Unit 318 Complex Meat & Poultry.

Meat.

• Meat and poultry and are important foods providing much of the protein people need for the growth and repair of our bodies while at the same time providing a source of energy.

• Meat and poultry are cooked by a wide range of different cookery methods, these being divided into wet or dry methods. Different cuts, joints and pieces of meat and poultry will require varying methods depending on the individual meat and poultry.

• Some meat can be cooked quickly because it does not require a prolonged cooking method to tenderise it, it is already tender as a cut or joint e.g. fillet steak, rump or sirloin from beef, leg of lamb or loin or leg of pork. Even so these cuts will need a certain degree of cooking before they are safe to serve.

What Is Meat?• Generally it helps to try and understand

where on the animal the cut or joint comes from and what its function is. For example, the fillet is from the muscle which provides a balancing mechanism, and does no mechanical work other than provide stability; this cut is one of the most tender from animals i.e. fillet of beef, lamb, pork veal or venison.

• In shin or shank of beef, however, these parts have to provide support for the animal and are strained by the sheer weight and work required of them. These cuts are tough with strong sinews and need prolonged cooking.

• These cuts are used for a limited number of dishes such as soups or stocks.

Structure Of Meat.

• Lean meat is composed of bundles of long thin muscle fibres.

• Fibres are filled with:• Water.• Protein.• Minerals.• Extractives.

• When cooking meat, think about the structure of the food you are preparing for cooking.

• Lean flesh of meat is composed of fibrous muscles, bond together by connective tissues.

• The size and thickness of the fibres in the muscle will determine the grain and texture of the meat. Younger animals, with less developed muscle fibres, provide a more tender meat.

• The amount, condition and distribution of fat on a meat carcass will also affect tenderness and flavour.

• Where fat is found between the muscle fibres, the meat is said to be marbled.

• This type of meat will be more tender and moist and flavourful.

• These three qualities are also enhanced in all meats by a process of hanging, which matures the meat before the carcass is dissected.

• When purchasing meat for a given number of portions it is normal to allow 130g - 150g off the bone or 200g - 250g on the bone per portion for a main course, although this may vary for larger menus.

Meat covers the following:

• Beef.• Veal.• Lamb.• Mutton.• Pork.• Bacon.

Quality points of Beef.The following list indicates the quality points to

look for when purchasing beef.• Moist, firm with bright red flesh.• There should be no excessive fat.• The lean meat should be flecked with fat which

is known as marbling.• The fat should be dry, creamy white in colour

and odourless.• The bones should not be brittle and when cut

should have a bloody interior.

• The quality of meat & poultry is influenced by factors such as the breed of animal, the way it has been reared, its sex, age at the time of slaughtering, the conditions at the abattoir and the way it is then processed as either fresh or frozen meat.

• Quality descriptions such as Prime, Choice and Standard are used to grade various meats but in general quality can be judged by the compact shape and the amount of lean meat of a particular cut.

Classification of Meat & Poultry.

Red Meats (Lamb, Mutton, & Beef) Lamb

– Aged under 1 year when slaughtered.– Flesh light red in colour and finely grained.– White or creamy white fat, bones are soft

and porous.– Carcass should be evenly fleshed with even

coating of fat.– Hung for 4 - 7 days after slaughtering

Mutton– Aged 1 to 3 years when slaughtered.– Flesh darker red then lamb.– Fat is white and brittle, bones harder

then lamb.– Hung for 4 - 7 days after slaughtering.

Beef– Aged over 1 year but under 3 years

when slaughtered.– Flesh firm cherry red and finely grained– Fat firm, smooth and creamy white,

Deep yellow is sign of age.– Bones of a young animal pink and

slightly porous.– Hung for 12 - 14 days after slaughtering.

