25 Mar 2022
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29 Jul 2021
When you walk through the meat section at the grocery store, you will often find steaks labeled with a small shield in the right-hand corner, denoting a USDA grade and claiming the steak as prime, choice, or select. But what do these grades really mean? And how should they impact your decisions on what steak to buy, or not to buy?
The first thing to understand is that the USDA has two main objectives when looking at beef: inspection and grading. Inspection is required of all meats that are shipped across state lines, as mandated by the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. Inspection is a safety measure; it does not guarantee quality but simply ensures that the meat is safe for human consumption.
Grading, however, is different. A grade is an assurance of quality you can trust. Within 24 hours of the animal being slaughtered, expert USDA graders examine the meat and assign a grade on the basis of age, color, texture, firmness, and marbling.
Of these grading criteria, marbling, which is the intramuscular fat inside a piece of meat, is the easiest to identify—it’s the white lines that run through a piece of raw steak. Marbling equals tenderness and juiciness. As the steak cooks, the fat melts and makes the steak moist and tender. The more marbling, the higher quality the steak.
With all these criteria in mind, the USDA has eight grades it applies to beef: Prime, choice, select, standard, commercial, utility, cutter, and canner. The higher the grade, the more expensive the steak.
(Also Read – What Makes Bibimbap The Ultimate Korean Feast?)
Prime is the highest grade, this meat comes from younger animals, is rich in marbling, juicy, tender, and flavorful. But it is also expensive and can be hard to find.
Choice meat is of excellent quality, with solid marbling and flavor, it offers great value and is readily available. Choice steaks are good candidates for grilling, roasting, or searing.
Select meat is of solid quality and is very economical. Since select meats are a little tougher and drier, they are well suited for moist cooking techniques like stewing and braising.
Standard meat is cheap, tough, and of low quality. Sometimes you will see it as an ungraded store brand meat but typically it’s sold as ground meat or other processed products.
Utility, cutter, and canner meats are rarely ever used in foodservice and are typically used to make pet food and other canned products.
It’s also important to note that grading, unlike inspection, is voluntary and not required by law. So, if you go to a local butcher or farmer, their steak may not be graded, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s low quality. When shopping for these steaks, the easiest way to determine quality is to look for marbling.
Here at CookinGenie, we offer a wide range of delicious, creative steak dishes and strive to use butcher-fresh meat graded choice or better. Beneath every dish on the website, you will find a transparent list of ingredients so that you know it is quality you can trust. Browse the menu today to see what amazing steak-night dishes can be prepared in your own kitchen.
Sources: https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/01/28/whats-your-beef-prime-choice-or-select?page=1
29 Nov 2021
You’ve got a dinner party coming up, and you’re going through all of the different options you have available to you. However, if you’re not considering hiring a personal chef to handle your dinner party’s menu, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Learn more about the complete process of hiring a personal chef for your upcoming dinner party, and you’ll see why it’s an excellent choice for you.
Hiring a personal chef for your dinner party may seem like an unusual idea, but it’s actually a great idea. There are a lot of benefits that come from hiring a personal chef to handle your dinner party menu. No one wants to stay in the kitchen when you have guests that you want to mingle with during the party. A personal chef makes it possible to get a fantastic meal that’s hot and fresh without you having to slave away in the kitchen trying to get everything done will be a host. Your night to spend time with friends and family doesn’t have to be preempted by you being in the kitchen all night long when you sign up for a personal chef. Plus, you get more services than you may be expecting when hiring a personal chef.
Hiring a personal chef means more than just having the cooking completed for you. It means you don’t have to worry about menu planning. You can select the menu you want without having to think about ingredients. Your personal chef will handle all of the shopping for you. You won’t have to set foot in a grocery store to pick up the ingredients for your gourmet dinner. No worrying about what time you need to start one course to get to the next on time. Your personal chef has it covered, and everything will be perfect at the start of dinner until it’s time for everyone to enjoy their dessert. Plus, clean-up can be a drag after a party, especially in the kitchen. Hiring a personal chef means that they’ll handle the clean-up of all the items that they used to prepare the meal. You’ll only have to focus on other areas of your home after the party is over and the last guest leaves for the night.
The beautiful thing when it comes to hiring a personal chef is that there is a wide variety to choose from for your particular needs. You can always find the perfect chef that’s skilled in preparing the specific meal you’re looking to serve for your dinner party. One of the things you can do to help you choose the right chef is to think about what menu you’d like to see at your dinner party. For instance, if you have a themed dinner party planned, you’ll want to have an idea of what to serve that goes with the theme. For example, an Italian-themed night may be best suited with a personal chef that prepares lovely Italian dishes.
Once you’ve narrowed down an idea of what you’d like to see served, you can go through the different personal chefs available to you to find which one would be just right for your dinner party with the best availability.
There are a few things to consider before hiring a personal chef. Before you start your search, you’ll want to think about your dinner party plans. How many people will you be inviting, your theme, what type of menu you wish to have, and most importantly, you’ll want to think about your budget. Knowing this information in advance will help you when you start considering the different meals and chefs available to prepare them at your home the night of the party. In addition, the budget you set can be a good guide for determining which personal chef you should choose as you’ll find rates will change based on their skill and the menu that you decide upon for the night.
