By 
When was the last time you made something new for dinner?
If you’re making the same variation of meals each week for dinner, you and your family have probably grown bored and could use something new. Even if you’re using the same staple ingredients, you can make something new and exciting by changing up your cooking method.
If you’re interested in spicing things up in the kitchen, then keep reading our page! We’ll go over seven different ways to cook meat that will give new life to your weeknight dinners.
Food Safety
When you’re handling any meats, it’s important to be aware of the proper temperatures to cook them at and any other health hazards, such as cross-contamination. Take a look at the USDA recommended guidelines for you to follow while cooking your meat.
Cross-contamination is another health hazard that you should be aware of when cooking. This can happen when bacteria from raw meat is transferred to cooked food, causing a foodborne illness.
When handling any raw meats, always switch out utensils and use clean surfaces when handling the cooked food to avoid cross-contamination.
1. Baking
Baking is the easiest way to cook meat, and it’s one of the most common methods. By using the oven you can set and control the temperature and even set a timer for when your food needs to come out.
Since ovens have a good range of temperatures and can run for as long as you need them to, you can pretty much bake any type of meat as long as you’ve got the proper dish or tray to hold it.
Baking your meat can leave it dry and dehydrated, so be sure to marinate it or make a foil tent to keep the moisture inside.
2. Grilling
Grilling, also called barbecuing, is a fun way to cook pretty much anything, including a wide variety of meats. While grilling is typically done outdoors on a charcoal or gas grill, there are other types of grilling appliances for the inside too!
The reason that grilling is so versatile is that you can cook on low, medium, and high heats to cook any cut of meat, as long as you keep an eye on the time. Grilling is also one of the easiest ways to cook meat once you know how to work the grill.
Preparation and cook time for any meat that you’re grilling will depend on the type and cut, but the process is about the same.
You’ll want to start off by heating up your grill to the desired temperature, oiling the grill, and then placing your meat on one of the racks. You may need to marinate, flip, or move your food to another rack throughout the cooking process.
3. Broiling
Broiling is a good method of cooking thinner cuts of meat and poultry without the bone, and even some types of seafood. Broiling works almost the same way as grilling, by using very high temperatures for a shorter period of cook time.
Unlike grilling, broiling is done inside of the oven by putting your food on the top or bottom rack of your oven and using one of the broil settings.
This style of cooking is often forgotten about, despite most ovens having a broiler option. Broilers have also been known to dry out your meat, so it’s essential to always marinate or glaze your meat and limit the time that it’s in the oven!
4. Braising
Braising is a popular cooking technique for tougher cuts of meat, such as briskets, ribs, and rump roasts. This method involves cooking meat in a liquid at low heat for a longer period of time, which results in tender meat that melts in your mouth.
To braise something, you’ll want to start off by pan-searing your meat with a little oil to get a browned exterior, without cooking the inside. Next, you’ll want to transfer the cut of meat and its juices into your pot, dutch oven, or slow cooker, and add a liquid.
The liquid that you cook you use can be water, broth, beer, or even wine, and you’ll want to add enough so that it covers about ¾ of your cut of meat.
Then you’ll wait for it to simmer and cover the pot, checking on it periodically until your meat is fully cooked. This can take anywhere from an hour to 4 hours, depending on what you’re making.
5. Smoking
Using a smoker is one of the most unique ways to cook meat, and will offer you a new world of rich flavor. Smoking meat often uses a smoker that will very slowly cook your meat with indirect heat and smoke, which gives it a unique texture and flavor.
Because smoked meat is cooked over such an extended period of time, the meat comes out exceptionally tender. This makes it ideal for cooking large cuts, such as ribs and briskets.
One of the reasons why smoking meat isn’t as common of a way to cook is because it can be a challenge to find a good quality smoker. If you’re looking to get your hands on a smoker, take a look at the reviews for this Big Chief electric smoker.
6. Stewing
Stewing meat is similar to braising it, they both use liquid to slowly cook large cuts of meat. The main difference between these two methods is that stewing uses cut-up portions of meat and it has enough liquid to submerge all of the meat.
Stew meat is easy to find at most grocery stores, but it isn’t always from the best quality cuts of meat. If you want to make a good stew, consider picking your own cut of meat and cutting it up yourself.
7. Frying
Frying is one of the more challenging methods of cooking meat, but if done correctly you can make some fun meals. You can pretty much fry most cuts of meat and poultry, but it’s important to check the temperature of the meat and oil to make sure everything is cooked thoroughly.
Depending on what you’re cooking, some meats should be coated in breadcrumbs or even beer-battered before going into a fryer. It’s essential to keep the oil at the perfect temperature with an oil thermometer otherwise you’ll undercook or burn your meat.
Exploring the Different Ways to Cook Meat
Cooking dinner every night can get tedious, especially if you’re cooking the same meals in rotation. That’s why it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and try new cooking techniques every once in a while.
Hopefully, our page gave you some new ideas on ways to cook meat so you can make something new. If you found this article interesting, be sure to check out some of our other great content!
Comments