Archive for the ‘How to’ Category

Tip-1: How Should I Handle Ground Beef At The Point Of Purchase?

Make sure that when you are shopping that the last thing you put into your cart is your ground beef or any other meat or fish for that matter and make sure they are very cold too. Also, make sure that the cashier or bagger places your meats into plastic bags separate from your other groceries. You should also make sure that your grocery shopping is the last stop before returning home and that you go home right after your shopping trip and place your meats immediately into your freezer.

Tip-2: How To Store Ground Beef At Home

You should at least refrigerate your ground beef upon arrival at home particularly if you are going to eat it that day otherwise, you should freeze your ground beef and other meat as soon as possible after arriving at your home. If you are only refrigerating your meat then your refrigerator should be at least 40 degrees-F if and colder than that is even better. If you are going to freeze your meat and particularly for a long period your freezer should be at least at 0 degrees-F and you should place your meats into heavy-duty freezer bags and mark the storage date on the bag, This will help you to avoid freezer burn.

Tip-3: How Should Ground Beef Be Thawed Out?

You should always thaw out your ground beef by placing it into the refrigerator overnight in a shallow pan and then place the pan on the lowest shelf in your refrigerator, which will help to keep your other food safe from any dripping by the thawing meat. In order to prevent the growth of bacteria you must also keep the meat cold while it is being defrosted too. Once the thawing is complete you should then consume the meat within 2 days to make sure that you are not eating bad meat. Under no circumstances should any meat that has been frozen and then thawed out be frozen again.

Tip-4: Is There A Danger In Eating Undercooked Or Raw Ground Beef?

Undercooked or raw meats have been known can contain extremely dangerous bacteria and should not be consumed in either state. Your ground beef and any food items like meatballs, meatloaf, hamburgers, and casseroles should be cooked to at least 160-F, and the USDA strenuously recommends that you do not eat under cooked or raw meat.

Tip-5: Can You Safely Microwave Hamburgers?

Yes you can safely microwave hamburgers provided that they are cooked properly and handled correctly. Make sure that you cover the hamburgers in order to more evenly distribute the heat and to flip and rotate each burger about half way through the cooking process. If your microwave oven does not have a carousel inside it then make sure to let the hamburgers stand for at least a minute after they have been cooked in order to absorb any residual heat inside the microwave oven.

Tip-6 Can I Refrigerate Or freeze Leftover Hamburgers And Is It Safe To Partially Cook Ground Beef Then Store It For Later Use?

As long as you have cooked your ground beef properly then it is safe to either refrigerate or freeze your ground beef. It is safe to refrigerate for about three days and it can be frozen for about 2 months safely provided your refrigerator and freezer are set at the optimum temperatures of 40-F and 0-F respectively. The storage of partially cooked ground beef can result in pathogens multiplying enough so that subsequent cooking of your meat will not kill them, which is very dangerous to your health.

When you are making grilled hamburger recipes or other recipes with ground beef, make sure to keep safety tips in mind. This way you can make the best hamburger recipe for everyone to enjoy.

The Best Burger Recipes the Net Has to Offer – BestHamburgerRecipes.org

Pizza is a very popular dish that has its origins Naples, Italy and the experts all agree that the best pizza is made in Naples too. Of course, in the states everyone says that New York style pizza or Chicago style pizza is the best and you would be hard pressed to prove either one of those cities wrong. The only real problems that these pizza styles have is that you have to pay for them and you either have to wait for them to be delivered or go pick them up yourself. This can lead to you having to eat your pizza cold instead of piping hot, which is why you should try making your own pizza it is not hard to make.

The ingredients for making a pizza are pretty easy to remember, because you most likely know what you want on your pizza. Another good reason for making your own pizza is that your local grocer will most likely have everything you need to make your own pizza. This also includes the pizza dough, which might already be laid out for making a pizza or will require you to roll it out or toss it. You will also need a pizza pan, which come in a variety of sizes and sometimes come as a set, so you will always have the size pan you want when you want to make a pizza.

The basic ingredients that you will need to make your own pizza are of course the pizza dough, a tomato based pizza sauce, and the kind of cheese you want to use, which is usually mozzarella. Other ingredients that are very popular as pizza toppings are pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, and green peppers. Of course, making your own pizza allows you to become very creative with the ingredients you choose. Goat cheese pizza and feta cheese pizza are popular cheese pizza topping favorites, while Canadian bacon, ground beef, and even shrimp are popular meat toppings.

