Meat preparation methods to make your meal a masterpiece!

Whether you are serving a feast or an everyday family meal, even the best cuts of meat can be ruined by poor prep. Elevate your cooking by learning our top meat preparation equipment tips and meat preparation methods below!

Excellent meat preparation equipment makes the difference!

You’re probably thinking meat tenderisers, sharp knives and deboning tools – and you’d be right! But there are a few other pieces of meat preparation equipment that can bring out the best flavours in your bird or game meat. Here’s our tips for choosing the best meat prep tools for the job: 

1. Meat tenderisers. For larger cuts of meat (think steak, thick pork chops or chicken breasts) we suggest getting a mallet with one side of triangular points and the other flat (so you can tenderise then smooth before cooking. For thick cuts of marinated meats, we suggest using a needling  tool that pierces and tenderises the meat and allows the marinade flavours to penetrate deeper into the meat. If you can, go for a stainless steel tool as this will be more durable and produce better results. 
2. Knives. We don’t have to tell you that it’s important to have a sharp knife when preparing your meat, but there are a few considerations when it comes to the types of knives to go with. A butcher’s knife is a good all rounder knife for meat preparation, but we also recommend investing in a reliable deboning knife (go for a semi-flexible blade to make it easier to cut around bones) and decent steak knives for use when serving thick cuts of meat. We recommend choosing stainless steel and a size and weight that feels comfortable in your hand. 
3. Sharpening tools. Following on from a top notch knife, you need the sharpening tools to keep it slicing right every time. We recommend getting a waterstone for sharpening the blade and a sharpening steel for honing it – that is, straightening the edge as it can bend or flatten with frequent use.
4. Cooking utensils. Make sure you have tongs, spatulas and a meat thermometer ready to go for easy handling while cooking. The meat thermometer is key to ensuring your meat is cooked to perfection every time.
5. Top-tier cooking equipment for meat. Cast iron pans, premium roasting dishes or enamel coated cookware that cook the most succulent meat – you’d be surprised what good quality cooking gear can do for your flavour! 

Now that you are sorted with the meat preparation equipment you need, let’s get on to our top methods for preparing a meat feast that everyone will enjoy!

Meat preparation methods for game meat

We recommend starting with meals you are used to preparing and working your way up to more complex recipes as you go along. For instance – used to throwing a sirloin on the BBQ? Marinate a kangaroo fillet for 24 hours, slice it into decent sized cubes and thread it on a skewer with capsicum quarters for a delicious BBQ kebab! Serve a roast chicken every Sunday night? Substitute that hen with Turkey and slow roast it for a succulent meal that will get the whole family talking! 

When you are ready to explore some more adventurous game cooking techniques, try the following meat preparation methods:

1. Braising game meats. Using a moist heat can help to make game meats more tender – brown the roast cut in hot fat, then stock and spices to cover the base of the pan. This can be done on the stove top or in the oven, just be sure to keep the lid on to keep the moisture in!
2. Butterflying poultry. Not only will this cut down your cooking time, but it also helps to keep roasting meat juicy! Place the turkey on your chopping board breast side down and make two cuts down the length of the bird about two centimeters either side of the spine. Then turn it over and open up the turkey with the inside down on a roasting tray. You can even make a stock out of the leftover spine offcut.
3. Slow it down! Most people like game meats for the distinct and rich flavours of the wild. Slow cooking game meat helps to intensify the flavour while locking in the moisture – try a venison and mushroom bourguignon in the slow cooker. 
4. Smoked wild boar. If you already have a smoker, you know the drill – substitute that brisket for a boneless wild boar shoulder! If you don’t have a smoker, you can replicate the flavours in the oven with this hot smoke method. You’ll need a roasting dish that keeps the meat off the juices, line the pan with your soaked wood chips, add the grill, then your seasoned meat and cover. Slow cook for 5 hours and enjoy the rich and smokey flavour. 
5. Wild biltong. Choose your favourite red game meat – whether it’s kangaroo, buffalo or goat and slice into 3cm thick strips. Sprinkle an airtight container with salt and lay strips over. Repeat with layers of seasoning and salt, then pour a mixture of apple cider vinegar, bicarbonate soda and more seasoning over top. Marinate overnight, scrape off the salt and dehydrate the strips for 18 hours using a dehydrator.  

Feeling inspired to get into game meat preparation? Browse our extensive range of game products here and get cooking! 

If you need any assistance choosing the right meats to go with, you get in touch with our friendly team. We’ve been a leading meat supplier in Perth for over 35 years, so we can answer any question you have about game meat prep! 

Contact Us.