

Cooking food is an art form that many people take to heart. Before we take a look at what benefits there are to sous vide cooking, we need to know what it is. The word sous vide means 'under vacuum' when translated from French. It is a method of cooking where the food is sealed in an airtight plastic bag then placed in an oven or steamer for a long period of time. The temperature is controlled and consistent for the duration of the cooking time which could be anything from ninety-six hours. Now let's take a look at how sous vide cooking is beneficial to you as a chef.

Firstly, why would it be better to cook your food in a bag? If you are cooking a chicken in a bag, for example, the controlled heat will cover the entire surface area of the chicken. This means that the heat will be evenly distributed over the chicken hence a properly and evenly cooked chicken will be achieved. For this

Top 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling Vegetables

Grilling fruits and vegetables is relatively easy - they cook way quicker compared to meat plus you could easily tell when they're ready from the grill just by looking at them. However, if you want the most out of your grilled vegetables in terms of flavor and nutrition, there are certain mistakes that a lot of people make that you should avoid.

Here are the top 5 most common mistakes when grilling fruits and vegetables:

1. Not preparing vegetables into workable pieces

One of the most common mistakes when grilling fruits and vegetables is not preparing them into workable pieces for the grill. Don't just place them there whole - fresh produce need to be cut, peeled or sliced in preparation for grilling so that they can be cooked evenly. Unless you're using a grill basket for your veggies, make sure they're the right size for your grill grates - not too small to fall through the grates, but not too big that it would be hard to be cooked through.

Grilling Tips- How to Properly Grill Common Vegetables

Like with any other type of food, there is a correct way of grilling each type of vegetable in order for them to cook properly. Preparing fresh produce takes more than peeling, cutting or slicing them up then throwing them on the grates. If you want perfectly-cooked vegetables, it is ideal to learn how each type should be grilled to maximize their fresh flavor and nutrition.

Here the most commonly grilled vegetables and the right way to cook them on the grill.

Bell Peppers

Red and green bell peppers are a griller's favorite to include in a veggie kebab or a salad. They can be cooked in two ways - you can grill them whole until the peppers are tender and the skin is charred for peeling or you can slice them into workable pieces and cook them just for a few minutes or until just charred around the edges. Bell peppers cook best when seasoned with salt and black pepper, brushed with olive oil, and cooked skin down over high heat for 5-8

Cooking With Mezcal in Oaxaca- Casa De Los Sabores Class and Recipe

They came to learn how to cook with mezcal. They came from England, Poland, Australia, United States, and even Oaxaca's Mixteca Alta. This was a mezcal cooking class as internationally attended as one could imagine. But of course; over the past few years Chef Pilar Cabrera Arroyo has garnered a global reputation as one of Mexico's top cooks, specializing in preparing Oaxacan regional cuisine for both her Restaurante La Olla and her Casa de los Sabores Cooking School.

I attended the class in May, 2015, yet another mezcal event in my adopted hometown, the city of Oaxaca, located in south central Mexico. Others have included cocktail and mixology sessions; evenings of combining the iconic Mexican agave based spirit with chocolate and with craft beer; mezcal tastings of umpteen brands of both the intoxicant as certified for export, and produced for local consumption (often referred to on drink menus as "agave distillate"); federal government sponsored education programs; formal lectures and informational meetings regarding the status of the industry; and of course cooking classes. In my line of

Three Ways To Cook Bacon And How to Get Rid Of Cooking Oil Waste

Just like there's more than one way to skin a cat, there's also more than one way to cook bacon. Learn about the three ways to cook bacon and how to properly dispose of the leftover cooking oil waste.

In The Oven

If you are cooking a large amount of bacon, cooking bacon in the oven is the easiest way to go. First, pre-heat the oven to 400°. While the oven pre-heats, place some foil on a baking sheet; then lay the bacon there. Depending on the thickness of the slices, bake for 15 to 20 minutes. While the slices bake, place some paper towels on a platter, and once the baking is done, use tongs to remove the slices so they can cool and allow the paper towels to absorb excess grease.

Points to Consider When Cooking Meat

Meats should be cooked at a heat that kills the harmful bacteria in it. There are suggested unique cooking temperature readings for each kind of animal protein. There are several points that need to be taken into consideration, when cooking animal products; some of those points are -

Cook it at the right temperature - The science and technology has proposed several means that have comforted the human life. Kitchen, grill, and BBQ thermometers are a great utility that enable one to check the exact temperature of the food, while it is being cooked. Because uncooked or improperly cooked meat steaks may contain various microorganisms, it becomes essential to take them to the suggested summit of heat.

For instance, if you are making roast beef or lamb, make sure you take its temperature to at least 170º F, or 77º C. This is the safest temperature that makes the roast beef or lamb edible. You would need a grill meat thermometer for this stunt. Similarly, for cooking ground beef, chicken, and pork, 165º F temp would be perfect.

There are available special temperature-monitoring devices that can be used in microwave ovens. The probe can be inserted into the meat, before being placed into the microwave.

5 Top Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling a Burger

Grilling a burger is fairly easy, but there are certain tips and tricks that everyone should follow in order to achieve this perfectly-grilled classic. In order to achieve this faster, it is important to learn the most common mistakes that grillers make when cooking a hamburger on the grill.

Avoid these common mistakes the next time you grill burgers and you will surely get a taste of your best one yet:

1. Over-seasoning the meat

While you are free to season and customize your ground meat with whatever spices you prefer, it is important to keep in mind that you're cooking a burger and not a meatloaf. Classic burgers can taste great with salt and pepper alone - so skip the taco seasoning, the bread crumbs, sautéed onions and other unnecessary additions. Don't use too much or too little of salt and pepper, though, and don't forget to season the other side before flipping the patty.