We usually treat meat as a common food. We don’t acknowledge its specific properties, and that’s not good.
In this article, we will remind you of the most common mistakes that we should avoid, because some of them can put our health at risk.
What are the most common mistakes we make?
- Meat storage
- Meat preparation
Storage in the fridge where there is space
We’re in a hurry, and when we store our groceries we just put the meat in the fridge, it’ll be there until tomorrow at the most anyway. First big mistake. Always store meat in a dish on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. The juices can run out of the meat, which could spoil the food stored on the lower shelves. The bowl will prevent contamination of the shelf below the meat.
Putting meat in the freezer without labels
Even in the freezer, meat doesn’t last forever. A simple label with the type of meat and the date will avoid the hassle of finding the right frozen cut and you’ll always know how long it’s been in there.
Freezing meat in warm water
Everyone sometimes forgets to take meat out of the freezer in time. One of the most common mistakes is therefore immersing meat in hot water. But few people think that this creates an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply.
Rather, submerge the meat in a bowl of cold water. A physics expert would tell you something about metabolism, I just know that this process is no match for warm water and you will be surprised at the rate of thawing.
Watch out for dangerous bacteria
Freezing meat without a tray
Meat should not come into contact with the work surface or table during defrosting. Always place a bowl of the appropriate size under the thawing meat to prevent the growth of bacteria that are produced in the juices from the dripping meat.
Microwave defrosting yes or no
Experts’ opinions on microwave ovens, preservation of nutritional values in food and bacterial growth in thawing meat vary.
After thawing in a microwave oven, meat should be processed immediately.
Addition of raw meat to other foods
While it certainly doesn’t happen often, it should be avoided. Raw meat can be a source of salmonellosis, for example, or other diseases, and you risk your health and the health of your loved ones by taking this ill-advised step.
Cooking without defrosting
You’re not doing anything to compromise your health, but meat prepared this way won’t taste as good. The meat may be tough and the broth or stock will not be as full of flavor.
Thoroughly wash everything the meat has come into contact with
Everything that raw meat has come into contact with should be washed thoroughly. It’s not just cutting utensils and bowls. We must not forget our hands and always use soap. Also wash the work surface thoroughly, which may have been stained by droplets from the meat, and the dish sponge, which can harbour bacteria.
I’m sure you’ve been sick and didn’t know what made you sick. It could have been caused by bacteria left behind after working with raw meat and you just accidentally overlooked it in your kitchen.