Today, fajitas are a staple on the menus of most Mexican-American restaurants, but the dish doesn't have the long history that other Mexican foods such as tacos do. Workers on Texas ranches created fajitas using the tough strips of skirt steak they received as part of their payment. Skirt steak is still a common fajita filling, but other meats have risen in popularity as well.
Elk cutlets are a lean piece of meat that you cook quickly in a frying pan, similar to venison. Elk is a wild game that might have a strong flavor. You can hide this gamey flavor with seasoning or by soaking the cutlets in mari...
The amount of bacteria in meat doubles every 20 minutes when left at temperatures from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, becoming a dangerous risk to your health. Cooking temperature and proper handling are key f...
Dry-rubbed meats benefit from dry, high heat cooking methods, as the outside of the meat needs to be seared and crisped thoroughly to keep it from becoming soggy. Cooking methods like braising and baking, which involve liquid a...
While marinades usually apply to meat before cooking, barbeque sauces glaze meat near the end of cooking or serve as an accompaniment to a prepared dish. The active ingredient in marinades is an acid that breaks down meat and a...
Ginger goes with many kinds of red meat and figures in a number of ethnic cuisines. Entree recipes most often call for fresh ginger, which is available in the produce sections of supermarkets, as well as specialty markets. It's...
Much of that effort has gone into preserving meats, fish and poultry, each of them high-value foods that are nutritionally dense and rich in protein. Unfortunately, they are also among the most perishable of foods. Even today,...
Browning meat in a skillet cooks it through quickly so you can proceed with the rest of your meal preparations. Beef, chicken, pork and lamb all brown well in just a small amount of oil. You can use cuts of meat or ground meat,...
The only thing they have in common, from empanadas to Jamaican "patties" to the steak and kidney pie of England, is a crust on the outside and meat on the inside. In America, they're most often meat and gravy in a pie...
Dehydrated soya meat, also called textured soy protein, is an ingredient option that is high in protein and fiber but free of saturated fat and cholesterol. Connie Diekman, a dietitian with Washington University in St. Louis an...
The key to butterflying a piece of meat is not to cut all the way through, so you still have one complete piece. The butterfly cut works well with chicken breast, pork chops, steak or even a whole chicken. Butterflying sets the...
Meat is a good source of iron, zinc, protein and riboflavin, which are all important for both you and your baby during pregnancy. However, you’ll need to take precautions when cooking meat to ensure that it’s safe. ...
It's a good option for feeding a large group and, best of all, it cooks slowly with little attention from you. Select inexpensive cuts of meat, such as pork butt roast or beef round, since the long cooking tenderizes even the t...
Chicken breast can be tender, moist and flavorful, or dry, tasteless and stringy depending on how it is cooked. Because the white meat of chicken is muscle tissue, overcooking makes it tough. Chicken needs to be cooked to an in...
If the dire headlines about excessive meat consumption don't scare your husband into reducing meat intake, then it may be time to implement some stealth tactics. People who regularly avoid meat consumption, according to The Can...
Furthermore, the University of Florida reports that the only difference between red meat and white meat is the lower fat content in white meat. One of the healthiest ways to prepare meat is sautéing, which involves cooking...
Ground beef or cubed steak are common meat choices, although many cooks use sausage, ground turkey or chicken instead. The safest way to use frozen meat in chili is to defrost it in the refrigerator overnight ahead of time. How...
While meat can be a tasty protein source in your daily diet, cooking it improperly can increase your risk for foodborne illnesses, such as E. coli and salmonella. To reduce the likelihood this will occur, cook meat thoroughly a...
It can be used over an open flame, such as a campfire or fireplace, or placed inside of the kitchen oven. These heavy cast iron pots cook foods slowly over low heat, making them ideal for braising less expensive, tougher cuts o...
Ostrich is a naturally lean, healthful meat that can satisfy your craving for red meat without all of the fat and cholesterol of beef steaks. Ostrich meat is a good source of vitamins B12 and B6, niacin, iron, phosphorous and z...
If you're in a hurry or you forgot to thaw meat ahead of time, it's safe to cook meat directly from the freezer. Allow extra time because cooking time might be up to 50 percent longer or about 10 to 20 more minutes for each 1 l...
Chicken is a healthy choice for most occasions, with white meat lower in fat than the dark meat. You can cook white-meat chicken and serve it as a main course or use leftover chicken in sandwiches, salads and soups. Roasting is...
Cooking meat, poultry and seafood to a safe internal temperature kills many types of bacteria that can give you food poisoning, such as E. coli and salmonella. However, some types of bacteria that can make you sick are not kill...
