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Anonymous Modernist 10

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Posts posted by Anonymous Modernist 10

  1. He is correct; it's drained. We found that with regards to both red meat and poultry white stocks blanching bones beforehand in a separate container of water removes a tremendous amount of potential off flavors (flavors, that is, that you don't want). Try it as a side by side comparison. You should be able to taste a difference.

  2. It is less of an issue of cross-contamination and more of an issue of flavor transfer. To avoid contamination, it's most important to make sure that air is circulating around the meat well. Mold can grow in moist spots.

    As for being affected by other foods, a lot of aromas are fat soluble so desired aromas can be absorbed in the fatty tissue of meat.

  3. Whatever temperature you're smoking at combined with the environment's humidity will determine how cooked your meat is. So if you go higher in temperature, your meat might not be as juicy. But it can still be delicious with a good quality cut of meat and a well-practiced process. You can always try using a shorter length of time if you are using a higher temperature.

    You might look into getting the Bradley smoker though.

  4. Gellan is a very fussy hydrocolloid. It has very promising properties because you can manipulate texture quite precisely. But because it's ion-dependent it can act very differently depending on the liquid you are using. We go into this in more depth at the beginning of the Modernist hydrocolloids section of MC.

    Which kind of gellan are you using? Gellan F or LT 100? What liquid are you using?

  5. That's actually a really great idea. Pop rocks will burst when they react to moisture (usually that's saliva). Most fatty substances don't have a lot of moisture activity, which is why they say that they can be flavored with any fat-based substance. But N Zorbit is brilliant because it's an even drier substance, so it will keep the pop rocks in an even drier environment. Though of course powder is not as compact and the texture is different, so you will want to consider that.

  6. Any food-grade wax will work. You just want to make sure it's pure so it's safe. We've found some in the pastry sections of supermarkets or arts/crafts stores that carry canning/preserving supplies. You can also find it online.

    Congratulations for trying this, by the way! It's one of my favorites but it sure takes a long time!

  7. aidenbyrne said:

    How do I stop my bags from blowing (inflating) during cooking. For example whilst cooking oxtail for 100 hours I had to change the bag 4 times therefore resulting in the oxtail spoiling and becoming sour.

    What kind of bags are you using? The quality of the bag can be a factor. Otherwise, like vengroff said, the meat could have pathogens growing. You could have surface cross-contamination causing the meat to ferment.

  8. Tom Fisher said:

    I've noticed in all the videos of this dish being prepared, after the mushroom puree is spread with the pastry comb we skip right to the egg mixture being added atop the mushroom puree, but barely a mention is made of the metal frame used to stop the eggs from flowing across the pan. Was that frame custom made?

    This is one of those times that having a machine shop 30 feet away is pretty handy. Yes, that frame was custom made. But you can use a frying pan as a template and edges will become your boundary. If you use a mold, you want to make sure that it is flush with the bottom of the baking sheet. Otherwise the egg can seep underneath the frame. You can use weights as well.

  9. jnash85 said:

    The recipe for Cantonese fried rice is listed in the combi oven section, but the directions only give the oven temperature (475F), nohumidity, like they do for the other recipes.

    Can this recipe be made in a tradition oven, or is a combi oven required?

    This is because we don't use any humidity for this recipe. We like to still use the combi oven though because it can get a higher temperature and create heat similar to a wok. We call this oven-frying. This allows us to make large batches at a time.

  10. salomon said:

    I have a problem here with the cooking of the squid and cuttlefish.

    somehow the timing doesn't seem right.

    Could you please confirm that the numbers are correct

    barley cooked50C 10 Min

    Firm65C 5 Min

    tender654 h 30 min

    firm seems to be pretty short in cooking time

    please also check the others like geoduck and snails

    Robby

    Hi Robby. The temperatures the book gives are accurate. The question of the relationship between time and temperature will determine the texture. Lower temperatures basically just warm it through. When you want it more traditionally cooked, like with a traditional braised style, you have to cook it both longer and hotter to get that texture. I've found that Italian Grandmothers have a good saying about squid: you can cook it for a minute or an hour, but not in between.