Here are some other things to try when you are making your own pizza. Try using whole grain pizza dough instead of white pizza dough. A whole grain pizza dough will not take any longer to bake than a normal pizza and it will give your pizza an earthy grainy tasty and be better for you too. Another neat and tasty trick to do when making your pizza is creating a cheese stuffed crust, and all you have to do is roll out the dough about another two inches, put the cheese inside the two inches, and then roll the edge back over. All it really takes to make your pizza an original is imagination.

Now we are going to go through the steps of making a pizza. First, roll out the pizza dough to the desires size. Next cover the pizza dough with your tomato bases pizza sauce. Once the sauce is spread evenly, top the pizza with the cheese or cheeses that you want to use. At this point, add on your additional toppings making sure that they are evenly spread over the face of the pizza. The next thing to do is to place your pizza in an oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees. Bake your pizza approximately 20 minutes or until the crust is golden. Let cool a couple of minutes and then enjoy your pizza.

Hamburger can be used in many great ways, such as a topping for pizza. You can also look for hamburger recipes as a way to make a tasty dinner. Find the best hamburger recipe online for a dinner the whole family will love.

The Best Burger Recipes the Net Has to Offer – BestHamburgerRecipes.org

Horseradish is a condiment which tends to provoke strong reactions in people; which is to say that they either love or hate it at first sight (or taste, as the case may be). It is certainly not for everyone, but if you love horseradish, you know how perfectly the sharp, sinus-clearing flavor of horseradish pairs with a nearly endless variety of different foods.

You may have even given some thought to how to make horseradish yourself and if so, you’ll be glad to hear that horseradish isn’t hard at all to make in your own kitchen – all it takes is a good horseradish recipe and you can make your very own homemade horseradish which will be certain to wow your fellow horseradish lovers, even if it does make your family and friends who dislike this condiment head for the hills.

One thing to keep in mind is that any homemade horseradish recipe is going to result in horseradish which is considerably stronger than anything you will buy in a store. You can buy horseradish roots at many grocery stores and if you have a garden, it is an exceptionally easy plant to grow and grows so fast that you are likely to have plenty of fresh horseradish around at all times with just one or two plants.

There is almost nothing easier than this horseradish recipe, so get ready for horseradish in a matter of minutes!

Homemade Horseradish

What You Need:

• One large piece of horseradish root (about 10″)
• 1 tbsp white vinegar (white wine, cognac or champagne vinegars are all good in this recipe)
• about 2 tbsp water
• a pinch of salt or more to taste

How to Make It:

Use a vegetable peeler to remove the tough exterior of the root and trim off the ends of your horseradish; the skin of the root is far too tough and you definitely do not want this in the finished product.

Once you have cleaned your horseradish root, the rest is easy (really, that was the hard part!). Chop the horseradish into small pieces and put it into a food processor or use the fine holes on a grater to grate the root manually and mix using a mortar and pestle. However, a food processor is preferable since it is far faster than grating and mixing by hand.

Add water to the processor and chop until the horseradish has been thoroughly blended and has the consistency of a thick paste. Add the vinegar and salt to the horseradish immediately and mix briefly to blend these ingredients in.

While working with horseradish, do not get too close and keep the windows in your kitchen open for ventilation; horseradish can cause your eyes to tear up and sting easily.

Once it is mixed, transfer your horseradish to a clean jar with a lid, and put it in the refrigerator. This horseradish recipe will keep for up to a month when refrigerated.

A very popular meal in the states today is the hamburger steak. However, the hamburger steak did not originate in the United States but in the Hamburg the second largest city in Germany where it is more commonly call Frikadeller and is made different from in the states too. The hamburger steak can be made a couple ways like pan frying or grilling, and some people even bake their hamburger steak and that tastes very good too. However, it is a good idea for you to decide how you best like it prepared and cooked, because when it comes time to dine you want to enjoy your hamburger steak.

A good recipe for making a hamburger steak will make the meal and the most commonly used recipe is truly a tasty and favorite too. First, you will need about ¼ to 1/3 pound of lean ground beef, which is the best choice. The next thing you will want to add to the meat is about a ¼ cup of plain breadcrumbs. A dash of salt, pepper, and garlic powder are the next things you want to add to your ground beef and breadcrumbs then fashion the steak. Before cooking slice, a little onion and sauté in butter in the pan you will fry your hamburger steak in. Next, fry your steak until cooked through and top with the onion.

