• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Amazing Taste Food Says Today's Meat Preparation and Cooking Techniques Are Different Than Before

Posted on: Monday, 13 March 2006, 15:00 CST

Dr. Ghazi Taki, noted meat scientist, pointed out the differences between preparation and cooking of today's meats and those from the past at the American Meat Institute's Product Tasting Reception held today in Dallas.

Dr. Taki is President of Amazing Taste Foods(R), a Malibu, Calif., corporation that sells seasonings and marinades nationwide to supermarket meat and seafood departments. His line of products includes 99-cent packets for the consumer to use in preparing easy and tasty meals. In addition, many meat and seafood departments, as well as processors, are using his products for value-added and ready-to-cook meals.

Retail meat departments are selling more and more pre-seasoned, ready-to-cook fresh meats. In many cases, the meats are sold with a package of Amazing Taste seasoning enclosed, for a value-added purchase.

Dr. Taki pointed out the differences between today's and yesterday's meats. "If we look at today's meat versus years ago," said Dr. Taki, "we find that breeders are now genetically raising their livestock to produce leaner meat. Animals are fed to produce more meat with less fat. In the past, meats were aged for 7 to 14 days to achieve maximum tenderness and flavor. Today, there is hardly any aging. Additionally, in order to destroy pathogenic organisms, many of today's consumers cook their meat and poultry well-done, which causes the meat to dry out."

He continued, "Since consumers want juicy and tender meat, which today's products do not guarantee, processors are enhancing their meats with water and phosphate to compensate. While this practice was once used with shrimp and chicken only, it is now common with pork, and even beef."

Today's consumers are looking for simple, healthy and convenient ways to prepare meat. Most seasonings that are currently available in the market are only combinations of salt, pepper, varied spices and herbs created years ago. But they are not functional seasonings.

Dr. Taki said that today's consumers want to prepare delicious meals easily using products with less salt and no MSG, such as the Amazing Taste line of products. For these reasons, meat and poultry processors are interested in functional seasonings which are specifically formulated for each species, guaranteeing tenderness and juiciness, even when the meat is overcooked.

He also pointed out that proteins need specific formulas for each category, since they differ in texture, moisture, connective tissue and muscle fibers. His solution to this situation was to create natural formulas for each specific protein, such as for burgers, beef, pork, poultry and seafood.

Dr. Taki, who is one of the food industry pioneers who introduced many Adolph's Meat and Poultry Marinades years ago and published a book called "Fantastic Food From Your Microwave," also introduced a product in the early days of microwave cooking, called Micro Shake, which tenderized meats and allowed them to brown in the microwave. Now, he said, marinades are more important than ever. In addition to flavoring the meats, they also tenderize them. He pointed out that you can use the dry seasoning or add your choice of wine, beer, juices, water, olive oil or any combination of liquids, to make a custom-made, tasty marinade.

Dr. Taki predicted that within the next 5 years, meat departments will be different. There will be more emphasis on fresh, ready-to-cook meals. There will a greater variety of products that will include fresh meat, vegetables and seasoning with easy recipes for the consumer to prepare delicious, healthy meals. He is already working with Randall Foods in Los Angeles on several value-added items that include Old Fashioned Chicken Soup, Homemade Beef Stew, Beef and Chicken Kabobs and Beef Pot Roast. Many of these items were sampled at the AMI Product Tasting Reception.

Dr. Taki is continuing to work on many other innovative items to satisfy consumer needs for delicious, fresh and homemade economical meals that are also healthy, easy and convenient.

For additional information about Dr. Taki or Amazing Taste Seasonings, visit www.amazingtastefoods.com.

Editor note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Ghazi Taki, please contact Howard Pearlstein at 323-938-3300 or leeassociatespr@aol.com

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category