Baking Soda for “Tenderizing Meat”, a new application!

January 1, 2016
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Recently I ran into a nice Website called “51 Fantastic uses for Baking Soda”. This Website explains in detail how you can use baking soda for a multitude of applications.  Most of them have something to do with cleaning and/or deodorizing and extinguishing camp fires.

Here is a quick overview of all the mentioned applications:

Personal Care:

  • Make Toothpaste, Freshen Your Mouth, Soak Oral Appliances, Use as a Facial Scrub and Body exfoliant,
  • Skip Harsh Deodorant, Use as an Antacid, Treat Insect Bites & Itchy Skin,
  • Make a Hand Cleanser and Softener, Help Your Hair, Clean Brushes and Combs,
  • Make a Bath Soak, Soothe Your Feet

Cleaning:

  • Make a Surface Soft Scrub, Handwash Dishes and Pots & Pans, Freshen Sponges, Clean the Microwave, Polish Silver Flatware, Clean Coffee and Tea Pots, Clean the Oven,
  • Clean Floors, Clean Furniture, Clean Shower Curtains, Boost Your Liquid Laundry Detergent, Gently Clean Baby Clothes, Clean Cloth Diapers, Clean and Freshen Sports Gear, Remove Oil and Grease Stains, Clean Batteries, Clean Cars

 Deodorizing:

  • Deodorize Your Refrigerator  Cutting Boards, Trashcans, Recyclables, Drains,
  • Deodorize and Clean Dishwashers, Garbage Disposals, Lunch Boxes,
  • Remove Odor from Carpets and from Vacuum Cleaners
  • Freshen Closets, Deodorize Cars, the Cat Box and Pet Bedding,
  • Deodorize Sneakers and Freshen Linens,
  • Deodorize Your Wash and Freshen Stuffed Animals

 Miscellaneous:

  • Camping Cure-all, Extinguish Fires, Septic Care, Fruit and Vegetable Scrub

I was very surprised when I was watching one of my favorite food shows on TV (America’s Test Kitchen) and here baking soda was used to

“TENDERIZE MEAT”.

That was a completely new application for me and I will test it out and report on it in our next newsletter.

The test kitchen cooks claim, that the alkaline baking soda raises meat’s pH, the meat enzymes become more active and cut its muscle fibers, making it more tender and giving it a softer texture.
This allows it to retain water, and thus stay juicier.

They used it to marinate country style pork ribs for Szechuan Stir-Fried Pork in Garlic Sauce and to marinate chicken in Thai-Style Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken and Broccolini.
It was also used in a recipe of Shepherds Pie to avoid that the beef turns dry and crumbly and for Turkey Burgers.

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