White Meats (Veal, Pork, Bacon & Ham)

Veal– Under 1 year when slaughtered

( under 10 months best quality).– Flesh very pale pink, finely grained

and smooth.– Outer layer of fat thin.– Bones large in proportion to the size

and should be soft.– Hung for 4 - 7 days after slaughtering.

Pork– Flesh light pink in colour and finely grained.– Skin should be thin, smooth and dry.– Fat not excessive in proportion to the flesh.– Use within 7 - 10 days of slaughtering.

Bacon– Best purchased by the side.– Clean sweet smell and no signs of clamminess

Ham– Cured and Smoked or Cured and Unsmoked

( Green)– Dry to the touch with clean sweet smell.– Any curing mould should be dry.

OffalLivers

– A good clean colour with no discoloured patches on the surface.

Kidneys– No smell of ammonia present.– Should have a good clean colour, be firm to

the touch, with no stickiness.

Hearts – Bright in colour, not too much fat and be

just moist to the touch.

OffalSweet breads

– Little fat showing, any signs of blood should be bright red.

– Resilient to touch and just moist.

Tongues– Firm to the touch, no sign of stickiness

Tails– Meaty parts bright red with no over

abundance of fat and not too yellow.

Offal

Tripe– Normally bought dressed ( cleaned

and blanched)– Light creamy colour, no greenish or

dark discoloration and should be moist with no signs of stickiness or bad smell.

Poultry.

Chicken– Plump firm breast, pliable breastbone.– Legs covered with small scales and small

spurs. 

Turkey– Large plump well formed breast, small legs in

proportion.– Hen bird more tender than the cock.– Weight range 3 - 10 kg

Poultry.

Duck & Goose – Well formed breast no excessive fat.– Breast bone pliable at the end.– Clean colour feet, web easy to tear.– Ducklings 2 -2.5 kg Ducks 2.5 - 3 kg

Goose 4 - 7 kg

Guinea Fowl– Plumb breast, slightly dark flesh colour.– Best December to June

Storage• Beef is purchased in hind or fore quarters and

must be hung in a chilled temperature for up to 14 days.

• During this period the meat becomes tender and the flavour develops as a result of an enzymic reaction and the natural relaxation after rigor mortis.

• The period of hanging is longer than with other types of meat because the animal is older when slaughtered.

• Joints should be stored in deep trays under refrigeration and the surplus blood drained from the trays regularly.

• Frozen joints of beef must be kept at a temperature of –18°C and correctly defrosted before use.

• Nowadays it is common to purchase chilled vacuum packed joints and cuts of beef. When required the clear wrapping is removed and the meat allowed to stand in a refrigerator until the colour becomes normal.

• Once opened this type of meat must be used quickly. Vacuum packed meat should be stored at 0°C.

Joints from a Hindquarter of Beef.

1. 1. Shin.2. 2. Topside.3. 3. Silverside.4. 4. Thick Flank.5. 5. Rump.6. 6. Sirloin.7. 7. Wing Rib.8. 8. Thin flank.9. 9. Fillet.

Total weight 180 lbs. The hindquarter produces prime cuts of beef.

Methods of Cooking.

1. Shin. Clarification of Consommé.2. Topside. Roasting, Braising.3. Silverside. Boiling, Salting.4. Thick Flank. Braising.5. Rump. Roasting, Frying, Grilling.6. Sirloin. Roasting, Frying, Grilling.7. Wing Rib. Roasting.8. Thin Flank. Stewing, Mincing.9. Fillet. Roasting, Frying, Grilling.

Joints from a Forequarter of Beef.

10. Fore Rib.11. Middle Rib.12. Chuck Rib.13. Sticking Piece.14. Plate.15. Brisket.16. Leg of Mutton Cut.17. Shank.

Total weight 170 lbs.

Methods of Cooking.

10. Fore Rib. Roasting.11. Middle Rib. Braising, Stewing.12. Chuck Rib. Stewing.13. Sticking Piece. Stewing, Mincing.14. Plate. Stewing, Mincing.15. Brisket. Fresh Boiling.16. Leg of Mutton Cut. Stewing, Mincing.17. Shank. Clarification of Consommé.

