Meat on the bone

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Cooked Porterhouse steak showing T-shaped bone T-bone-cooked-MCB.jpg
Cooked Porterhouse steak showing T-shaped bone
Cut of raw salmon showing bone in the center Kus lososa (2).jpg
Cut of raw salmon showing bone in the center

Meat on the bone or bone-in meat [1] is meat that is sold with some or all of the bones included in the cut or portion, i.e. meat that has not been filleted. The phrase "on the bone" can also be applied to specific types of meat, most commonly ham on the bone, [2] and to fish. [3] Meat or fish on the bone may be cooked and served with the bones still included or the bones may be removed at some stage in the preparation. [4]

Contents

Examples of meat on the bone include T-bone steaks, chops, spare ribs, chicken leg portions and whole chicken. Examples of fish on the bone include unfilleted plaice and some cuts of salmon.

Meat on the bone is used in many traditional recipes. [5]

Effect on flavor and texture

The principal effect of cooking meat on the bone is that it alters the flavour and texture. Albumen and collagen in the bones release gelatin when boiled which adds substance to stews, stocks, soups and sauces. [6] The bone also conducts heat within the meat so that it cooks more evenly and prevents meat from drying out and shrinking during cooking. [4] [7]

Cooking

Meat on the bone typically cooks slower than boneless meat when roasted in a joint. Individual bone-in portions such as chops also take longer to cook than their filleted equivalents. [6] [8]

Value for money

Meat on the bone is quicker and easier to butcher as there is no filleting involved. Filleting is a skilled process that adds to labour and wastage costs as meat remaining on the bones after filleting is of low value (although it can be recovered). As a result, meat on the bone can be better value for money. [7] However, relative value can be hard to judge as the bone part of the product is undesirable in many cultures, for larger bones are inedible. Various portions may contain a greater or lesser proportion of bone.

Ease of handling

The presence of bones may make meat products more bulky, irregular in shape, and difficult to pack. Bones may make preparation and carving difficult. [9] However, bones can sometimes be used as handles to make the meat easier to eat. [6]

Import restrictions

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Because FMD rarely infects humans but spreads rapidly among animals, it is a much greater threat to the agriculture industry than to human health.

FMD can be contracted by contact with infected meat, with meat on the bone representing a higher risk than filleted meat. [10] As a result, import of meat on the bone remains more restricted than that of filleted meat in many countries. [11]

Health issues

Injury

Meat and fish served on the bone can present a risk of accident or injury. Small, sharp fish bones are the most likely to cause injury although sharp fragments of meat bone can also cause problems. Typical injuries include bones being swallowed and becoming trapped in the throat, [12] and bones being trapped under the tongue. [13]

Discarded bones can also present a risk of injury to pets or wild animals as some types of cooked meat bone break into sharp fragments when chewed. [14]

BSE

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as "mad cow disease", is a fatal brain disease affecting cattle. It is believed by most scientists that the disease may be transmitted to human beings who eat the brain or spinal cord of infected carcasses. [15] In humans, it is known as new variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD or nvCJD), and is also fatal.

The largest outbreak of BSE was in the United Kingdom, with several other countries affected to a lesser extent. The outbreak started in 1984, and continued into the 1990s, leading to increasing concern among governments and beef consumers as the risk to humans became known, but could not be quantified. Many countries banned or restricted the import of beef products from countries affected by BSE.

Animal brain and spinal cord had already been removed from the human and animal food chain when, in 1997, prion infection was also detected in the dorsal root ganglia within the spinal column of infected animals. As a result, beef on the bone was banned from sale in the UK as a precaution. [16] [17] This led to criticism that the government was overreacting. [18] The European Union also considered banning beef and lamb on the bone. [19] The UK ban lasted from December 1997 to December 1999, when it was lifted and the risk from beef on the bone declared negligible. [20]

Use as a metaphor

The phrase "meat on the bones" is used metaphorically to mean substance. For example, "I expect that we'll start putting some meat on the bones of regulatory reform" [21] indicates an intention to add detail and substance to plans for regulatory reform and implies that these plans were previously only set out in broad or vague terms.

