Beef is the most popular meat after pork, but its price is several times higher. Therefore, for the average household, beef is considered a special treat, and it's a real pity if you end up with poor-quality meat. So, today, let's learn from the editor how to select delicious beef!
When choosing beef, you can evaluate it based on color, smell, viscosity, and elasticity.
Color Evaluation
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, even turning green.
Smell Evaluation
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 Evaluation
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 fresh cut surface is moist.
Spoiled Meat—The surface is extremely dry or sticky, and the fresh cut surface is also sticky.
Elasticity Evaluation
Fresh Meat—The indentation made by a finger recovers immediately.
Secondary Fresh Meat—The indentation recovers slowly and does not fully return to its original state.
Spoiled Meat—The indentation does not recover and leaves a clear mark.
How to identify injected water beef?
After water is injected into beef, the muscle fibers become coarser and exposed fibers are more obvious. The injection gives the beef a false sense of freshness and tenderness, but upon close inspection, moisture often seeps from the surface. When you touch the meat, it feels wet and is not sticky. If you press a dry paper towel against 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 from the broth. When the 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 turbid, it indicates that the frozen beef is not of high quality.