Small Cuts of Beef Suitable for Grilling &

Frying.• All small cuts of beef which are suited for

grilling or shallow frying are referred to as steaks. All steaks come from one of the following three joints.

• Fillet.• Sirloin.• Rump.

A Typical Fillet. Likely to Weigh 3 Kg.

• Chateaubriand (double fillet steak).– Cut from the head of the fillet,

and for more than two portions between 300 gms – 1 kg (12 ozs – 1 lb) can be obtained.

• Fillet steak.– 4 – 5 steaks can be obtained

each of 100 – 150 gms (4 – 6 ozs).

• Tournedos steaks.– Approximately 6 – 8 at 100 gms

(4 ozs). Each steak should be tied to form a regular shape.

• Tail of fillet.– This is cut into julienne or

minced according to its intended use.

Sirloin.

• Minute steaks.– Cut each steak approximately 1 cm thick and flatten

with a cutlet bat making it as thin as possible. If necessary trim to a regular shape.

• Sirloin steaks.– Cut into 1 – 2 cm slices and trim to about

(entrecotes) 150 gms (6 ozs).

• Porterhouse and T-bone Steaks.– Porterhouse steaks are cut including the bone from

the rib end of the sirloin.– T-bone steaks are cut from the rump end of the

sirloin including bone and fillet.

Rump.

• The middle portion from each slice is considered to produce the best steak and are known as point steaks.

• Some menus feature a 'plank steak'. This is a complete slice for more than two customers and is divided into portions after cooking.

Lamb.

Quality Points of Lamb.

• Bones porous, with slight bluish tinge.

• Fat evenly distributed, hard brittle, flaky and clear white in colour.

• Lean flesh firm dull red, with fine texture or grain.

• Before preparation, carcasses should be hung in a cool, dry area (cold room) for up to five or six days. This will improve taste, texture and tenderise the meat.

Storage.

• Carcasses of lamb should be hung by the leg.

• Joints should be stored in well drained trays, which should be changed daily, under refrigeration 3°C to 5°C for a maximum of 5 days. Smaller joints and cuts deteriorate quicker than a whole lamb carcass.

• Frozen joints should be stored in a deep freeze at -18°C with an appropriate wrapping and defrosted in a refrigerator at 3°C to 5°C for 24 hours.

Joints And Usage From A Side Of Lamb.

CUT WEIGHT METHOD OF COOKING

1 Leg 3 kg (7 lb) Roasting

2 Saddle 3 kg (7 lb) Roasting, Grilling, Shallow Frying

3 Best end 2 kg (4 lb) Roasting, Grilling, Shallow Frying

4 Breast 1 kg (3 lb) Roasting, Stewing

5 Shoulder 3 kg (6 lb) Roasting

6 Middle neck 2 kg (4 lb) Stewing

7 Scrag end kg (1 lb) Stewing

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21

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CUT WEIGHT METHOD OF COOKING

1 Leg 3 kg (7 lb) Roasting

2 Saddle 3 kg (7 lb) Roasting, Grilling, Shallow Frying

3 Best end 2 kg (4 lb) Roasting, Grilling, Shallow Frying

4 Breast 1 kg (3 lb) Roasting, Stewing

5 Shoulder 3 kg (6 lb) Roasting

6 Middle neck 2 kg (4 lb) Stewing

7 Scrag end kg (1 lb) Stewing

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• When a carcass of lamb has been dissected into its basic joints it will require some preparation before it can be cooked. If it is to be used for smaller cuts then the basic preparation would be taken further.