The phrase to "flesh out" relies of the same imagery in which a basic idea is likened to a skeleton or bones and the specific details of the idea to meat or flesh on that skeleton.

Boneless meat

Boneless meat is meat that is not bone-in, i.e. does not have the bone attached. In general boneless cuts, while being considered by some people not as flavorful, will typically cook faster and do not require eating around or carving around the bone. [22]

Chicken

Boneless chicken is sometimes considered healthier than bone-in from a dietary fat content perspective. A downside is that the skin typically included in bone-in meat may help prevent the chicken from drying during cooking, causing the food to retain more moisture and flavor. [23]

Boneless chicken breasts are considered by some to be versatile and easy to handle compared to bone-in breasts. [24] Boneless chicken breasts may be lower in fat and a better source of protein. [25] [26] Typically, boneless chicken wings are not made from actual wings but from chicken breasts. Real wings have skin, bone, and cartilage, which may make separating it from the bone harder than simply cooking the meaty breast. [27] Producers sometimes prefer this method of making "boneless wings" as wholesale chicken breast can be cheaper. [28]

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that boneless chicken wings can legally contain bones. The court found the term "boneless wings" refers to a style of cooking, and patrons may expect to find bones anyway. The court explained, "A diner reading ‘boneless wings’ on a menu would no more believe that the restaurant was warranting the absence of bones in the items than believe that the items were made from chicken wings, just as a person eating ‘chicken fingers’ would know that he had not been served fingers." [29]

Pork

Boneless pork chops are sometimes used as a sandwich filling due to being easier to prepare, [30] [31] but can become dry and tough if not cooked properly, according to the Wall Street Journal, which recommends not cooking to above an internal temperature of 145 °F (63 °C). [31] Using cuts that are at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick can also help prevent drying out. [30] Typically a boneless pork chop is a deboned rib or loin chop. [30]

Lamb

Boneless lamb chops have similar considerations with relation to ease of preparation and flavor. [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beefsteak</span> Flat cut of beef

A beefsteak, often called just steak, is a flat cut of beef with parallel faces, usually cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers. In common restaurant service a single serving has a raw mass ranging from 120 to 600 grams. Beef steaks are usually grilled, pan-fried, or broiled. The more tender cuts from the loin and rib are cooked quickly, using dry heat, and served whole. Less tender cuts from the chuck or round are cooked with moist heat or are mechanically tenderized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Offal</span> Internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal

Offal, also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the internal organs of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, and these lists of organs vary with culture and region, but usually exclude skeletal muscle. Offal may also refer to the by-products of milled grains, such as corn or wheat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunch meat</span> Precooked or cured meats that are sliced and served cold or hot

Lunch meats—also known as cold cuts, luncheon meats, cooked meats, sliced meats, cold meats, sandwich meats, delicatessens, and deli meats—are precooked or cured meats that are sliced and served cold or hot. They are typically served in sandwiches or on a tray. They can be purchased pre-sliced, usually in vacuum packs, or they can be sliced to order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asado</span> Meat dish traditional in Uruguay, Argentina, Rio Grande do Sul, Peru, Paraguay and Chile

Asado is the technique and the social event of having or attending a barbecue in various South American countries: especially Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay where it is also a traditional event. An asado usually consists of beef, pork, chicken, chorizo, and morcilla; all of which are cooked using an open fire or a grill, called a parrilla. Usually, red wine and side dishes such as salads accompany the main meats, which are prepared by a designated cook called the asador or parrillero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterflying</span> Method of preparing meat for cooking

Butterflying is a way of preparing meat, fish, or poultry for cooking by cutting it almost in two, but leaving the two parts connected; it is then often boned and flattened. Spatchcocking is a specific method for butterflying poultry that involves removing the backbone, and spatchcock as a noun may refer to a bird prepared in that way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White meat</span> Meat which is pale before and after cooking