Finding a personal chef for your event or personal chef service provider can seem tricky. There are a number of personal chefs that work for themselves, and you can do an online search trying to find one that will work for your needs for your upcoming dinner party. There are also personal chef service providers that you can use to find a personal chef. When it comes to convenience and service that has started to grow a following, you can’t go wrong with CookinGenie. Our personal chef directory on our website makes it easy to find the perfect chef and meal to fit your needs for your dinner party or event. Easily scroll through the website while you see who is available.
There is a lot of speculation that a personal chef is very expensive and is only a service that someone who’s rich can afford. The truth is that a personal chef is very affordable, and there are options for just about any budget. Your dinner party menu being cooked in your home by a personal chef is comparable to going out to a restaurant for your meal. Of course, more significant portions or meals that take specialty ingredients may run at a higher cost, but it’s very affordable. When you use CookinGenie for your dinner party planning, you’ll be able to see how much a meal will cost you before you book, allowing you to ensure that it fits your budget.
(Read Here – How Can You Save More by Hiring a Personal Chef?)
Check out CookinGenie today to see what personal chef’s and meal menus are possible for your dinner party. You may be surprised when it comes to the choices available, portion sizes, and prices. If you already use CookinGenie for special events or family dinners, you already know the great options open to you. So start planning your dinner party today.
11 Aug 2022
Did you know that food allergies are on the rise? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 12 million Americans have food allergies that account for 50,000 – 125,000 emergency clinical visits annually. And if you have food allergies, eating out can be pretty unsettling. Fortunately, hiring a personal chef is a solution that can help you avoid your allergy.
A personal chef can tailor each meal to your specific dietary restrictions, ensuring you relish a delicious and safe dining experience. In this post, you will read about some common dietary restrictions and how a personal chef can help address them.
When referring to food allergies, most people think of the severe reactions that can occur after eating something that doesn’t suit your body. However, there are many different types of food allergies, and their symptoms range from mild to severe reactions. Nut allergy, for example, is a common food allergy that causes raised red bumps on the skin (like hives), cramps, runny nose, or nausea.
Some other food allergies commonly experienced by many people in the US include:
Affecting up to 36% of the population, Lactose intolerance is one of the most common food allergies. Lactose intolerance means an inability to produce enough of the enzyme lactase, which is necessary for breaking down Lactose. As most dairy products contain Lactose, consider avoiding milk, cheese, and similar dairy products if you have lactose intolerance.
Diabetes is another common food allergy. The inability to produce or use insulin affects blood sugar levels, sometimes causing diabetes. Therefore, carefully monitor blood sugar levels and your intake of sugary foods if you have diabetes.
Gluten intolerance occurs because of reactions to the ‘Gluten’ protein, mainly found in wheat, rye, and barley. Avoid these grains if you are gluten intolerant. Gluten can also be found in some processed foods, so always read food labels carefully.
Protein allergy prevents the digestion of specific proteins. Common symptoms of protein allergies include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Avoid foods that contain proteins that cause allergic reactions.
Although most food allergies are easy to manage through diet and lifestyle changes, others may require medical treatment. If your allergies to such foods can be avoided by following a special diet, you can benefit by hiring a personal chef.
When you have food allergies, eating out can be a stressful experience. Will the restaurant be able to accommodate your dietary needs? Will you end up feeling sick after eating?
One solution for food allergies is hiring a personal chef. A personal chef can work with you to create safe and delicious meals. In addition, a personal chef can provide much-needed peace of mind, knowing that you will always have access to safe, allergen-free meals. If you struggle to manage your food allergies, consider hiring a personal chef.
If you have food allergies, cooking at home can be a challenge. You must be careful about every ingredient you use; cross-contamination is a constant concern. That’s where a personal chef can be a lifesaver.
A personal chef can customize meals to your specific needs, ensuring you can eat without worrying about an allergic reaction. But how do you choose the right chef for your needs? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
First, ensure that the chef is familiar with your allergens and knows how to avoid cross-contamination.
Second, ask about the chef’s experience cooking for people with food allergies.
And finally, check if the chef holds any professional certification.
By taking these steps, you can find a personal chef who will make dining safe and enjoyable for you.
If you’re thinking of hiring a chef, there are a few things you’ll want to ask first. Some reasonable questions you can ask are as follows:
It will give you an idea of their experience level.
Knowing if the chef has any experience serving a client with food allergies or specific dietary needs is essential.
You’ll want to ensure their cooking style matches your taste preferences.
Knowing the cost will help you determine your budget for hiring a personal chef.
If you are occupied with something urgent and wish to cancel or postpone your reservation, it’s good to know the chef’s cancellation policy beforehand.
By asking these questions, you can easily make the best decision when hiring a personal chef.
CookinGenie is an Ohio-based chef-on-demand service fully capable of providing experienced professional chefs for preparing meals considering your allergies and dietary restrictions. When you book a chef from CookinGenie, he is not only responsible for preparing your special meals but also for looking after grocery shopping and cleaning up after cooking.
So, whether you are following a specific diet due to health reasons or concerned about food safety, a personal chef from CookinGenie can help you keep your dietary restrictions in check by preparing delicious meals that suit your preference.
