Dry-Aging Beef Pays Off With Big Flavor
April 20, 2011
Dry-aged beef has a remarkable depth of flavor, but it can be expensive and hard to come by. The good news is that if you have a refrigerator, you can dry-age beef at home.
by Jennifer Armentrout
If youโve had the good fortune of tasting dry-aged beef, then you know that it has a remarkable depth of flavor. Unfortunately for those of us who donโt have a high-end butcher or serious steakhouse nearby, dry-aged beef can be hard to come by without involving FedEx and a big credit card charge. But the good news is that if you have a refrigerator, you can dry-age beef at home.
Why dry-aged beef tastes better
All fresh beef is aged for at least few days and up to several weeks to allow enzymes naturally present in the meat to break down the muscle tissue, resulting in improved texture and flavor. These days, most beef is aged in plastic shrink-wrapโa process known as wet-aging. Dry-aged beef, on the other hand, is exposed to air so dehydration can further concentrate the meatโs flavor. Itโs a more expensive process than wet-aging, however, because the meat loses weight from dehydration, and it also must be trimmed of its completely dried exterior.
We dry-aged a previously wet-aged boneless beef rib roast from our local market in one of our test kitchen refrigerators for three days. We had another rib roast from the same steer which we left in its plastic wrap to continue aging for the same amount of time. After roasting, we tasted them side by side. The dry-aged roast was more succulent and had a mellower yet beefier flavor than the wet-aged roast, which tasted watery by comparison. Next, we dry-aged another roast for seven days, and we were blown away by the flavor. Despite the loss of 20% of its original weight, weโre convinced that for a truly special occasion, like a Christmas or New Yearโs dinner, dry-aged beef is worth the time and expense.
How to dry-age beef at home
One: Buy a prime or choice boneless beef rib or loin roast from the best meat source in your area.
Two: Unwrap the beef, rinse it well, and pat it dry with paper towels. Do not trim. Wrap the roast loosely in a triple layer of cheesecloth and set it on a rack over a rimmed baking sheet or other tray.
Three: Refrigerate for three to seven days; the longer the beef ages, the tastier it gets. After the first day, carefully unwrap and then rewrap with the same cheesecloth to keep the cloth fibers from sticking to the meat.
Four: When ready to roast, unwrap the meat and, with a sharp knife, shave off and discard the hard, dried outer layer of the meat. Shave away any dried areas of fat, too, but leave behind as much of the good fat as possible. Roast whole or cut into steaks.
Dry-aged beef has a remarkable depth of flavor, but it can be expensive and hard to come by. The good news is that if you have a refrigerator, you can dry-age beef at home.
Source: http://www.finecooking.com/articles/dry-aging-beef-pays-off-big-flavor.aspx
Companies, even organizers, wedding planners and families are looking for Resorts and beaches near Manila for events and retreats. Frequently visited destinations for vacation spots this summer in Philippines are found in Angeles City, Clark, Pampanga, which is very accessible from Manila, Subic and Cebu.
Frequent travelers and visitors staying in Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines look for restaurants, coffee shops, bars, pubs, hotels and resorts in Clark that offer free internet connection to guests. There are some highly recommended places in Clark that offer good WIFI internet services.
Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar has its own special attraction for January 2010. Featured on the “special” menu are luxurious items that are guaranteed to make the dinners memorable. Saturdays in January are BYOB dinners which means that wine lovers can bring their own bottles to dine at Yats Restaurant without being charged corkage. BYO (Bring Your Own) is a special theme of Yats Restaurant which offers the biggest selection of fine and everyday wines anywhere in Asia.
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon.
For assistance with organizing and planning weddings and garden receptions, log on to http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
If this article about Clark is useful to you, please click here to contact us to tell us what more you wish to know about this article or Clark Philippines, which can be something about Clark investment, about Clark resorts, about Clark Swimming and Leisure or simply general news about Clark.
Please send questions to Editor@ClarkPhilippines.com. Leave your name, email address, contact numbers and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Information received will not be disclosed.