In culinary terms, white meat is meat which is pale in color before and after cooking. In traditional gastronomy, white meat also includes rabbit, the flesh of milk-fed young mammals, and sometimes pork. In ecotrophology and nutritional studies, white meat includes poultry and fish, but excludes all mammal flesh, which is considered red meat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pork ribs</span> Cut of pork

Pork ribs are a cut of pork popular in Western and Asian cuisines. The ribcage of a domestic pig, meat and bones together, is cut into usable pieces, prepared by smoking, grilling, or baking – usually with a sauce, often barbecue – and then served.

Cutlet refers to:

  1. a thin slice of meat from the leg or ribs of mutton, veal, pork, or chicken
  2. a dish made of such slice, often breaded
  3. a croquette or cutlet-shaped patty made of ground meat
  4. a kind of fish cut where the fish is sliced perpendicular to the spine, rather than parallel ; often synonymous with steak
  5. a prawn or shrimp with its head and outer shell removed, leaving only the flesh and tail
  6. a mash of vegetables fried with bread
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck steak</span> Cut of beef

Chuck steak is a cut of beef and is part of the sub-prime cut known as the chuck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional variations of barbecue</span>

Barbecue varies by the type of meat, sauce, rub, or other flavorings used, the point in barbecuing at which they are added, the role smoke plays, the equipment and fuel used, cooking temperature, and cooking time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fillet (cut)</span> Cut or slice of boneless meat or fish

A fillet or filet is a boneless cut or slice of meat or fish. The fillet is often a prime ingredient in many cuisines, and many dishes call for a specific type of fillet as one of the ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicken as food</span> Type of meat

Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world. Owing to the relative ease and low cost of raising chickens—in comparison to mammals such as cattle or hogs—chicken meat and chicken eggs have become prevalent in numerous cuisines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meat chop</span> Cut of meat served as individual portion

A meat chop is a cut of meat cut perpendicular to the spine, and usually containing a rib or riblet part of a vertebra and served as an individual portion. The most common kinds of meat chops are pork and lamb. A thin boneless chop, or one with only the rib bone, may be called a cutlet, though the difference is not always clear. The term "chop" is not usually used for beef, but a T-bone steak is essentially a loin chop, a rib steak and a rib cutlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak</span> Flat cut of meat

A steak is a thick cut of meat generally sliced across the muscle fibers, sometimes including a bone. It is normally grilled or fried. Steak can be diced, cooked in sauce, such as in steak and kidney pie, or minced and formed into patties, such as hamburgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fish steak</span>

A fish steak, alternatively known as a fish cutlet, is a cut of food fish which is perpendicular to the spine and can either include the bones or as boneless meat. Fish steaks can be contrasted with fish fillets, which are cut parallel to either side of the spine and do not include any large bones. Fish steaks can be made with the skin on or without, and are generally made from fish larger than 4.5 kilograms (10 lb). Fish steaks from particularly large fish can be sectioned so they are boneless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaded cutlet</span> Meat in breading or batter

Breaded cutlet or braised cutlet is a dish made from coating a cutlet of meat with breading or batter and either frying or baking it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistani meat dishes</span>

Meat plays a much more dominant role in Pakistani cuisine, compared to other South Asian cuisines. Of all the meats, the most popular are chicken, lamb, beef, goat, and fish.Beef is particularly sought after as the meat of choice for kebab dishes or the classic beef shank dish nihari. Seafood is generally not consumed in large amounts, though it is very popular in the coastal areas of Sindh and the Makran coast of Balochistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stew</span> Combination of solid food ingredients

A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients can include any combination of vegetables and may include meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef, pork, venison, rabbit, lamb, poultry, sausages, and seafood. While water can be used as the stew-cooking liquid, stock is also common. A small amount of red wine or other alcohol is sometimes added for flavour. Seasonings and flavourings may also be added. Stews are typically cooked at a relatively low temperature, allowing flavours to mingle.

