Methods Of Tenderising Meat

Question 1

List the methods of tenderising meat.

4

Answer 1

Meat tenderisers

Mechanical breakdown

Marinating

Slow moist cooking methods

Question 2

Write a note on how meat tenderisers can be used to tenderise meat.

Answer 2

Meat tenderisers contain proteolytic enzymes, e.g. papain from papayas, which break down meat fibres, making them more digestible

Question 3

What do meat tenderisers contain?

Answer 3

Proteolytic enzymes

Question 4

Give an example of a proteolytic enzyme,

Answer 4

Papain

Question 5

Where does papain come from?

Answer 5

Papayas

Question 6

What do proteolytic enzymes do?

Answer 6

They break down meat fibres, making them more digestible

Question 7

Write a note on how mechanical breakdown can tenderise meat.

Answer 7

Mechanical breakdown, e.g. pounding with a meat mallet, piercing with needles or mincing, breaks fibres into shorter lengths, tenderising meat

Question 8

Give three examples of mechanical breakdown.

Answer 8

Pounding with a meat mallet

Piercing with needles

Mincing

Question 9

How does pounding, piercing or mincing bring about tenderisation?

Answer 9

By breaking fibres into shorter lengths which tenderises meat

Question 10

Write a note on how marinating can tenderise meat.

Answer 10

Marinating in a mixture of acid (e.g. lemon juice), salt, herbs, spices and fruit or dairy breaks down fibres, tenderising meat

Question 11

What ingredients are needed in a marinade?

5

Answer 11

Acid 
Salt
Herbs
Spices
Fruit or dairy

Question 12

How does a marinade bring about tenderisation?

Answer 12

By breaking down fibres to tenderise the meat