CUT METHOD OF

COOKING

PREPARATION

1 Leg Roasting Remove knuckle,aitch bone and tie

2 Saddle Roasting Skin, bone, roll and tie

3 Best End Roasting

Shallow FryingGrilling

Chine, skin, trim to sixbones

Chine, skin and cut intosix cutlets

4 Breast RoastingStewing

Bone, roll and tieTrim and dice

5 Shoulder Roasting Trim, remove two bones,reform and tie

6 Middle Neck Stewing Cut into Basse Cotes

7 Scrag End Stewing Bone and dice

Cuts From the Loin and Saddle.

Single loin chops: cut across the un-boned loin; each chop

100-150 g. (4-6 oz) in weight.

Noisettes (French style): cut from a boned loin at an angle of

45º; cuts are 2 cm. (1 in) thick; flattened out and trimmed

of excess fat.

Rosettes: cut from a boned saddle (i.e. across

two loins); 2 cm. (1 in) thick; ends rolled in and

secured with string to achieve a flat heart shape.

• Barnsley chops:– cut from the un-boned saddle; 2 cm

(1 in) thick.

• Cutlets (cotelette):– Prepare as for roasting, excluding the

scoring.

• Cotellettes double:– divide evenly between the bones; or

the cutlets can be cut from the best-end and prepared separately. A double cutlet consists of two bones; therefore a six.

– bone best-end yields six single or three double cut-lets.

• Saddle:– A full saddle includes the chumps and

the tail. For large banquets it is sometimes found better to remove the chumps and use short saddles.

Leg of Lamb.• This is generally boned or partly

boned for roasting. Leg of mutton is usually boiled.

• Preparing a leg of lamb.– Cut along a line following the line of

the aitchbone and through the ball and socket. Remove the aitchbone.

– Saw off the bottom knuckle and bone.– Remove any excess fat, and tie with

string before cooking.

Cuts from a Leg of Lamb.

• Chump chops:– Cut from the chump end of the leg.

• Gigot chops:– Cut from the centre of the leg.

PorkOink Oink

Quality PointsThe following list indicates the quality

points to look for when purchasing pork.

• Moist, firm and pale pink flesh.• There should be no excessive fat.• The fat should be white and firm.• The skin should be smooth, hairless and

undamaged.• The carcass should have a pleasant smell.

• Pork keeps less well than other meats, and needs very careful handling, preparation and cooking.

• It may contain parasitic worms, which are destroyed by thorough cooking. Always serve pork well done, never under-cook pork.

• Pork should be cooked for 25 mins per 450 gms weight and 25 mins over.

• e.g.to calculate the cooking time of a 3 kg joint: – 7 x 25 + 25 = 200 mins.– Therefore it will take 3 hours and 10 mins to

cook the joint.

• Pork joints should be well fleshed without excessive fat.

• The flesh should be pale pink, firm, finely textured and not too moist. Look for smooth skin an pliable bones.

• There should not be any unpleasant smell or odours.

• The handling of pork should be efficient and hygienic.

Storage.• Pork is not hung before preparation.• Sides of pork should be hung by the leg.• Joints should be stored in deep trays,

which should be changed daily, under refrigeration 3°C to 5°C for a maximum of 3 to 4 days.

• The smaller the joint the more rapidly it deteriorates.

• Frozen joints should be stored in a deep freeze at -18°C with an appropriate wrapping and defrosted in a refrigerator at 3°C to 5°C for 24 hours.

Types of Pigs.• There are many breeds of pig reared for

food, but they fall into two distinct types.• Baconers and Porkers.• Baconers are bred to be lean fleshed

during early stages.• Porkers tend to be fat forming and need

longer to mature and form lean flesh.• The period from 16 to 30 weeks from birth

to slaughter varies depending on the market for which the animal is produced.