References

  1. ↑ Aidells, Bruce; Kelly, Denis (2001). The Complete Meat Cookbook. HarperCollins. p. 206. ISBN   9780547347608.
  2. ↑ Leto, Mario Jack; Bode, Willi Karl Heinrich (2006). The larder chef: food preparation and presentation. Taylor & Francis. p. 182. ISBN   9780750668996.
  3. ↑ Foote, Rowland; Ware, Malcolm John (1996). Food preparation and cooking. Nelson Thornes. p. 411. ISBN   9780748725663.
  4. 1 2 Delia Smith: Lamb Archived 2010-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Chop chop: Star recipes from Mark Hix's new restaurant" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 2022-05-12.
  6. 1 2 3 The Sydney Morning Herald: Savour the flavour
  7. 1 2 LBC: Cooking in the credit crunch Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ The Evening Inn: Buying and Cooking Lamb
  9. ↑ Highland Cattle World: Roast Highland Beef Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Food and Agriculture Organization: Reports Archive: 33rd session - Appendix 17
  11. ↑ AOL News: EU relaxes beef import restrictions for Brazil, Argentina
  12. ↑ Vagholkar, K. R. (2000). "Fish bone injuries of the upper aerodigestive tract". Bombay Hospital Journal. 42 (3): 508–9.
  13. ↑ Koay, C. B.; Herdman, R. C. D. (1995). "Nasendoscopy guided removal of fish bones from the base of tongue and the vallecula". The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 109 (6). Cambridge University Press: 534–535. doi:10.1017/S0022215100130634. PMID   7642995. S2CID   21262976.
  14. ↑ "Turkey Bones Spell Trouble for Pets". Westie Rescue of Northern California. Archived from the original on November 7, 2002.
  15. ↑ "Commonly Asked Questions About BSE in Products Regulated by FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)". Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration. 2005-09-14. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  16. ↑ Warden, John (1997). "UK government bans sale of beef on the bone". British Medical Journal . 315 (7122): 1559–1564. doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7122.1559c. S2CID   72876674.
  17. ↑ "Beef on the bone is banned in new scare" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 2022-05-12.
  18. ↑ "Meat-on-the-bone lovers rush to beat the ban". The Irish News . Archived from the original on March 20, 2016.
  19. ↑ "EU scientists want meat-on-the-bone ban". BBC News .
  20. ↑ European Union DG Health and Consumer Protection: Scientific Steering Committee issues opinions Archived 2010-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ The Toronto Star: U.S. dollar weakness hurts G20
  22. ↑ "Bone-in vs Boneless - Which is better?". The Wagyu Shop. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  23. ↑ Cliffe, Nicole (November 12, 2013). "Please Stop Buying Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts". The Toast.
  24. ↑ Carruthers, John (14 May 2019). "How to redeem meat's biggest snooze, the boneless skinless chicken breast". The Takeout.
  25. ↑ "FoodData Central". fdc.nal.usda.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  26. ↑ "FoodData Central". fdc.nal.usda.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  27. ↑ "Bone-in vs. boneless wings". www.meatpoultry.com.
  28. ↑ Neuman, William (October 12, 2009). "'Boneless' Wings, the Cheaper Bite". The New York Times.
  29. ↑ Jewett, Abraham (5 August 2024). "Ohio court rules boneless chicken wings can contain bones". Top Class Actions. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  30. 1 2 3 Nash, Elias (2022-10-14). "Did You Know There Is More Than One Type Of Pork Chop?". Tasting Table. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  31. 1 2 Greenwald, Kitty (5 October 2022). "This Easy Pork Dinner Is the Perfect Way to Welcome Fall". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  32. ↑ Mattison, Lindsay D. (2022-10-15). "The 16 Absolute Best Cuts Of Lamb To Roast". Tasting Table. Retrieved 2022-10-19.


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