Are the meat products on special sale in supermarkets a good deal or a loss? Many people don’t buy meat because they are worried about freshness. In fact, meat that is approaching its expiration date may be more delicious than when it was first put on the shelf. The Japanese lifestyle book "The Bad Habits of 90% of Japanese People" (Japanese 9 Cuts がやっていいいいる爪habits) organizes the principles of meat aging and the best ways to store common ingredients in the refrigerator.
Is the discounted meat in the supermarket the most delicious?In the meat section of supermarkets, products that are close to their shelf life are usually sold at discounted prices, such as 20% off, 40% off or even half price. What will consumers do when they encounter this kind of meat on clearance sale?
{99 9}The book points out that freshly slaughtered cows, pigs, and chicken are soft and tender and will enter the rigor mortis stage within a short period of time. The meat becomes hard, lacks aroma, and does not have many umami components, so it does not taste good.
But as long as it is stored under low temperature conditions, enzymes will begin to break down muscle tissue, the meat will gradually become softer, and umami substances such as inosinic acid and glutamic acid will be added, and the aroma will be better. This process is called maturation.
The maturation time of each type of meat is different. When stored at 4°C, the general maturation time is:
Beef: about 10 days
Pork: 3 to 5 days
Chicken: half a day to 1 day
Most of the meat sold on the market has passed the ripening stage, so immediate products that are close to the consumption expiration date are usually more delicious than when they were put on the shelves 2 to 3 days ago. The special price may be more delicious, but it is a worthy choice. Especially thick-cut steak, the surface turns slightly dark red and looks "stale", but it often tastes better.
However, there is a fine line between maturity and corruption. Once the expiration date is exceeded, it may begin to deteriorate, so be sure to abide by the expiration date marked on the supermarket. If it expires on the same day, it should be eaten immediately at dinner that day.
Many people put eggs on the egg rack on the refrigerator door, thinking that this is a standard preservation method. But in fact, the temperature of the refrigerator door is unstable, and the vibration of opening and closing the door can easily cause thin cracks in the eggshell, and condensation may also allow bacteria to penetrate through the small holes.
Therefore, the most recommended storage method is to keep the eggs in their original cartons and refrigerate them deep inside the refrigerator; then use a rubber band to slightly secure the lid to maintain humidity and avoid odor contamination.
Why is cauliflower not suitable for the vegetable and fruit compartment?Most vegetables are suitable for storage in the vegetable and fruit compartment, but cauliflower is an exception. Cauliflower buds are very susceptible to aging as they constantly use up energy trying to bloom. Cauliflower imported from the United States is stored in ice cubes at low temperatures (close to 0% 26 degrees Celsius) for a long time during transportation, and remains almost fresh during the three-week voyage.
To follow this method, you can store cauliflower in the "zero freshness compartment" of the refrigerator. This can greatly delay aging and is far more effective than placing it in the fruit and vegetable compartment.