Meat is available in such a wide array of types and cuts that choosing what to make for dinner, let alone how to cook it, is often a challenge. Whether you're fixing beef, pork, lamb or another type of meat, there are basic coo...
Cooking thin-sliced meat can be far more difficult than making a thick steak or a large roast because there's very little room for error. Thin-sliced meat is any cut of beef that is ¼-inch thick or less. Thin beef cuts c...
Chicken thighs might be the most underappreciated part of the chicken. They not only contain more flavor than breast meat, but they also are generally less expensive and easier to cook. Although it is easier to place chicken th...
Well-marbled meat retains more flavor during cooking than leaner cuts. Removing large chunks of visible fat helps, but small streaks remain. Slow, low-heat cooking releases this residual fat -- a process known as rendering -- w...
When you don't cook meat thoroughly, you run the risk of contamination that can lead to food poisoning and illness. Proper handling and preparation helps you make sure the meat you eat is free of dangerous pathogens and parasit...
They do this by artificially creating a high atmospheric pressure in the pot, which allows the trapped water and steam to reach temperatures well above the normal boiling point of water. Like other cooking methods, a pressure c...
Those thin pieces of meat have a larger ratio of surface area to interior so that the marinade gives the meat a more intense flavor, making a smaller portion of meat taste more substantial. Thin slices also cook quickly and com...
Until refrigeration became cheap and widespread in the 20th century, our forebears kept leftovers covered at room temperature in their pantries. Not surprisingly, sudden illnesses were also common in those days. In the modern e...
In reality, however, "boiling" is a two-step process that starts with cooking beef at a full boil and finishes by cooking the meat just below boiling point, at a temperature of about 190 degrees F. As the meat boils, hot cookin...
London broil originally described a method of cooking tough cuts of meat quickly over high heat to make them tender. In modern times, "London broil" also refers to steaks that you should cook using this method, so buying meat l...
Round cuts contain a lot of muscle, making them tough. This means that round cuts are generally budget friendly, but it also means that it can be difficult to cut boneless sirloin. The first secret to cutting boneless sirloin i...
Brazil is known for spectacular barbecued meats, or churrasco, which can be found in little restaurants dotted all over the country, called churrascarias. Brazilian barbecued steak is seasoned simply but boldly -- with generous...
Although keeping a clean kitchen and storing food properly are essential steps all home cooks should take, cooking your food properly to get rid of any potentially harmful bacteria is the best way to keep you and your family safe.
Meat adds protein, body and flavor to the traditional pairing of wide lasagna noodles, sauce, and a ricotta or cottage cheese filling. All of the ingredients in your lasagna must cook through completely to produce a meal that ...
For turkey lovers who prefer white meat, a bone in or boneless turkey breast is a flavorful alternative to a whole bird. And because you do not have to adjust the cooking time to ensure the dark meat is done, you can more easil...
The Caribbean spiny lobster, or Panulirus argus, is a product of the Southeastern United States. Florida is the main source of the country's spiny-lobster catch, which totaled just over 4 million lbs. in 2008, according to Nati...
Meat is a versatile dish that you can prepare using an endless list of recipes, ingredients and cooking methods. One example is cooking sticky meat -- a specific meat dish that is prepared by braising the meat and then smotheri...
For some barbecue lovers, a little sauce is never enough on their pork or beef ribs. When you cook the ribs, much of the sauce will cook onto the meat, especially if you are using a dry-heat method to cook ribs such as grilling...
Tough meat cuts like round, brisket, rump, chuck and flank are often reasonably inexpensive, but you don't have to sacrifice texture or taste to make ends meet. Cooking tough meat so that it comes out both tender and juicy can ...
The trick with leftovers is to warm the food so that it tastes as good the second time around as when it was freshly prepared. Meat can be problematic to reheat since when it is warmed in the oven it tends to become tough and d...
Cooking meat cubes in a slow cooker so they come out tender and tasty is not a matter of chance. Instead, your choice of meat, the steps you take before the start of cooking, the ingredients you use, and the length of cooking a...
Cajun seasoning, also referred to as Cajun powder, adds spice and flavor reminiscent of New Orleans. Although it's flavor is distinct, it is applicable to a variety of foods. Although it contains spices, there is no need to be ...
When cooking meat, you have three basic choices. You can use a high temperature, with methods such as broiling, to cook in a short period of time. You can use a low temperature and a longer cooking time, to slowly roast your me...
Cook organ meats, also known as offal, within 24 hours of purchase. According to the "Joy of Cooking," organ meats are the most perishable parts of any animal. Purchase organ meats at ethnic markets or order them ahead of time ...
