How to Kill Germs in Undercooked Meats Like Steak

Have you ever wondered how so many people can have their meats undercooked and not get sick? I really thing that sometimes it is a miracle, but it is really just a process of breaking down bacteria. I have decided that I am going to target steak in this article in particular because it is the most commonly undercooked meat. I believe most of us just love a juicy steak, but worry about food poisoning from germs. As for the rest that like meat cooked well done, they want to kill as many germs as possible. Therefore, everyone wants their meat germ free. So how do restaurants serve raw beef products like medium rare steaks, carpaccio, ceviche, and steak tartare without making people sick? There is one simple answer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steak or other meat product that will be consumed.
• A bowl.
• Vinegar.

1. First of all, if the meat you plan to eat is frozen, unthaw it right now in the microwave. Most microwaves have defrost settings. Place the steak in a bowl and put it in the microwave according to your microwave's instructions.

2. You'll see that now that it's been unthawed, that there is probably blood from the meat in the bowl. You can either drain it or leave it there. Pour about two cups of white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Make sure that the vinegar covers both sides of the meat. When meat is cooked, it undergoes a process called denaturation. This process breaks down the amino acids in the meat. This causes the meat to become firmer because it becomes "hydophobic", making the meat shrink and lose its ability to retain water. Since the bonds become tighter and have been damaged by denaturation, it is very hard for bacteria to become part of the meat and cause damage. Also, the acid in vinegar doesn't hurt in helping kill germs. The only time bacteria is a threat after denaturation is during the stages of decay.

3. Soak the meat for one to two hours. Now, you can make your own steak rub or however you would normally prepare it. Chances are it doesn't need any tenderiser because vinegar does a great job of making meat moist. Just cook as you desire. Enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Never consume old or spoiling meat. The older the meat is, the quicker it decays. Decaying in meat produces bacteria and is never safe to eat.
• Never eat uncooked or undercooked meat, unless you know for sure how to properly denaturate it.