• ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I tried “velveting” some beef the other day (basically marinating the meat in baking soda) and the result was absolutely disgusting, both in terms of texture and flavor. I wonder if maybe I didn’t wash off the baking soda sufficiently and got soap, although that wouldn’t explain the texture issue. The texture was similar to Chinese takeout beef but somehow not as palatable.

      • RBWells@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Use cornstarch for velveting, and not much, and don’t rinse. I wouldn’t use baking soda to tenderize either, acids are the way to go, or just cooking it for the time it needs.

        What were you making that called for baking soda?

    • Dharma Curious (he/him)@slrpnk.net
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      1 month ago

      I’ve never had it break them down too much, nor create anything remotely soapy in flavor. Perhaps it chemically does create soap, I don’t know. But the end result is delicious and I’m a fifth the time.