Cooked chicken with vegetables and gravy – Image Courtesy of Pexels
Some cuts might be considered an expense these days. But getting the most from a joint of meat means you can make it go further and feed more people with more meals for less.
Use the Drippings and the Bones
Drippings are the juices and fats that are released when you cook meat. Beef, pork, and lamb provide the most succulent dripping for making gravy. A guide on how to make homemade gravy is available here since it can be tricky. You can use the fat for roasting potatoes. Getting the juice away from the fat is tricky. But you can try a couple of things. A gravy separator lets you pour the juice. But you can also freeze the drippings and then scrape the fat off the top.
Don’t Discard the Bones
The bones of a meat joint are excellent for adding more flavor to a homemade stock which will elevate the flavor of your gravy to the level of a professional chef. When bones are cooked, they release flavors stuck deep inside the carcass that you can’t usually access. Additionally, some bones, such as lamb and beef, release gelatin and marrow that will add a thick and creamy juice to your stock. These are also great for curries. Ensure the bones are also free of meat.
Getting the Most from a Joint of Meat Means Using the Skin
When you cook a meat joint and prepare it, you only use around three-quarters of what’s really there, the skin included. Most people throw away the skin, but you can make great snacks:
- Pork skin is amazing for making classic pork scratchings.
- Fry up chicken skin for the tastiest savory chips you’ve ever eaten.
- Indulgent lamb crackling is a delight with mint sauce or as a side garnish.
Using the skin in this way makes it go that much further and ensures you get your money’s worth. And these are healthier than you think since they’re fresh and lightly fried or baked.
Use Leftovers for Other Meals
Even a small meat joint can yield a substantial amount of meat. For a small family or a couple, this means there will be plenty left over. You can use leftover meats for other meals easily. For example, you can marinate roasted pork in honey, soy sauce, and Chinese five-spice ready for mixing into a story fry. You can also make soup from leftover chicken. Or shred up leftover lamb to use in a lovely rogan josh curry. There are literally hundreds of ways to use leftovers.
Learn to Carve Properly
Finally, but by no means least. You can make your meat go further by learning to carve it properly. Each meat has a recommended thickness for the best flavor. For instance, beef should be very thin, pork needs to be moderately thin, and lamb should be slightly thick. Additionally, you will need a good knife and keep it sharp for easily slicing your meat just how you want it. A meat fork will help keep you steady. But it also takes time and practice to carve meat properly.
Summary
With food costs rising, getting the most from a joint of meat is more necessary. You can use the drippings for amazing gravy, fry the skin for snacks and get more meat with proper carving.
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