Though it’s steeped in centuries of history and traditional cooking methods, meat preparation has come a long way thanks to man’s insatiable appetite for meat! Now there are more ways to enjoy a great steak or hamburger than ever before.
Although there are many meat preparation methods, the most popular ones are often the best. So let’s dive in and look at some of the best ways you can prepare and cook your meat to perfection.
Table of Contents
Smoking
The process of meat smoking is the process of preserving meat by cooking it with smoke. It is an ancient preservation technique that has been practiced in almost every culture around the world. Meat smoking can be done with a smoker or over a fire pit.
The traditional way to produce smoked meats was by cold smoking them, which means that no heat is used during the smoking process, just a constant flow of smoke from smoldering hardwood chips or sawdust.
However, today’s most popular method is using a dedicated BBQ smoker that imparts an enormous amount of flavor into almost any cut of meat. If this sounds like something you want to attempt, you will need some dedicated equipment to get it right.
If you plan on using this form of cooking often, you should check out the various handmade BBQ smokers on the market. These give you total control regarding size and features to ensure that you get perfectly cooked, juicy meat every time.
Frying
This is a process in which food is immersed in hot oil, butter, or another kind of fat. The most common include pan-frying, deep-frying, or stir-frying. Fried meat is delicious because it creates a crispy outside and a juicy interior.
The type of fat you use will dictate the flavor, but unsalted butter is used in most circumstances as it imparts a wonderful aroma and taste to the meat.
For best results, you should use high-quality olive oil when melting your butter. This will reduce the chances of the butter burning in your pan and ruining the dish. Furthermore, you should continually baste the meat as it’s cooking to keep the steak moist throughout the process.
Flame Grilling
Flame grilling is a cooking technique that involves placing food over an open flame and cooking it with radiant heat. This technique can be used to cook any type of meat or vegetable. It’s often used for fast-cooking foods that have been marinated beforehand.
Although it creates a truly unique flavor, it takes time to perfect. Firstly, add a little oil or butter to the grates of your flame grill to prevent the food from sticking and help it brown evenly. After oiling your grates, place them on the grill and let them heat up before adding any food.
Once they are hot enough, add your meat and cook it for about 5-10 minutes per side, depending on the type and thickness of the meat.
Braising
Braising is a cooking technique that involves browning meat and vegetables, adding liquid to cover the ingredients, and then simmering them for a long time. Braised dishes are often browned on the surface, resulting in an attractive presentation.
Braising can be done in the oven, on the stovetop, or using a BBQ grill. The cooking liquid is usually some kind of flavorful liquid like wine, broth, or stock. This technique is perfect for cooking cheaper, tougher cuts, and the process tenderizes as it braises.
Stewing
Stewing is a cooking technique in which food is cooked at a low temperature for a long time, along with a range of other ingredients to add more flavor. The purpose of stewing is to break down the tougher connective tissues and make the meat tender.
Stews are generally thickened by adding flour, cornstarch, or other starches to the cooking liquid. Stewing also breaks down tough vegetables like carrots and celery and can turn them into something more palatable than they would be if eaten raw or boiled.
Roasting
Roasting meat is a great way to cook meat and is particularly famous in the US and Europe (not so much in other parts of the world due to the need for an oven). The process of roasting meat can be broken down into three main steps, all of which serve equal importance:
- Preparation
- Cooking
- Resting
Roasting is popular because it is a cooking method that produces flavorful, tender, and juicy meat. Additionally, it is often used to cater to many people, making it an inherently social cooking style.
From smoking to braising, there is no limit to how you can prepare and cook your meat to perfection. There are many more methods aside from those methods here, but these are arguably the most popular and straightforward to implement.