Cooking meat in a pit can be a fun and simple way to prepare great meat with simple tools and items that you can salvage around your property. Natives of the Pacific Islands, for example, have been cooking meat in this style fo...
Some people hunt foxes for sport; some kill them as pests; and others eat them as game. Fox meat is edible, though quite tough. For best results, tenderize fox meat by soaking it overnight in salt water. Combine it with hearty ...
Bolar blade meat is a cut of beef taken from a cow's shoulder, which contains strong muscles and can be tough. Therefore, satisfactory preparation of bolar blade meat requires slow cooking. Bolar blade meat can be cut into stea...
One of the most common complaints among people who oven cook meats is that they comes out too dry. This is because most recipes call for medium to high oven temperatures to get a crispy, seared outer crust. Commercial producers...
There's nothing quite like the experience of cooking your own meat over an open fire pit. Whether you are on a camping trip or in your own backyard, cooking shish kabobs over an open fire is a back-to-basics meal that is as del...
consumed. Besides being packed with loads of protein, turkey may also reduce your cholesterol and aid in cancer prevention because of minerals found in the meat. Turkey is also a valuable source of B vitami
Meat and fish can be cooked over hot coals to produce a main course that is tender and moist. A charcoal grill allows you to cook foods by two methods; using the grate suspended over the coals, or directly on the coals themsel...
One of the most important aspects of cooking meat is ensuring that the meat is cooked all the way through. To know that your meat is cooked through, the United States Department of Agriculture has established guidelines for the...
Gravy -- the flavorful combination of meat juices and thickening agent -- is a classic accompaniment to a variety of meats. The right gravy texture is a personal preference; some people enjoy a thick gravy, while others opt for...
Grills possess the same slow-roasting capabilities as ovens when keeping the grill lids closed during cooking and setting them up for indirect-heat cooking. By keeping meat loaf between two heat sources on a grill -- either bet...
Camel is as much a part of Indian, Arabic and African cooking as beef is to American cuisine. According to British butcher J.M. Danslow, camel is a lean meat with the texture of beef. The cooking process is simple, but the chal...
Inexpensive, simple and flavorful, pork neck bones with rice are Southern comfort food. For a soul food feast, enjoy neck bones and rice with sides of turnip greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread. This neck bone recipe, which s...
Today, however, heart meat is rarely prepared, because most people stick with commonly available cuts of meat. Adding beef heart meat to your menu provides a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that support bodily functions. ...
Other cuts come from lean muscles with little marbling, such as cuts from the hindquarter, which also benefit from slow, moist heat. Braising refers to the cooking method that applies steam heat for hours to break down collagen...
Red meat gets its name from the presence of myoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen from the animal's blood to its muscles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the high levels of myoglobin in cows, sheep and pigs cau...
At one time, simply touching or looking at the color of meat while on the grill was an acceptable way to tell when it was thoroughly cooked. But, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the safest internal temperature ...
Baby bone marrow is the soft tissue found in the bones of a young animal, such as a calf or lamb. Sometimes referred to as "meat butter," bone marrow contains a high amount of fat, and served with toast, its creamy texture and ...
How well meat is cooked isn't contingent on how high the grill or oven is. Instead, the internal temperature reached during cooking determines whether or not your meat is done. Those familiar with smoking meat or ribs have prob...
When preparing chili at home that includes meat, there are a variety of ways to assemble the final product. For most varieties of chili, the meat can be cooked ahead of time. For the best tasting results, there are a few import...
Braising is an excellent way to coax tenderness from the toughest cuts of meat. Adding liquid and cooking slowly in the oven or on the stovetop dissolves the sinewy connective tissues in cuts such as chuck roast, leaving behind...
Stew beef chunks have the advantage of being easier and faster to defrost than large, single pieces of meat and are less likely to develop overcooked areas. Once you defrost the stew beef, use it immediately to prepare your fav...
Once meat is thawed, it is subject to bacterial growth. The amount of time you have to cook meat varies depending on how it was thawed. There are three ways you can safely thaw meat. If you need to thaw something quick, you can...
The term "Milanesa" is associated with Mexican and South American cuisine, but it actually comes from Italy. Milanesa refers to the culinary technique of pounding meat thin, breading it and frying it. Milanesas are typically ma...
Carne picada is thinly sliced or shredded beef. It is typically chuck beef, but meat labeled as carne picada may also contain other lower-grade cuts of beef. Because it is thinly sliced, it cooks quickly, which makes it appropr...