Joints And Usage From A Side Of Pork

Total weight of a side of pork = approx 25 kg (50 lb)That’s approx ¼ of a side of beef

  CUT Weight Method of Cooking

1 Head 2 kg (4 lb) Boiling 

Spare rib 2 kg (5 lb) Roasting, Grilling

3 Shoulder 4 kg (8 lb) Roasting

4 Loin 6 kg (12 lb) Roasting, Grilling, Shallow FryingBoiling, Pate & Sausages5 Belly 3 kg (6 lb)  

6 Leg 7 kg (15 lb) Roasting, Boiling

7 Trotters 1 kg (2 lb) Boiling

  Fillet Internal Cut

1.5 kg (3 lb)

Sauté

2

  CUT WEIGHT Method of Cooking

1 Head 2 kg (4 lb)

Boiling 

Spare rib

2 kg (5 lb)

Roasting, Grilling

3 Shoulder 4 kg (8 lb)

Roasting

4 Loin 6 kg (12 lb)

Roasting, Grilling, Shallow FryingBoiling, Pate & Sausages

5 Belly 3 kg (6 lb)

 

6 Leg 7 kg (15 lb)

Roasting, Boiling

7 Trotters 1 kg (2 lb)

Boiling

  Fillet Internal Cut

1.5 kg (3 lb)

Sauté

  Joint Method of Cooking Preparation Required

1 Head Boiling Remove eyes, brain and jawbone

2 Spare rib RoastingGrilling

Remove bladeRemove blade, chine and slice

3 Shoulder Roasting Score the rind, bone, roll and tie

4 Loin RoastingGrilling Shallow Frying

Score, bone, roll (stuff), tieRemove rind and excess fat, cut into chops between rib bones, chineMay be panéed

5 Belly Pâté Sausages

Remove rind, bone, cube or mince

6 Leg RoastingBoiling

Score, remove aitch bone and tie.Skin and trim, remove aitch bone and tie (may be pickled)

7 Trotters Added to braises to enrich the sauce

Scrub, blanch, split

8 Internal fillet Sauté Skin and slice 

Bacon.• Bacon differs from pork in that it comes

from a different, usually larger breed of pig called a baconer pig, and the meat is cured (salted in brine) and sometimes smoked.

• Green bacon is a name often used to describe unsmoked bacon.

• Ham comes from the hind leg of a baconer pig, cut round on the bone.

• Gammon comes from the hind leg of baconer pig, cut square on the bone.

• Bacon should have no sign of stickiness and no unpleasant smell.

• The rid should be thick, smooth and free from wrinkles.

• Check that the fat is white, smooth and not excessive in proportion to the lean meat (flesh) which should be deep pink in colour and firm.

Joints of Bacon.

• Back bacon is cut from the loin of the pig.

• Streaky bacon is cut from the belly, and gammon steaks cut from the hind leg.

• The hock and collar are cut from the shoulder and neck (these are tough but full flavoured cuts) usually boiled.

• The right temperature for storing bacon is 1-4 ºC (38-40 ºF), in a well ventilated carton wrapped in muslin to protect it from flies.

• If small cuts of bacon are kept in the lower half of refrigerator.

• They should be well wrapped in greaseproof paper and on the lowest shelf, as far from the freezing box as possible, otherwise the moisture content of the bacon will be extracted, leaving only the salt.

• Much of the bacon used today is purchased pre-butchered.

Cooking Ham’s & Gammon’s

• Hams and gammons must be soaked before cooking to remove excess salt.

• Hams should be soaked for at least 24 hours: gammons overnight.

• Weigh the soaked joint, scrub off any ‘bloom’ (green mould on meat face) which is the hallmark of a naturally cured ham in perfect condition.

• Place the ham in a pan of fresh, cold water, bring slowly to the boil, At the end of the cooking period turn off the heat and leave the ham or gammon in the stock for one hour, or until cool.

Poultry

• Poultry is the collective term applied to domestic birds reared for human consumption and includes duck, goose, turkey and guinea fowl.

• Each may be battery reared or free range and is available oven ready.

• When using oven ready poultry always ensure that the packaged giblets are removed before cooking. Turkeys and chickens are purchased by both weight and number, for example, 5 oven ready 2 kg roasting chickens.

