Don't Wash Red Meat Before Cooking, This Is The Reason

Illustration of cooking red meat. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Many people still believe that washing red meat before cooking is a mandatory step to maintain cleanliness. In fact, this habit can actually carry the risk of bacterial contamination and reduce the quality of nutrients in the meat.

Chef Freddie Salim, Cooking Officer and Chef Owner Silk Bistro, explained that washing red meat before processing is actually a culinary myth that should be avoided.

"So it's actually a myth for meat before being washed first," Freddie said in a discussion in Jakarta, Monday.

According to him, the water used at home, both from the tap and gallon water, is not necessarily completely sterile. In fact, the process of washing meat can cause the spread of bacteria from water to the surface of the kitchen or other cooking utensils. As a result, the risk of cross-contamination increases.

In addition, the habit of washing meat can also reduce the natural nutrition of meat, especially if it is done repeatedly with running water.

Instead, Chef Freddie suggests a blanching'' method or a brief softening using boiling water to clean the meat before further cooking.

"If we boil it for a while, the blood all comes out. We say there is blood or the dirt comes out, it is taken or the meat is cut," he explained.

After the initial erosion, the first boiled water should be thrown away and replaced with new water for the next cooking process. This method is not only more hygienic, but also maintains the texture and taste of the meat.

Freddie also shares tips so that cooking products are maximized. He suggests using a black steel pot rather than teflon, because teflon is easy to scratched and has the potential to release harmful chemicals into the food.

In addition, make sure the pot is really hot before the meat is put in, so that the meat is cooked evenly and produces a more delicious aroma.

If you want to cook meat with vegetables, Freddie suggests adding a little water so that the vegetables are perfect without losing their nutritional content.

'Brokoli is an extraordinary combination to fulfill our nutrition with meat. So there is iron already, there is also vitamin C," he added.