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crock pot, slow cooker, slow cooking

Braising | Stewing Braising and stewing involve the slow cooking of meat in a liquid. This technique tenderizes and softens firm or tough cuts and allows for rich and subtle blending of the meat flavors with those of the liquid and seasonings.

Types of Lamb | Shoulder | Breast and ForeshankRib | Loin/Flank | Leg | Variety Meats | Special-Order Cuts Lamb, the meat from the carcass of a young sheep, is a lean red meat with a mild, but distinctive flavor.

Beef is the name given to meat obtained from the carcasses of cattle. Each primary beef cut is known as a primal cut, which are groups of muscles from the same area of the beef carcass. The beef primal cuts include the chuck, rib, short loin, round, brisket, plate, and flank.

Miscellaneous Cuts Whole cuts and scraps of fresh lamb can be rolled, cubed, or ground in a food store or meat market into various products that add convenience for the consumer.

  Tomato Sauces | Barbecue Sauces | Hot Sauces | Grill Sauces | Seafood Sauces Tomato Sauces Tomato Paste Tomato paste is made from fresh tomatoes that have been cooked for several hours and then strained.

Stewing is a moist heat cooking process much like braising except that the meat is totally immersed in liquid rather than being only partially immersed as it is with braising.

Beef cuts should be selected according to the planned method of cooking. For example, if beef is to be cooked on a grill, a tougher cut from the round or plate should not be purchased, unless the intention is to tenderize the meat before cooking it.

Canned Beef ProductsCommercially prepared canned products containing beef are widely available. The products are fully cooked, so additional cooking is not required although heating the products for a short period improves the flavor.

Tenderness Tips Avoid freezing whenever possible to eliminate moisture loss that occurs during thawing. The moisture loss in thawing results in less tender meat. Keep pork from drying out in the refrigerator by keeping it tightly wrapped.

Miscellaneous CutsSome fresh beef cuts or scraps are ground, rolled, tenderized, cubed, or sliced in food stores or meat markets into various products that add convenience for the consumer.

Miscellaneous Products Pork Cutlets (Scallops) Cutlets are thin boneless pieces of meat that weigh 4 ounces or less and are taken from tender cuts, such as the tenderloin and loin.

Shopping Tips | Thawing Tips | Refrigerating Tips | Freezing TipsHandling and Safety Tips | Marinating Tips | Stuffing Tips | Trimming & Slicing TipsChecking Doneness | Roasting Tips | Frying Tips | Grilling & Broiling TipsSteaming Tips | Stir-fry Tips | Tenderness Tips | Light Tips | Cooking Tips Shopping Tips: Decide how much time and effort you want to use in preparing and cooking the cut you select.

crock pot, slow cooker, slow cooking

crock pot, slow cooker

Use the charts below to help determine how much to buy of the foods listed below when preparing a meal or a recipe for a specific number of people. Pasta Buying Guide | Rice Buying Guide | Egg Buying Guide | Meat Buying Guides Pasta Buying Guide The quantities in the chart below are approximates only.

Herb Bundles A mixture of herbs, either fresh or dried, that are placed into savory foods as they cook to enhance flavor. A bouquet garni may be made from either fresh ingredients tied together or dried ingredients mixed and placed in cheesecloth tied into a bag for dipping into soups, stews, sauces, casseroles, or meat dishes.

Roasts for Braising Tougher cuts of lamb that contain a large quantity of collagen (connective tissue) are ideal candidates for braising.

Selecting Cuts | Inspection and Grading | Look and Feel | Quantity to Buy Selecting Cuts A successful outcome in cooking lamb depends on matching the recipe or cooking method with an appropriate cut of lamb.

Braising and stewing are very similar moist heat methods of cooking. They both use the same process of searing to enhance color and flavor, and slow cooking in liquid to produce tender, moist meat.