Thursday, April 12, 2012

Pink Slime Used as a Filler in Most Ground Beef Puts Amonia in Our Food



 Pink Slime is a processed meat additive that can be found in most ground beef. Pink slime is made with the extra parts, or "trimmings," that is usually reserved for pet food. Some of these parts include:
  • sinew
  • fat
  • connective tissue
 These parts are mechanically removed from the meat using a heating centrifuge and is then made into a paste. The recovered material is then processed and treated with ammonia to remove bacteria such as e-coli. It is then ground, compressed into blocks, and flash frozen to be used as a cheap filler for ground beef.  

In the United States, Pink Slime can constitute up to 15 percent of the beef without being labeled as containing the product.


Pink Slime has citizens questioning whether or not its safe. When samples of the product were tested, results came back showing that it is full of harmful bacteria.


 Pink Slime has been banned in many areas, including Canada and the United Kingdom, but is still legal in the us. While some grocery stores and restaurants have stated that they do not use the additive, a sure way to know whats in your burger is by grinding your beef at home.  
                                                         

Coral Spring's BurgerFi Uses Natural Angus Beef to Create a Premium Quality Burger



BurgerFi is new to Coral Springs, and is already standing out. They use natural Angus beef for their burgers, which means:
  • Cows are raised humanly, given shelter, sufficient space, and the ability to engage in natural behaviors
  • The cows are given no antibiotics or hormones - allowing the cow to grow at a natural pace, resulting in a more tender meat
  • Cows are vegetarian fed
You can really notice the difference this makes when you try their burgers. With your first bite you can taste how tender and marbleized the meat is. BurgerFi's menu also offers a variety of toppings for your burger - some including:

  • salt & vinegar potato chips
  • onion rings
  • egg sunny side up
  • grilled mushrooms
  • chili
The variety allows you to build a different burger for almost every visit. The atmosphere is also great - its contemporary and clean, providing a pleasant dining experience. The price is a little steep though - you're going to spend anywhere from $10-$15 on your visit. The burgers also aren't the biggest, but they are definitely filling. I would say this place is worth the visit.

Location: 2716 N University Dr.
               Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone: 954-510-8300

Healthier Burger Choices From Home When You're Watching What You Eat



When you're watching your weight or just want to start eating healthier, eating burgers may not be your first choice - but it should.

This recipe for a Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Burger from eatingwell.com, provides a delicious unique burger that you can feel good about.

This turkey burger is served with mozzarella inside the patty and dressed in a marinara sauce. The preparation time isn't too bad but it does involve a lot of ingredients, some including:
  • onions
  • garlic
  • tomatoes
  • lemon zest
  • oregano
  • 1 pound of 93 percent lean turkey
But the nutritional value of this burger is pretty good when considering the amount of calories you should consume per day. This burger (per serving) has:
  • 299 calories
  • 15 grams of fat
  • 28 grams of protein
  • Vitamin C (35 percent daily value)
  • Vitamin A (20 percent daily value)
This burger is a great way to enjoy your food and stay healthy, but check out other reviews of the burger and decide if its right for you.

Boca Raton's Smokey Bones Adds a Fried Egg To Create a Hearty Burger



Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill offers a variety of different BBQ items, but their Morning Glory burger stands out from the rest.

The 1/2 pound fire grilled burger could be enough to fill you up, but there's more:

  • American cheese
  • 3 slices of peppered bacon
  • chipotle ketchup
  • fried egg
The fried egg soaks into the bun, giving you a consistent great flavor with every bite. And that 1/2 burger patty is cooked to perfection - pink and juicy in the middle but with a consistency that refuses to fall apart. The menu offers many different burgers if you're not a fan of the fried egg - including their biggest sandwich to date - the Smoke Stack - with 3 half pound patties, if your feeling really hungry. The atmosphere is inviting too - Smokey Bones is a great place to enjoy a burger and a beer.

The prices are reasonable as well - their Morning Glory is $11 and the other burgers range from $10 - $20.

See what others are saying.
Location: 21733 SR 7
               Boca Raton, FL 33428
Phone: 561-852-7870

The Cheesecake Factory in Downtown Fort Lauerdale Adds a Fried Macaroni and Cheese Ball to Their Burgers for a Delicious Twist


The Cheesecake Factory's  Macaroni and Cheeseburger uses fried macaroni and cheese balls in place of the standard slice of cheese to create a rich and creamy flavor.

The other toppings of this sandwich include:
  • cheddar cheese sauce
  • lettuce
  • tomato
  • pickles
  • onion
  • mayo
This chorus of toppings and condiments work together to create a great tasting sandwich. The burger is cooked to your liking and comes out thick and juicy. After trying this once its safe to say that I will never again have to look through their intimidating menu.

If you decide a fried ball of macaroni and cheese doesn't belong on your burger, no worries - The Cheesecake Factory offers a variety  of great tasting burgers. Its also located in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale - providing a nice dining experience.

The meals can be a bit pricey and can range from $15 - $20, but its pretty reasonable when considering the amount of food that comes on your plate. Others agree that the food and dining experience is well worth the visit.

Location: 600 E Las Olas Blvd
               Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-463-1999

 

Raw and Undercooked Ground Meat May Contain Harmful Bacteria




According to the USDA, raw or undercooked ground beef can contain bacteria that is harmful to the body.

It is recommended that you cook all burgers to a minimum of 160 degrees - a cooking thermometer  can easily determine the temperature of your burger.

The very young, the very old, and those who have a weakened immune system from illness should stay away from raw or undercooked meat.

The symptoms of foodborne illness are not pretty, and can include:
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal cramping
  • fever
To make sure that you don't get a foodborne illness from your ground beef its important to:
  • handle your raw meat carefully - bacteria from the raw meat can contaminate equipment, hands, and cooking surfaces. Make sure to wash your hands and all utensils used after handling the raw meat
  • don't reuse the packaging materials
  • when buying the ground beef, choose a package that is intact and cold. Also if possible, place the raw meat in a plastic bag so none of the juices leak onto other foods
  • store the meat in the freezer immediately after purchasing
  • cook to at least 160 degrees

The Origins of Hamburgers - From Genghis Khan to the United States



People have been eating ground meat in the shape of patties since the ancient Egyptian times.

But the burger got its start with Genghis Khan and his Mongol army. Their long journeys made it difficult to stop and cook - so they kept the patties under their saddles, allowing the constant movement to tenderize the meat.

When Genghis Khan and his army invaded Russia, they brought their meat patties with them. Russia later adopts this into their cuisine, adding raw eggs and chopped onions.

Ground beef was popular in Europe, but was used mainly to make sausages. But in the seventeenth century ships from Hamburg Germany visited Russian ports, and brought the recipe back to their country.

Later, at the end of the eighteenth century, the largest sea ports in Europe were in Germany. Many sailors who frequented these areas brought the patties back home with them and named them the "Hamburg Steak." To attract German sailors,  food stands were built along the ports in New York selling the meal.

And there you have it - a brief history of the hamburger.