Beef is the second most popular meat after pork, but its price is several times higher. Therefore, for the average household, beef is considered a special occasion meal, and it would be a pity to end up with poor quality meat. So, today, let's learn from me how to choose delicious beef!
When selecting beef, you can identify its quality by its color, smell, viscosity, and elasticity.
Color Identification
Fresh meat — The muscle is a uniform red color, has a luster, and the fat is pure white or milky yellow.
Secondary fresh meat — The muscle color is slightly darker, the cut surface still has a luster, but the fat is dull.
Spoiled meat — The muscle is dark red without luster, and the fat is dark until it turns green.
Smell Identification
Fresh meat — Has the normal, characteristic smell of fresh beef.
Secondary fresh meat — Has a slight ammonia or sour smell.
Spoiled meat — Has a foul, rotten smell.
Viscosity Identification
Fresh meat — The surface is slightly dry or has a dried film, and it is not sticky to the touch.
Secondary fresh meat — The surface is dry or sticky, and the new cut surface is moist.
Spoiled meat — The surface is extremely dry or sticky, and the new cut surface is also sticky.
Elasticity Identification
Fresh meat — The indentation made by pressing with a finger recovers immediately.
Secondary fresh meat — The indentation recovers slowly and does not fully recover.
Spoiled meat — The indentation does not recover and leaves a clear mark.
How to identify water-injected beef?
After being injected with water, the muscle fibers of beef become coarser, and the exposed fibers are more obvious. The injection of water gives the beef a fresh and tender feel, but upon close inspection, moisture often seeps from the surface. When you touch the meat, it is not sticky but feels very wet. If you use a dry paper towel on the surface of the beef, it will quickly become soaked. In contrast, normal beef is not sticky to the touch, and a paper towel will not become soaked.
How to tell if frozen beef is fresh?
The main way to judge is by the broth. After frozen beef is thawed, if the broth is relatively clear and free of impurities, it means the beef is of good quality. If the broth is cloudy, it indicates that the frozen beef is not of good quality.