    On the "Cooking with Modernist Cuisine" thread on eGullet they were just talking about different ways of cooking octopus. You might want to check it out for more ideas.

  11. The idea is that it is the most elabortate set up. It has sensors that are very precise for temp, humidity, and rate of burning wood. But it is also huge investment and pretty much meant for a restaurant / production style environment. A more approachable smoker for the home cook would be the bradley, which is still precise but less money.

  12. Modernist cooking in France is an interesting thing. It is very much relative to classic French cooking. That being said, there are a few restaurants starting to use Modernist cooking. Gagnaire's restaurant is Modernist in composition and complexity but still has a tradional feel. Thierry Marx has a new restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental. Le Pré Catalan is another I'd recommend. And there's a younger chef at Agapé Substance who is good too.

  13. Daniel Rose said:

    Just got one, haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I have a question... The instructions don't discuss using more than one charger, and in fact, state "you only need 1 charger for your iSi ThermoWhip," but I've seen many recipes and bloggers talking about using 2 or 3 chargers.

    Is this because they're using the 1L GourmetWhip rather than the .5L ThermoWhip? Is the general guideline 1 charger per half liter?

    As an additional bit of confusion, the instruction bookalsostates "do not use more than 2 chargers for Espumas." So... how many chargers can I safely use in my little half liter ThermoWhip, and is there a reason to go for 2 or 3 rather than 1? Stiffer mousses?

    The rule of thumb is that for 1/2 liter, 1 charge is sufficient but because nitrous oxide is a fat-solulable gas, if the liquid you want to foam is lean and you want it to be thicker or foamier, you may need 2 charges even in a 1/2 liter.

  14. Scott Heimendinger said:

    My (loaner) Polyscience Sonicprep just arrived and I have a few precious weeks tolearn as much as I can about the technique of ultrasonic homogenization. Does anyone have experience in thisarena, and if so, could you share your learnings?

    So far, I've heard that ultrasonic homogenizers (sonicators) are great for makingemulsions and quick infusions. However, I don't know anything about the water/oil ratios that I should be trying to achieve a really fantastic emulsion. In the first 10 minutes of use, I've been able to haphazardly emulsify different oils with water to achieve the texture (and look) of cream. But, I'd love to know what else is possible.

    BTW, I also have a rotor-stator homogenizer, and I plan to do side-by-side tests comparing the results of the two.

    Let the thread begin!!

    The same ratio of a traditionally-created emulsion applies. From cream to mayonaise, you can get a range of consistencies. The benefit is just that it will be more stable and it needs less emulsifiers, like eggs, which gives it a cleaner taste. So it is more a question of intention, not technique.

  15. Great, thanks alot for Gelato related themes.

    How would you modify Pistachio Gelato recipe to get Vanilla Gelato?

    This recipe whould be of very great impact, as Vanilla Gelato is not as itself a standard choice at the buffet (in Germany the sort most frequently chosen), but also a starting point for other gelatos.

     

    Use macadamia butter and oil instead, since they are neutral flavored and add either vanilla seeds from a vanilla bean or vanilla extract.

  16. soeren said:

    Hi

    I got a question for this one too.

    I get the idea of simulating the coals with the broiler. What I dont get is why I need to brown the meat first, put in the other ingredients, put the lid on and then under the broiler. (2-99)

    If the broiler heats the lid, which then radiats the surface of the meat so the maillard reaction occurs, why do I need to brown the meat first?

    The buttom of the meat won't get any of the lid radiation ofcause, but if I where doing this old fassionon a fireI would'nt brown the meat first anyway, or did i get something the wrong way?

    Also, doI use the broiler the entire time of cooking, or just until the lid is hot enough? and how hot should my oven be?I don't think my oven has got more then one broiler setting, which is full power! so could'nt that burn the meat?

    Thanks

    Soeren

    In a wet environment, it takes a long time for the Maillard reaction to occur. Searing does it much more quickly. Doing it before had really lets the flavors of the Maillard reaction penetrate the dish throughout the braising process, while the lid protects the meat so it doesn't continue to brown.

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