Stew made with poultry or meat contains fat. A certain amount of fat is necessary for a health-promoting diet. Essential vitamins A, D, E and K are not absorbed by the body without dietary fat. Fat is also an important source of energy and is vital to many bodily functions. However, saturated fat, found in animal products, may cause plaque build up in arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease. Receive the health benefits of fat in your stew by removing the saturated fat, the part that solidifies when cold. Defat stew while it is hot or cold.
Step 1
Remove excess fat from meat before cooking in a stew. Trim fat on cuts of beef or pork. Discard fat. Skin chicken and remove loose fat. Discard skin and fat.
Step 2
Cook meat for stew before adding vegetables if you prefer to de-fat the broth with a fat-separator pitcher. If you prefer to defat by allowing the stew to cool and removing solids, follow the recipe instructions for cooking.
Step 3
Pour broth off of meat or poultry through a strainer and into a fat-separator pitcher. This type of pitcher is designed with the spout reaching near the bottom of the pitcher, which allows the bottom fluid to pour off first. Since fat floats, it can be discarded after the broth is collected. Allow the broth to settle in the pitcher for a few minutes before separating to allow the fats to rise to the top.
Step 4
Cool stew to room temperature and then refrigerate, if you prefer to cook the stew before the defatting process. While the stew is cooling to room temperature, fat will rise to the top. In the refrigerator, fat will solidify and turn white. Using a spoon or ladle, remove the solid fat and discard it.
Step 5
Defat stew while cooking by removing the stew from the heat and allowing it to stand for several minutes. Fat will rise to the top and form glistening pools. Using a ladle or spoon, dip off the fat. Discard the fat.
Tips and Warnings
- When stew is cooked before the defatting process, vegetables pick up some of the flavor from the fat. Eating fat in moderation is healthy.
Things You'll Need
- Fat separator, optional
- Ladle or spoon, optional
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