When talking about food, we all want to ensure that we are spending our money on something of quality and delicious. There is nothing worse than wasting money on bad food. Therefore, if you are a true meat lover and want to start cooking beef cuts, then you must learn how to choose the best quality meat. There is no need of being a professional cooker to learn this valuable information to make your dishes more delicious.
If you have the chance, then try to purchase organic meat. There are plenty of reasons why choose organic meat on top of non-organic one. For instance, organic meat has more healthy fats, and it is better to eat this meat free of pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones. But, it doesn’t matter if you are at the organic butchery or not, our following advice will be useful for both meat types.
1. Meat colour
Colour is a truly important indicator for any kind of food, and meat is not the exception. If you’re going to buy red meat, then guess which colour the meat should have? Red, red, red & more red, but make sure that it’s a bright red colour. One thing that you should be always get away from is the brown colour. Some people might say that it is still safe to eat meat that way, but better not to do so.
When you have brown spotting on the meat or it’s brownish, that means the cut has been exposed to oxygen. While this doesn’t sound like a true nightmare, the reality is that the meat has not been stored properly, and it could be a hazard to your health. In summary, if you see brown meat, then run away from that place.
2. Use your nose
Another easy way to know if your meat is fresh is by the smell. It might be a little bit hard to smell meat that is stored in the supermarket. But if you go to a butchery, it would be easier. If the meat they are trying to sell you is in a bad state, then it will stink with a sour smell. If it doesn’t smell funny in any way, then you can be sure that the meat is fresh.
If you’re not sure if the meat smells good or bad, then you should trust your gut. By instinct, human beings know by smell when food is starting to rot, so follow your nose.
3. Clean cuts
The experience of the butcher will reflect in the cuts that he/she makes. Good quality meat is always butchered smoothly, and the cuts will look clean and at a uniform size. Stay away from jagged-edged meat that only shows that the butcher is not being careful with the job he/she is doing.
Also, clean cuts will look more aesthetic after cooked than jagged ones. Remember that presentation is also a vital matter in any dish. So, if you want to impress someone by cooking meat, then you need to choose a clean cut.
4. Fat in the meat
Fat is your best friend when talking about choosing rich flavoured meat. In case you’re not aware of this, fat is one of the main ingredients for more flavour in a beef cut. Meat that is marbled is tastier. Meat marbled is because it has white streaks of fat distributed through the entire muscle, which will make it more tender and delicious.
For example, rib-eye is one of the five best cuts of steak because of the marbling on it. So, now you know, if you want a flavourful cut, you should choose one with a great deal of fat marbling.
A few more tips…
- Always check the use-by date
If you want to know when the meat you’re purchasing is going to be spoiled, then you must check the use-by date. It’s a big deal when purchasing meat because consuming it after the indicated date can be dangerous for your health. For example, if you’re planning to store a couple of days the meat before using it, then you must ensure that the use-by date is not the day when you’re purchasing it. This might sound obvious, but better to give this advice to you.
- Consider the meat’s purpose
Are you going to use the meat for a stew, a barbecue, or another type of dish? That will be an important matter while choosing the right type of cut. Always ask the butcher for the best cut option for the purpose you want it. If you don’t do so, then you might end up buying an expensive cut for just a stew.
Last words
Now that you know how to choose good quality meat, go ahead and purchase the best cut for your needs. Don’t forget to check how the meat is stored and the integrity of the package. If you see something odd, then don’t buy the meat in that supermarket or butchery. At the end of the day, it’s perishable food, and not having it in good condition might get you sick.
Don’t forget to find a good recipe to cook your meat. Many people think that meat can affect their health because of the fat, but in fact, you can find the healthiest ways to prepare meat and stay away from that conception.
Author Bio:
Hi, I’m Eleena Wills. Being a writer and blogger, I strive to provide informative and valuable articles to people. With quality, constructive, and well-researched articles, one can make informed choices. I cover a wide range of topics, from home improvement to hairstyling and automotive.
