low-temperature cooking

Low-temperature cooking has been used for a long time; evidence of its use can be found in indigenous cultures. Samoans and Tongans slow-cook meat in large pits for celebrations and ceremonies. However, the technique was not scientifically examined until the 18th century, when Benjamin Thompson "described how he had left a joint of meat in a drying oven overnight and was amazed when, the next morning, he found that the meat was tender and fully cooked.".{{cite web|title=Full on Food: Low Temperature Cooking |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/fullonfood_meat.shtml |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831161204/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/fullonfood_meat.shtml |archive-date=31 August 2007 }} Professor Nicholas Kurti from the University of Oxford repeated these experiments in 1969, and showed that the temperature of Thompson's trial never exceeded 70 degrees Celsius (158 °F).

Meat is cooked for four reasons: to tenderise it, to provide additional flavours, to kill harmful bacteria, and to kill parasites such as Trichinella spiralis and Diphyllobothrium.{{cite web|title=The Cold Truth About Raw Food Diets|url=http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/healthy-food-the-cold-truth-about-raw-food-diets.html|publisher=DiseaseProof.com|access-date=16 May 2012|first1=Joel|last1=Fuhrman, MD | date=September 12, 2006}} All four can be achieved by cooking meat at high temperature for a short time, and by cooking at low temperature for a long time. Each goal is achieved at a different temperature, and takes a different time to achieve. The lower the temperature used, the longer the cooking time. An example of slow, long cooking is Southern pulled pork BBQ.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Toughness in meat is derived from several proteins, such as actin, myosin and collagen, that combined form the structure of the muscle tissue. Heating these proteins causes them to denature, or break down into other substances, which in turn changes the structure and texture of meat, usually reducing its toughness and making it more tender. This typically takes place between {{convert|55|and|65|C|F}} over an extended period of time.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Flavours may be enhanced by the Maillard reaction, which combines sugars and amino acids at temperatures above {{convert|115|C|F}}.{{cite book|last=McGee|first=Harold|title=On Food and Cooking |year=2004 |publisher=Scribner|isbn=9780684800011|pages=779}} Meat roasted traditionally in a hot oven has a brown crust which is generally considered desirable, caused by the Maillard reaction. Meat can be cooked at a high temperature for a short time to brown just the surface, before or after being cooked at low temperature, thus obtaining the benefits of both methods.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Bacteria are typically killed at temperatures of around {{convert|68|C|F}}.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Most harmful bacteria live on the surface of pieces of meat which have not been ground or shredded before cooking. As a result, for unprocessed steaks or chops of red meat it is usually safe merely to bring the surface temperature of the meat to this temperature and hold it there for a few minutes.{{cite web|title=Low Temperature Cooking |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/fullonfood_meat.shtml | publisher=BBC |access-date=16 May 2012 |url-status=dead

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831161204/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/fullonfood_meat.shtml |archive-date=31 August 2007 }}{{Cite web|date=2014-01-20|title=Information for Consumers: Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://foodsafety.wsu.edu/consumers/faq3.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120204511/http://foodsafety.wsu.edu/consumers/faq3.htm|archive-date=2014-01-20|access-date=2022-01-29|website=WSU Food Safety}} Meat which has been ground needs to be cooked at a temperature and time sufficient to kill bacteria. Poultry such as chicken has a porous texture not visible to the eye, and can harbour pathogens in its interior even if the exterior is heated sufficiently.{{cite web |url=https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2012/new-way-to-reduce-bacteria-on-poultry/ |title=New Method to Reduce Bacteria on Poultry |website=Food Poisoning Bulletin|date=6 February 2012 |author=Linda Larsen |access-date= 28 October 2018}}

Low-temperature cooking reduces the amount of fat and juices, normally used to make gravy, rendered out of the meat. However, when using a plastic bag, little to no evaporation occurs while the meat is cooking, which results in plentiful bag juices.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Sous-vide low-temperature cooking is carried out by vacuum-sealing food in a plastic bag placed in a water bath or combi steamer with precisely controlled temperature for a long time. The food may then be browned by heating the surfaces to a much higher temperature of perhaps {{convert|200|C|F}}, using a roasting pan or a blow torch{{cite book|author=Heston Blumenthal|title=In Search of Perfection|isbn=0-7475-8409-5|year=2006|publisher=A&C Black }} (see recipe for cooking steaks) prior to serving. A dishwasher has been used to cook salmon.{{cite web |url=http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=230 |title=Dishwasher Salmon |access-date=2011-03-02 |author=Riley Woodford |year=2006 |publisher=Alaska Department of Fish and Game }}

Below is the table of minimum temperature for different food.

Beef, Pork, Veal, and Lamb: {{convert|145|F|C}} with a 3-minute rest time

Ground Meat: {{convert|160|F|C}}

Ham, uncooked: {{convert|145|F|C}} with a 3-minute rest time

Ham, fully cooked: {{convert|140|F|C}} to reheat (caveat:{{cite web |title=Hams and Food Safety |url=https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/hams-and-food-safety |website=fsis.usda.gov |access-date=7 January 2023}})

Poultry: {{convert|165|F|C}}

Eggs:

• egg whites begin to coagulate at 140 °F{{cite web |title=Science of Cooking: Deviled Eggs: What's Going On? |url=https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/eggs/deviled-pop.html |website=exploratorium |access-date=7 January 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Gardiner |first1=Anne |last2=Wilson |first2=Sue |last3=Exploratorium |first3=The |title=The Inquisitive Cook |date=15 August 1998 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-8050-4541-3 |page=40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1gYY2IbWqUkC&q=egg+white+solidifies |language=en}}

:* Ovotransferrin begins to coagulate at 140°F

:* Ovalbumin begins to coagulate at 180°F

• egg yolks begin to coagulate at 149 °F{{cite book |last1=Gardiner |first1=Anne |last2=Wilson |first2=Sue |last3=Exploratorium |first3=The |title=The Inquisitive Cook |date=15 August 1998 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-8050-4541-3 |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1gYY2IbWqUkC&q=Egg+yolk+coagulates |language=en}}

:* Egg yolk lipoproteins begin to coagulate at 158°F{{cite web |title=Science Project Ideas using Egg Proteins and Temperature |url=https://www.edinformatics.com/science_projects/egg_proteins.htm |website=EdInformatics |access-date=7 January 2023}}

Egg Dishes: {{convert|160|F|C}}

Fin Fish: {{convert|145|F|C}} or flesh is opaque & separates easily with fork

Shrimp, Lobster, and Crabs: Flesh pearly & opaque

Clams, Oysters, and Mussels: Shells open during cooking

Scallops: Flesh is milky white or opaque and firm

Leftovers and Casseroles: {{convert|165|F|C}} {{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/safe-food-handling |title=Safe Food Handling |access-date=2017-11-30 |year=2017 |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration }}

{{Portal|Cooking|Food}}

• Black garlic
• Doneness
• Molecular gastronomy
• Food safety
• Critical control point

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A36869494 Slow-cooked roast wing rib of beef (by Heston Blumenthal)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120221054436/http://sousvideaustralia.com/cookingsousvide/red-meat-dishes/slow-cooked-beef/ Slow Cooked beef cheeks (by Sous Vide Australia)]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.cookingissues.com/index.html%3Fp=3913.html |title=Part I. Introduction to Low-Temperature Cooking and Sous-Vide |website=Cooking Issues|author=Dave Arnold }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.cookingissues.com/index.html%3Fp=3908.html |title=Part II. Low-Temperature Cooking Without a Vacuum |website=Cooking Issues|author=Dave Arnold }}

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Category:Cooking techniques