Salt brisket, frequently referred to as corned beef, is a delicious cut of beef with a unique flavor. The beef brisket is soaked in a salty brine for a few days, which gives the beef a different texture, color, and flavor. Corn...
When cooked properly, sheep makes a very hearty meal. The hocks of the sheep work very well in a number of recipes and they will have a rich garlic flavor in this recipe. The hocks can be prepared in less than 90 minutes withou...
Containing both meat and vegetables, they are also a healthful addition to many meals. Depending on your tastes, you can use beef, pork or even chicken breast with this recipe. The rolls take about one hour to cook and, whether...
Because of the cost, tenderloin is often reserved for special events, such as holiday meals. Roasting and grilling are two basic cooking methods for the beef cut. Both methods create a crisp, browned outside with a juicy, tende...
Veal is one the more tender meats and one of the most delicately flavored. Cooking veal cutlets is simple and quick, since most cutlets are very thin. Breaded veal cutlets are the basis for many dishes, including German wiener ...
When you sauté a pork chop or a sausage patty at home, they curl up around the edges, making a cup-like form. Aside from being unattractive, when meat turns into cups, it is nearly impossible to get it to cook evenly bec...
Brisket tends to be on the tougher side, and because of this it needs to be slow cooked in liquid to reach a tender consistency. Preparing your 2-lb. brisket will take the entire day, but you will be left with a tender, rich, c...
Braise your meat if you want to cook it with water. Start by using a dry-heat cooking method called browning. Finish the cooking process by braising the meat in water, a moist-heat cooking method. Braising meat is sometimes cal...
Different cuts of meat respond to heat in different ways, so while quick, hot broiling may tenderize one cut of meat, it can quickly toughen another. Some cooking methods help minimize the fat in your meal by allowing it to dra...
Restructuring of U.S. meat companies caused the price of meat to soar, making those steaks in your freezer potentially more valuable than when you bought them. Protect your food investment by thawing meat, cooking it and safely...
If you choose to incorporate red meat into your diet on occasion, you can lower the fat content of your meal by purchasing loin or round cuts labeled "choice" or "select" and preparing them with a healthy oven-cooking method.
Cook meat in the oven by using cooking methods called braising, broiling and roasting. Braising uses moist heat cooking and makes tough cuts of meat tender. Broiling and roasting use dry heat. Broiling works well for thick and ...
Bologna is a summer sausage made from seasoned, ground meat. When smoked, the meat sits over a wood fire in a smokehouse to enhance the flavor. Cooking your bologna ring can be done in a number of ways depending on how you inte...
A whole sirloin is a large cut of meat, with most whole sirloin roasts weighing in between 8 and 12 lbs. While there are a variety of different ways to cook a whole sirloin, including grilling and slow roasting, the simplest me...
This dehydrates the meat and discolors it. The meat may have a grayish color in certain sections. Although freezer-burned meat may not appear appetizing, you can safely cook it without the risk of food-borne illnesses.
Leftover ground beef, turkey or chicken generally keeps well for future meals, as long as it is cooked thoroughly. Keep leftover ground meat refrigerated in an airtight container for easy access when you want to prepare a qu...
Smoking meat not only gives it a delicious smokey flavor but also slow cooks the meat, keeping most of the juices inside and giving it a tender consistency. Beef brisket comes from the pectoral area of the cow and if overcooked...
The brisket is a large, economical cut of beef from the front of the cow. It's a tough cut of meat you tenderize by using a long, slow cooking method with moist heat called braising. Rubbed brisket is covered in a dry coating c...
This combination of factors, along with low humidity, causes foods to dry out more easily as they're cooking. Meats have a high water content, so they are especially prone to drying and may require some recipe tweaks or alterna...
When your baby starts taking an interest in solid foods at four to six months, you must feed him pureed foods until he gets the hang of eating off a spoon and swallowing things that are not liquid. Meat is a healthy choice to o...
The meat from a mature coconut is used primarily in baked goods or combined with uncooked, finely chopped poultry, meat or shrimp. While coconut milk, made by mixing water with freshly shredded coconut meat, is prized for savor...
Pork is the typical sausage meat, but chicken, turkey, beef, veal, lamb and blends of two or more of these meats are all common. Grain-based fillers and preservatives are generally included as well. No matter which type of mea...
Traditional fajita meat is marinated skirt steak, but fajitas can contain anything from chicken and shrimp to venison or even tofu. Cooking fajita meat in a skillet is simple, since the thin strips cook through very quickly. Be...
