Almost everyone likes chops. There is an opinion that special preparation requires only tough meat like beef. But such processing will not harm any kind of meat, be it chicken, lamb or pork. So the meat is fantastically tender and juicy.
But it often happens that the product has already been prepared, sliced, and the hammer has gone somewhere. What to do in this case? How to beat meat if there is no special hammer? There are quite a few options, and one of them will probably suit you.
The essence of the procedure
Fried meat is considered "aerobatics." It is one thing to stew beef or bake chicken in the sleeve, and quite another to cook a juicy steak. This requires not only certain knowledge, but also skills. It would be nice to understand the anatomy, then it will be clear why you are doing this.
So, meat is muscle fibers, ligaments and tendons. It has a rigid structure. If it is not broken, then the rigidity will remain after cooking. Then the body will be difficult to process it. The digestive system will consume a lot of resources, which can adversely affect many processes. Therefore, cooks use two methods:
- marinade for softening fibers;
- breaking them mechanically with a special tool.
And what to beat off meat if there is no special hammer? In the kitchen there are a lot of things that can solve this problem. Now we turn to the solution of this issue. Properly prepared meat will not only be delicious, but also will not impede the functioning of the digestive system.
What is important to know
Before thinking what to beat off meat, if there is no special hammer, you need to choose the right product. Otherwise, the expended forces will not pay off. In addition, there are a number of rules that must be followed:
- It is best to choose chilled meat that has never been frozen. This is very important because when thawing meat loses juice. If you took it out of the freezer, then be sure to wait until it thaws completely. Best of all, leave it for a few hours on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
- The worst is the old meat with veins. Only prolonged quenching will help. Choose young, not too lean, but not fat.
- Do not wash meat before cooking. If this mistake is made, then dry it thoroughly with a towel.
- Seasonings can be added immediately before frying, but not during the beating process.
- You can not beat it too thin and strong. You can make holes, and the meat will turn out to be hard and dry.
- It is necessary to fry on high heat, so that the crust grabs.
Step-by-step procedure
It is very important to know how to beat meat for chops. You will not need many devices:
- board;
- sharp knife;
- suitable tool.
The prepared piece of meat needs to be cut into wide steaks. They should not be too thin, otherwise the product will turn out dry. It is usually recommended to cut at least 2.5 centimeters. Filet Mignon is 5 cm thick.
Now we take the device for beating meat and begin to inflict uniform blows. After this, the piece must be turned over and the procedure repeated from the reverse side. Repeat this process with the rest of the meat and turn on the pan.
When it warms up well, place one steak on it, sprinkled with spices. But it’s better to salt it after the first time you turn the piece upside down.
Choose an alternative
Let's think together how to beat meat if there is no special hammer. It can be any object that is convenient to strike. It is desirable that it be massive. This will facilitate the task of the cook. The easiest way to do this is with an ordinary kitchen knife. By the way, professional cooks usually use it without recognizing special hammers. Need a massive knife with a thick blade. Meat strikes must be done with a blunt side. It is very convenient and does not take much time.
Kitchen assistants
Rolling pins for dough, pushers for mashed potatoes - any of these devices will perfectly perform this function. There is a slight nuance - before you start, be sure to wrap a piece of meat with cling film or put it in a regular bag. Meat sprays will not bother you. However, many housewives argue that a rolling pin for a dough is not a very good option, because even by applying force it is impossible to break the fibers.
Another point that you involuntarily think about is a strong knock that can interfere with neighbors. But this problem is solved very easily. Just put a waffle towel under the cutting board.
Tools at hand
If there was nothing suitable in the kitchen, you can look into the pantry. Surely there is a glass bottle of wine or champagne. Great option: turn it upside down and strike with the neck. The dish will turn out no worse than if you used a professional hammer.
It also happens that there is not a single bottle at home. Then the tool box can help out. Take out an ordinary hammer and use an adhesive tape to attach an ordinary fork to it. It is this side that you will strike. Since the hammer is a weighty tool, the meat preparation will pass very quickly. The main thing is not to be too zealous, you do not need minced meat, but a juicy steak.
On picnic
Of course, before going to nature, all products must be prepared in advance. This will then allow you not to think how you can beat the meat. However, here you can find a solution. Tools for the car or bike on which you arrived may well work. Or take a stone, wrap the meat in several packets and proceed. Just a couple of dozen strokes - and the product is ready for frying. Set the pan on a fire and start cooking meat.
Some cons
When beating, a certain amount of juice is released. With it, a certain amount of minerals and amino acids is lost, in addition, the final product is drier.
The harder the beat is, the more fluid is released. The optimal solution will be to find a degree of beating that maintains the maximum amount of nutrients with a fairly soft meat consistency. This is achieved experimentally. Therefore, do not immediately fry a large batch. Start with one steak, take a sample and adjust the meat preparation.