In roasting or broiling the meat is subjected suddenly to a high
temperature which coagulates the albumin of the outer layers and
prevents the escape of the juices. For this reason the oven should
be thoroughly hot before the roast is put in. Unless the heat is
sufficient to sear the surface, the moisture, or juice, will escape and
the connective tissue will be toughened.
The roast should be turned as soon as one side is seared and just
enough water added to prevent it from burning.
It is important to remember that the smaller the cut to be roasted,
the hotter should be the fire. An intensely hot fire coagulates the
exterior and prevents the drying up of the meat juice. After the
surface is coagulated and seared, to prevent the evaporation of its
juices, the roast should be covered so as to cook more slowly to
prevent too great hardening of the surface.
Frequent basting of a roast with the fat, juice, and water in the
roasting pan, still further sears the surface so that the juices
do not seep through, and keeps the air in the pan moist; the heated
moisture materially assists in gelatinizing the connective tissue.
Roasting pans are now made which are self-basting.
Raising the temperature of the juices subjects the inner portions of
the meat to moist heat and it is thus stewed in its own juices. The
retention of these juices and of the extractives adds to the flavor and
the palatability.
Roasted or broiled meats, if properly cooked, are more readily digested
and they are usually most relished because their flavor is better
retained.
_Pot Roasts._ For a pot roast, the meat should be well seared in fat,
then a small amount of water added, and the meat cooked _slowly_ at
about 180 F., until done. A fireless cooker is excellent for this as
for any other food needing to be slowly cooked. The juices seep out in
the water and form a rich gravy which should be served with the meat.
_Broiling._ The same principle of quickly searing the surface applies
to broiling. In broiling, however, the heat is applied direct, because
the process is quicker. The meat is placed over a very hot flame or hot
coals and both sides quickly seared to prevent the juice from escaping.
The object of the direct application of the heat is to enable it to
quickly penetrate to the center of the chop or steak so as to coagulate
the albumin and prevent the escape of the water. Meat intended for
broiling should be cut at least an inch thick, as otherwise it becomes
too hard and dry in the process of broiling.
Meat containing much connective tissue, such as the neck, chuck, and
rump, is not adapted to broiling, because it takes too long for this
tissue to become gelatinized. It may be pan broiled, a little water
added, and cooked slowly until done. Prepared in this way it is cheap,
nourishing, and palatable.
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