You will also want to have a couple of side dishes to go with your hamburger steak so that the meal is well rounded and has some contrasting but complimenting flavors as well. Of course, the first choice for a side dish is the most obvious it is some kind of potato. Mashed potatoes are of course the first choice for a side dish for this meal. However, it is not uncommon for some people to have a baked potato as a side for this meal and nor is it uncommon for this meal to be served with French Fries either. Another great idea for a side is German style potato salad.

A vegetable is also a great idea for a second side dish with your hamburger steak meal. While a vegetable is not usually served with the Frikadeller/hamburger steak in Germany, a vegetable is usually served with a hamburger steak stateside. Some popular vegetable sides for this meal are peas and carrots, corn, French style green beans, and just plain peas. However, these vegetable choices are not set in stone for this particular meal. Broccoli and cauliflower are not only good choices for this meal but they are a very healthy choice for you as well.

There are also some great alternative or addition choices for a great meal like your hamburger steak meal. A side or starter salad for this meal is a great choice, because it offers you both fresh greens and great taste also. With the salad the lighter the dressing the better it will be. A brown gravy might be a great addition to your hamburger steak and will give the meal more of a full flavor too. Another nice addition to this meal might be some kind of bread or rolls with butter. Bread will also give you the added benefit of being able to get every last drop of great taste off of the plate.

A great hamburger steak requires the best hamburger recipe you can find, and you may even locate some excellent grilled hamburger recipes for hamburger steak too.

The Best Burger Recipes the Net Has to Offer – BestHamburgerRecipes.org

Tamales are one of the world’s great comfort foods. Hailing from Mexico, these savory (and occasionally sweet) corn dumplings filled with meat, cheese or vegetables are among the most satisfying of dishes. However, they also have a reputation for being a lot of work to make; a reputation which is partially, though not entirely deserved. If you would like to learn how to make tamales in your own kitchen, the tamales recipe here may be the inspiration you need to get started.

There is no sugarcoating the fact that making tamales can be time consuming, though they are not actually difficult to make. When properly packaged, tamales freeze well, so if you’re making tamales, it may be worth it to make more than you’ll actually serve at one time so that you have a supply of these delicious and just filling enough delights on hand for the next time that those tamale cravings strike. So without any further ado, let us look at this easy tamales recipe – once you have gotten back from your local Mexican grocery, that is.

Note that we have not included a recipe for the filling; the beauty of tamales is that you can fill them with anything you like. Spicy pork or beef are traditional fillings, as is shredded

Easy Tamales Recipe

What You Need:

For the dough:

• ½ bag of masa flour (about 2 pounds)
• 1 package of corn husks
• 2 cups of corn oil (you can substitute canola if necessary)
• 1 ½ tablespoons salt
• 3 tablespoons each of chili powder and garlic powder (fresh crushed garlic may be substituted)
• 2 quarts of water or stock (chicken or vegetable stock both work well for this tamale recipe)

For the filling:

• About 4 cups of shredded cooked pork, beef or chicken, seasoned to taste or shredded cheese and green chilies

How to Make It:

Mix the dry ingredients in a very large bowl (a large salad bowl or punchbowl works; the larger the better) by hand or with a whisk, making sure that all of the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

Mix in the oil, working it into the dry ingredients with your hands. Add the water or stock to the dough a cup at a time, making sure it has been entirely absorbed before adding more. Keep adding liquid and mixing the dough until it is the consistency of a very thick oatmeal or to that of peanut butter.

The next step is to lay out your corn husks on a table or other clean work surface, then placing just enough dough on each to cover them with about ¼ inch of masa. Press the dough with your hands to form an even coating, leaving just a little room at the top, bottom, and edges and then spread each with about 1 tablespoon of filling down the center of each tamale.

Now roll each tamale up carefully, folding the top over the bottom (this is much like rolling up a burrito or wrap). Start boiling some water in a large steaming pot and place your tamales in the steamer lengthwise until it is full but not crowded – you may have to steam more than one batch. Cover the pot and once the water comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer on low heat and allow the tamales to steam for two hours, adding more water if necessary.

Once they’re finished, remove the tamales carefully from the steamer and serve immediately or allow them to cool to room temperature before storing in plastic bags for use over the next two or three days or freezing. Tamales never last long enough, but this tamales recipe is so good that you will not mind making them again and again.