Culinary Delights: Types of Cooked Meat
Cooked meats are a common and delicious part of our dining table, with a wide variety ranging from sausages to roasted chicken. Different types of cooked meats have distinct flavors and uses. Let’s take a look at these tasty varieties today!
What are the most common types of cooked meat?
Ham:
Common ones include Jinhua ham, Parma ham, garlic-flavored ham, etc. It has a salty and fragrant taste and is tough. It can be eaten directly or used in cooking.
Sausage:
There are a rich variety of categories. German sausages, Cantonese sausages, and Taiwanese sausages are all very popular. After processes such as pickling, filling, and smoking, they have a long shelf life and unique flavor.
Smoked meat:
Bacon is the most representative. There are also smoked chicken, smoked duck, etc. The smoking process makes the meat texture tighter and at the same time gives it a special smoky aroma. It can be eaten directly and is relatively convenient and fast.
Traditional marinated products:
Such as spiced beef, marinated duck, salt-baked chicken, etc. They occupy an important position in Chinese food culture and are cold dishes and side dishes loved by many people.
What is considered cooked meat?
Cooked meat refers to processed meat products that can be eaten directly. The simplest criterion for judgment is to see whether the meat has completely changed color. For example, pork changes from pink to grayish-white, and beef changes from red to brown.
Cooked meat can also be judged from the processing method. Meats processed by cooking methods such as boiling, stir-frying, and roasting are all considered cooked meat. In addition, hams and cured meats made by traditional processes such as pickling and smoking, as well as canned luncheon meat produced industrially, also belong to cooked meat.
How long can cooked meat be left at room temperature before it spoils?
Cooked meat can only be left at room temperature for up to 4 hours. Beyond this time, there will be food safety risks. In hot summer weather, it is recommended to control it within 2 hours, because the hotter the weather, the faster bacteria reproduce.
After cooking at home on a daily basis, it is best to eat it while it is still hot. If there is leftover cooked meat, it is recommended to put it in the refrigerator for refrigeration, which can be stored for 3 to 4 days. Before refrigeration, it is best to pack it in a fresh-keeping box. This can avoid odor mixing and also extend the shelf life.
The spoilage of cooked meat is mainly related to temperature. Around 25 degrees Celsius at room temperature is the environment where bacteria are most likely to reproduce. Especially for some cooked meats with high moisture content, such as braised pork, they are more likely to spoil. So be sure to eat it up in time or refrigerate it.
How should cooked meat be cooked?
The three most commonly used methods are boiling, marinating and roasting. Each method has its own characteristics.
Boiling: Just put the meat in a pot and add water to boil. However, pay attention to the heat control. Boil it over high heat at first, then turn to low heat and simmer slowly so that the meat will be tender. Ginger slices and scallions can be added when boiling to remove the fishy smell.
Marinating: You need to prepare brine by using soy sauce, cooking wine and various spices like star anise and cinnamon. The meat should be blanched first to remove the blood, then put it into the brine and simmer slowly over low heat. Finally, soak it for a while after turning off the fire to make it more flavorful.
Roasting: It needs to be marinated first. Use salt, soy sauce and minced garlic to marinate for enough time to be flavorful. When roasting, the temperature should be moderate and turn it over frequently so that it can be roasted evenly with a slightly charred outside and tender inside.
What are the signs of spoiled cooked meat?
There are mainly four obvious characteristics of spoiled cooked meat: peculiar smell, discoloration, mold growth, and mucus.
The easiest way to judge is to smell if there is any strange smell. Fresh cooked meat will have a normal meaty aroma. After spoilage, there will be a sour or ammonia smell. If a peculiar smell is found, even if it seems okay in other aspects, it is best not to eat it.
What vegetables can be paired with cooked meat to make delicious dishes?
Green peppers, onions, and carrots are especially compatible with cooked meat. Stir-frying them together will make the whole dish have a great taste. Dishes like stir-fried shredded pork with green peppers and stir-fried beef with onions are very popular home-cooked dishes.
Broccoli and celery are also quite suitable for cooking with cooked meat. They can be made into small stir-fries or stews. These two vegetables have a crisp texture and when paired with cooked meat, the layers are quite distinct. For example, stir-fried beef with broccoli is a classic delicacy.
Vegetables like eggplants and potatoes are better when cooked with cooked meat by braising. They can fully absorb the flavors. You can stir-fry the meat to bring out the fragrance first, and then add these vegetables and cook slowly to fully blend the flavors of the ingredients. The resulting dishes have a rather rich taste.