If you only have the budget or storage space for one quality piece of stovetop cookware, make it a 10-inch cast iron skillet with a cover. When it comes to cooking meat in a pan over direct heat -- even if you're a kitchen novi...
Cooking white meat can seem a daunting task, given how easily white meat can dry out. The trick to always cooking moist white meat is to brine it first. You can then cook it a number of ways, from grilling to roasting to slow c...
Mexican breaded steak is called Milanesa, perhaps a nod to the Italian breaded veal cutlet that it resembles. Boneless sirloin steak is butterflied or pounded to make it thin. Then it is coated with bread crumbs and fried until...
Dried out meatloaf is something you will never have when cooking meatloaf in an oven bag. The bag holds in meat juices, and minimal venting keeps most of the heat within the bag, resulting in a moist, tasty meatloaf. This benef...
Fajitas are a traditional Mexican dish made with cooked beef or chicken that has been marinated in a combination of spices and citrus juice. Serve fajita meat alongside warm flour tortillas, grilled or sauteed onions and pepper...
Brisket is a cut taken from the chest of a cow, between its front legs. The meat is naturally tough with high amounts of connective tissue. To tenderize brisket, you must cook it for an extended time period to soften the collag...
Dishes that complement beef also complement brisket. Brisket needs long, slow cooking. Coordinating cooking times retains the flavor, texture and vitamin content of your side dishes. Add ingredients whose beneficial pr
Silverside, sometimes called bottom round, is the large and inexpensive cut of meat taken from the upper portion of a cow's hind leg. Silverside is one of the leaner cuts of beef and is best cooked with low heat for a long time...
A winter squash, its hard, silver-gray skin makes it a good keeper, lasting up to six months in a cool, dry place after autumn harvest. Rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, minerals and beta carotene, a cup of cooked winter squash...
When it is time to thaw the ribs, it is important to do it in a way that will ensure it is safe to consume and maintain the quality of the meat. The key to thawing ribs and other cuts of meat safely is to keep the temperature b...
Inexpensive cuts of meat contain less fat than their more marbled counterparts, making them less tender after cooking. Cuts such as filet, strip and ribeye are highly prized by diners for their tenderness, while choices such as...
You spend time choosing the best cut of meat, seasoning it and cooking it. It's a shame not to wait just a few minutes before serving it to be sure that your meat is as good as it can be. Letting meat rest helps retain as much ...
Carne adobado, also called carne adovada, is a dish that is commonly found in the southwestern United States. The word "carne" is Spanish for meat and can refer to pork, beef or lamb. The Spanish term "adobado" refers to a dish...
Lasagna is a wide, flat pasta usually served with alternating layers of sauce, cheese and other ingredients including ground meat, sausage and spinach. Originating in Greece centuries before tomatoes made their way to the Medit...
Brisket is a long cut of meat taken from the chest of a cow. The cut tends to be tough and is usually one of the cheaper cuts of beef. Due to its size and hardness, brisket must be cooked at a low temperature for a long period ...
Thawing meat before cooking it enables more even cooking, but thawing is also important for safety reasons. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends thawing, because thawed meats are less likely than frozen meats...
Traditionally, carne guisada is served in flour tortillas as a soft taco. You can use the meat as a filling for burritos or ladle over rice. The long stewing time turns tougher cuts of beef, such as chuck or loin, into a tender...
Preparing the meat beforehand can enhance flavor and tenderness, but if you use marinade or tenderizer, your choices will affect the final results.
When you're trying to lose weight, the same low-calorie meals can become mundane and boring when you eat them every day. When this happens, changing the way you cook your low-calorie ingredients can help keep the dieting proces...
While juicy steaks and burgers, fresh off the grill are delicious, and a pan-fried fillet of fish seems a healthy choice, cooking meats at temperatures over 300 degrees F, alters the chemical structure of the muscle fibers in m...
Cooks make gravy from the natural juices of cooked meats, giving it a rich flavor. The drippings released from the meats are usually mixed with its fat during the cooking process. Some cooks use the fat at different stages of t...
The culinary term escargot, refers to the prepared and cooked meat of certain species of snails, usually in a butter and garlic sauce and often served within the snail's shell. Considered a delicacy, escargot originated in Fran...
Cooking meat at moderate temperature over a longer period of time provides a number of benefits. A crock pot or slow cooker is the ideal equipment for this method of cooking, but you can also cook meat in a Dutch oven in an ove...
The best way to check if meat is cooked thoroughly is to use a cooking thermometer. Since bacteria such as E. Coli, Toxoplasmosis and Salmonella tends to multiply at medium temperatures, but die at high temperatures, a thermome...
