Experiment 44. - Pick apart with needles some of the fibers of uncooked meat. Examine fibers under a microscope. Make drawings, noting the stripes (striae) on fibers. Describe fibers of meat.
The fibers or tubes are held together in bundles by means of connective tissues; these connective tissues consist of collagen, which is converted into gelatine by boiling in water. Thus, in cooking, the connective tissues are changed and the meat becomes more tender. The harder and tougher the connective tissues of the meat, the longer the time which will be required in cooking to change them to gelatine. In tender meats the collagen is changed by the steam formed from the juices of the meat in the processes of boiling and baking, but a large amount of water must be added to very tough meats to bring about this conversion. Hence tough meats must be cooked for a long time in a liberal amount of water and the temperature be kept just below the boiling point, in order that the protein may not be toughened.
Tender MeatMuscles which are least used by the animal are the most tender, as those of the tenderloin, loin, and ribs. These command the highest market prices. The tube walls of the muscles are thin and delicate and there is little connective tissue. The tougher cuts of meat are equally nutritious and are much cheaper, and may be made into very palatable dishes.It '''denatures''' which basically means the heat changes the structure of proteins within the meat.
A meat tenderizer breaks down the tough muscle fibers in meat, making it more tender and easier to chew. It enhances the texture of meat by softening the protein structure, resulting in a more enjoyable eating experience.
Roderick MacGregor has written: 'The structure of the meat animals'
A label diagram of a meat structure
H. J. Swatland has written: 'Meat cuts and muscle foods' -- subject(s): Terminology, Meat cutting, Meat cuts 'On-line evaluation of meat' -- subject(s): Meat, Equipment and supplies, Quality, Packing-houses, Evaluation, Analysis 'Structure and development of meat animals' -- subject(s): Meat animals, Development, Anatomy, Muscles, Meat, Carcasses
Herbivores have flat teeth for grinding plants, carnivores have sharp teeth for tearing meat, and omnivores have a mix of both for eating plants and meat. Their teeth differ in structure and function to suit their diets.
Dale E. Butz has written: 'The changing structure of the meat economy'
Meat tenderizers contain enzymes such as papain and bromelain that break down proteins in the meat. These enzymes target the muscle fibers and connective tissues, making the meat softer and more tender by breaking down the protein structure.
The enzyme papain in meat tenderizer breaks down protein molecules in meat, specifically collagen, into smaller peptides. This process helps to tenderize the meat by disrupting the tough protein structure, resulting in a more tender texture.
You look at it and think, is this worth having? Does the structure of the meat look precise?
An example of a common object with a layered structure is a sandwich. It typically consists of layers of bread, various fillings like meat, cheese, lettuce, and condiments stacked on top of each other.
A Slim Jim is a piece of processed meat. No, a Slim Jim cannot open a gm. sierra. It does not have the force, or structure needed.