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OK - you want practical advice? Or just conversation?
Most people without thermometers judge whether something is done by looking at it. You can pull a roast off the heat, cut into it and see if it *looks* done. For pork, that probably means no longer pink. For beef, it might be quite pink still. So it just depends on the meat and one's personal preference.
If you're cooking over an open fire or are otherwise without things like ovens and regulated temperatures, it's probably best to cut the meat into smaller, grillable cuts, it's probably a lot easier than trying to cook big roasts or whole turkeys that might take longer cooking times and more specific temperatures.
Agree with those who say cut it open and look at it. I rarely use a meat thermometer, except for beef roast to make sure it’s not overcooked.
Chicken and pork I prefer over rather than undercooked.
Fish I’m pretty much the same, I prefer overcooked unless I’m eating professionally prepared sushi.
Hell we never even had a meat thermometer for most of our lives.
The same way food was cooked over fire since the beginning of time.
Exactly. And how much of humanity continues to cook and eat meat today.
The OP's question sounds like something an inexperienced 20 year old would ask. Like, if there's no internet and they can't buy whatever gadget they need on Amazon and watch an instruction video on Youtube, then they're doomed to perish. Maybe that would be a good thing for our species!
The OP's question sounds like something an inexperienced 20 year old would ask.
Yeah, it's surprising (I think).
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigpaul
we usually cook meat until its falling apart, well done is how we like it.
I mean this is the answer for pretty much anything. If you're truly in dire straits and need to cook like this just cook the heck out of it, whatever it is. It's not like you'd have the luxury of worrying about a fine dining experience with perfectly cooked medium-rare raccoon.
B: How often did they die doing it wrong.....and hence, the above is not a useful answer for the current time.
I've cooked for 30 years mostly without a thermometer. It sounds like you have cooked a lot, maybe a good tip would be to use your thermometer still but to take a look at what a slice looks like or what color or consistency of juice comes out when poked etc.
In short, when you recognize those other cues that it is well cooked you can then rely on that if you are ever without a thermometer.
P.S. And we all know that some types of meat need more caution than others.
even currently now "in civilization" there are people who cook and bake (a) without using thermometers, and (b) without using clocks. so start practicing now while it is easy and then you will have that skill when there are not any gadgets.
the first time i heard that people can bake without using clocks to time the baking (i never did use a thermometer ever) i did not believe it was possible. at that time i was on a kick baking brownies. lots of brownies. perfecting the best tasting brownies. so i was making many many many batches, different flavors. I didn't even like brownies all that much, so i would eat one and then give the rest away. my circle of friends at the time loved this phase by the way.
anyway as i wondered how people could cook without timing things i started i guess paying more attention and become more acutely tuned in. i noticed the brownies had a distinct scent (a quite yummy scent) around the time they were done. this to me was fascinating. So instead of hovering around the oven fearful of my brownies being ruined i became more relaxed, would go off to other parts of the house and when i could smell the yummy smell only then i checked the oven and VOILA perfectly cooked brownies. every time.
point being it's possible to cook without gadgets and (gasp) people did this quite well for many more centuries than the gadgets have existed. for meat, cut off a piece and look at it.
All of this. It's how I've always cooked and baked.
If we learn how to take care of ourselves now, it's not a big deal later. Buying a couple of thermometers now and packing them away for an emergency is also not a big deal later. Keep it simple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tzaphkiel
even currently now "in civilization" there are people who cook and bake (a) without using thermometers, and (b) without using clocks. so start practicing now while it is easy and then you will have that skill when there are not any gadgets.
the first time i heard that people can bake without using clocks to time the baking (i never did use a thermometer ever) i did not believe it was possible. at that time i was on a kick baking brownies. lots of brownies. perfecting the best tasting brownies. so i was making many many many batches, different flavors. I didn't even like brownies all that much, so i would eat one and then give the rest away. my circle of friends at the time loved this phase by the way.
anyway as i wondered how people could cook without timing things i started i guess paying more attention and become more acutely tuned in. i noticed the brownies had a distinct scent (a quite yummy scent) around the time they were done. this to me was fascinating. So instead of hovering around the oven fearful of my brownies being ruined i became more relaxed, would go off to other parts of the house and when i could smell the yummy smell only then i checked the oven and VOILA perfectly cooked brownies. every time.
point being it's possible to cook without gadgets and (gasp) people did this quite well for many more centuries than the gadgets have existed. for meat, cut off a piece and look at it.
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