SIZES OF FRESH CHICKENS

NAME WEIGHT PORTIONS

Single baby 250 gms (12 oz) 1

Double baby 400 gms (1 lb) 2

Small roasting 800 gms (2 lbs) 3 - 4

Medium roasting 1.5 kg (3 lbs) 4

Large roasting 2.5 kg (5 lbs) 8

Capon 3.5 kg (7 lbs) 12

Old fowl 3.5 kg (7 lbs)

Quality points of Chicken

• The following list indicates the quality points to look for when purchasing poultry. Plump breasts

White unbroken skin

Pliable breast bone

Pleasant smell

Dry to the touch

Hygiene

• When dealing with any aspect of preparing raw poultry all the rules of hygiene, and health and safety apply. Handlers must: have an excellent standard of personal

hygiene

avoid all risks of cross contamination

handle the poultry as little as possible

make full use of refrigeration

Ensure All Equipment Is Clean and Well Maintained.

Carry Out the Processes in Cool Conditions.

Seek Immediate First Aid for Any Cut or Other Injury.

Never Process Partly Defrosted Poultry.

Danger From Salmonella Infection.

• Most poultry harbour the risk of salmonella bacteria contained in their gut.

• Anything coming into contact with poultry intestines can easily become a carrier of this bacteria, therefore, every effort must be taken to minimise the spread by any form of cross contamination.

• When poultry is drawn there is a danger of salmonella bacteria contained in the gut infecting the carcass and the flesh.

• Great care is needed to minimise this threat and it is recommended that evisceration is carried out by the supplier.

• Undrawn birds should be hung by the legs until required and stored for a maximum of three days in a cold room with a maximum temperature of 3°C.

Skinning.

• The skinning process can be carried out by cutting the skin along the backbone and then carefully pulling it away from the flesh using fingers and a small knife.

• The skin over the ridge of the breast is difficult to remove without damage as there is no flesh under it. When the winglet and feet are reached cut through the ligaments to detach them from the carcass.

Preparing Chicken for Sauté

• Various jointing and boning processes are necessary depending on how the poultry is to be used, for example, sauté, grilling, suprêmes, ballotines or galatines.

Cutting Chicken for Sauté.

Trussing Or Tying.

• Trussing or tying means that the joint or bird is tied to a suitable shape with string.

• The term trussing is applied to poultry only. A non slipping knot is used to secure all strings.

• There are two methods used for trussing poultry, one is used for entrée and the other for roasting. Both methods use two strings.

• When trussing for entrée the legs are folded and inserted beneath the breast skin. The feet have all but the centre toe removed and the remaining toenail trimmed off.

 Trussing for Entrée.

 

• When trussing for entrée the legs are folded and inserted beneath the breast skin.

• The feet have all but the centre toe removed and the remaining toenail trimmed off.

Trussing for Roasting.

• When trussing for roasting, the feet are treated as above but left standing and not inserted under the skin of the breast.

The Preparation Of A Turkey.

• Turkeys are cleaned and trussed in the same way as chickens, but it is good practice to remove the wishbone before trussing to make carving the breast easier which allows a greater number of regular portions to be produced.

• It is also necessary to strip the sinews from the legs using pliers and a sinew hook, again to make carving easier and more cost effective.

• If the legs are removed they should be boned out and batted to form a flat shape and any remaining sinews removed. A pre-prepared and cooled stuffing may then be added and the legs rolled and tied to form a sausage shape.

• They can then be seasoned, coated with melted butter and wrapped in cooking foil. Any excess stuffing can also be made into sausage shapes and cooked together with the rolled legs.

Further study.

• Practical Professional Cookery– Cracknell & Kaufmann

• Advanced Practical Cookery– Cesarani, Kinton &

Foskett

• Guide to Modern Cookery– A. Escoffier

• Meat and Livestock Commission www.britishmeat.org.uk