Meat Lover’s Guide to Silly Season Preparation

Silly season is the term used to describe the festive period between Christmas and New Year when people tend to indulge in food and drink, socialise with friends and family, and celebrate the end of the year. For meat lovers, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some of their favourite dishes, but it also requires some planning and preparation. Cooking meat for large crowds can be challenging, especially if you want to impress your guests with delicious and safe results. In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to prepare and cook your meat for the silly season.

1. Choose the Right Meat for Your Needs

Meat Lover's Guide to Silly Season Preparation

The first step is to choose the right meat for your needs. Depending on the number of guests you’re expecting, the cooking method you’ll be using, and the budget you have to work with, you might opt for different cuts and types of meat. For example, if you’re planning to roast a whole turkey or ham, you’ll need to make sure you have enough oven space and time to cook it properly.

Here at Blakes Fine Foods, we offer a variety of meat cuts, including Wagyu bone broths with original, roasted red pepper & tomato, and shiitake mushroom flavours. We also provide grass-fed Angus stewing beef, beef burgers, Kudu loin, ostrich fan fillet, and Purdon Wagyu fillet. Our special offers include Purdon Wagyu flank steak, rump steaks, skirt steak, Sparta grain-fed beef fillets, Springbok loin & fillet, Wagyu beef mince, bone marrows, and Wagyu burgers. Click here to view all our meat products.

2. Thaw the Meat

Meat Lover's Guide to Silly Season Preparation

Once you’ve chosen your meat, you need to thaw it properly. Never thaw meat at room temperature, as this can allow harmful bacteria to grow and spoil your meat. Instead, thaw it in the refrigerator, microwave, or under cold running water. Thawing in the refrigerator is the safest and most recommended method, but it can take several hours or even days, depending on the size of your meat.

Thawing in the microwave is the fastest method, but it can also cause uneven heating and loss of moisture and flavour. Thawing under cold running water is a good compromise, but you need to change the water every 30 minutes and keep the meat in a sealed plastic bag.

3. Season Your Meat

Meat Lover's Guide to Silly Season Preparation

Next, you need to season your meat well. A simple salt and pepper rub is a good start, but you can also add other herbs and spices to taste. Some popular seasonings for meat include garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, sage, paprika, cumin, coriander, and chilli. You can also make your own spice blends or use ready-made ones from the store. Seasoning your meat not only enhances its flavour but also helps to form a crust that seals in the juices and prevents drying out.

4. Marinate the Meat

Meat Lover's Guide to Silly Season Preparation

Another way to add flavour and tenderness to your meat is to marinate it. Marinating is the process of soaking your meat in a liquid mixture of oil, acid, and seasonings for a certain amount of time. The oil helps to moisten and coat the meat, the acid helps to break down the tough fibres and proteins, and the seasonings add flavour and aroma.

You can use different types of acids, such as vinegar, lemon juice, wine, or yoghurt, and different types of seasonings, such as soy sauce, honey, mustard, or herbs. Marinating your meat is optional, but it can make a big difference in the final result.

5. Cook Your Meat

Meat Lover's Guide to Silly Season Preparation

The next step is to cook your meat to a safe internal temperature. The best way to ensure that your meat is cooked properly is to use a meat thermometer. A meat thermometer is a device that measures the temperature of the meat at its thickest part. Different types of meat have different recommended temperatures, depending on the level of doneness you prefer. For example, beef can be cooked from rare (54°C) to well-done (71°C), while chicken should always be cooked to at least 74°C.

When cooking your meat, avoid overcrowding the pan. This will prevent the meat from cooking evenly and will lower the temperature of the pan, which can lead to food poisoning. Instead, cook your meat in batches or use multiple pans. You can also keep your cooked meat warm in the oven while you finish the rest.

6. Slicing and Serving

Meat Lover's Guide to Silly Season Preparation

Lastly, let your meat rest briefly before slicing and serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and juicier meal. If you cut your meat too soon, the juices will spill out and make your meat dry and tough. To rest your meat, transfer it to a cutting board or a platter, cover it loosely with foil, and wait for about 10% of the cooking time. For example, if you cook your meat for 20 minutes, let it rest for 2 minutes.

Get the Best Meat for the Silly Season

As the festive season approaches, the time for indulgence and celebration is just around the corner. If you’re a meat enthusiast, preparing delicious dishes for your loved ones is a wonderful way to spread joy. And now you know how to best prepare it. All that’s left for you is to make your silly season memorable with the best meat, available from Blakes Fine Foods. Contact us today to elevate your culinary experience.