On Tue, 22 Mar 2016 09:45:55 -0000, "Ophelia" <
OphEl...@gmail.com>
wrote:
>
>
> "sf" <
s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
> news:2au0fb518dfa8nhu0...@4ax.com...
> > On Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:00:32 -0000, "Ophelia" <
OphEl...@gmail.com>
>
> > Commercial corned beef in the USA isn't over salted anymore (I expect
> > to buy a major brand, like Shenson's), so I'm not stressing about
> > that. In fact, it can go directly into the oven if that's the way we
> > want to cook it from the git go.
>
> OK I wasn't aware of that. I've never had (not canned) corned beef before
> so I am just learning now.
Is "canned" an exchangeable term for "vacuum packed"? I've never
heard anyone call it canned before.
> Do you not need to pre soak the commercial stuff
> before you cook it?
>
No. I used to blanch it (if that's a term to use with meat). I'd
place it in cold water, bring to a boil, discard the water and start
again: BTB, lower the heat and simmer until done - but that isn't
necessary anymore because they don't salt the meat as heavily now. If
I was planning to do it entirely in the oven, I'd rinse it off, pat
dry and proceed - but I start it off in water and finish it in the
oven.
I'm rethinking the sous vide corned beef. On one of the sites I read
this morning, a commenter said he did one traditionally and another
sous vide and served them to guests who preferred the texture of the
traditionally cooked one. Both were tender and delicious, but there's
a certain barely stringy quality people prefer with corned beef.
So, I might go with tri-tip as my first beef venture but not before
I've tried chicken and maybe even fish. I'm thinking that sous vide
might be the way to cook thin fish fillets like sole, because I
invariably over cook them.
BTW: how many days are you leaving yours in the brine? When you're
done, remember that ours has been brined in Prague powder (which means
it's pink) and spices so they are completely different from what yours
will be.
Thanks, I found that last night and wanted to save it to Pinterest but
couldn't. They have disabled the ability to copy and save to a doc
too.
> When I do chicken I find that if I use it for less than 'well done' it is
> still bloody in the middle.
Holy moly, sous vide is a virtual money pit! I was wondering how to
tell when something is at the desired temp and guess what I found?
http://thermoworks.com/products/handheld/therma_k_sous_vide.html
> I tend to use it for legs, thighs etc but if
> you are like me, you will use it for everything you can get your hands on
> until you are used to it:) Oh I do love to experiment:))
Yes! Actually, chicken breast has been the same cost per pound as
thigh lately. Not sure how long that's going to last. If they are
still a low price when I go to the store, I think I'll buy a couple
and try them sous vide. They should be pretty juicy. Oh, that's
another thing. Do you season or add butter when you sous vide?
>
> I like to use it for thick chops and then brown them off in a very hot pan.
> I usually do a lot and freeze them. Very handy:)
I was wondering about cooking times, which can be quite long, and
eating. Do you cook them the day before and refrigerate, or what?
>
> > I was hoping to practice on vegetables first, but a sous vide ready
> > meat is hard to say no to. If you sous vide carrots and potatoes,
> > would you put them in two different packages or together?
>
> I don't sous vide veg. I prefer to steam. If you get really good results
> though please share.
>
I'm willing to try root vegetables at least once. I'm thinking now
that I'll do my corned beef the regular way and sous vide the onions,
carrots and potatoes. I'm particularly intrigued by idea of sous vide
"buttered" potatoes. I will probably roast my cabbage, just because I
like it that way.
Here's how to cook corned beef on your stove top
http://startcooking.com/how-to-cook-corned-beef-brisket
> > Also, I was told and have been reading that a Food Saver isn't
> > absolutely necessary. Is that really true?
>
> Yes. So long as you get the air out of the bag. I used to use a straw to
> suck it out but I do have a food saver now and prefer it.
>
One of the sites suggested slowly submerging the bag and letting water
pressure take care of pushing the air out. Seemed simple enough.
Then just clip it to the side of the container you're using. What I
haven't found out yet is how the water circulates around a bag that's
clipped to a container (for even "cooking").
Thanks.
One last question. My unit apparently has a wifi capability. It
seems there's an app you put on your phone, so you can start the water
heating on your way home (from work or shopping, I guess). Do you
ever use that feature and do you find it convenient?
--
sf