Every housewife has her unique and tested recipe for the best cutlets in the world, the secret of which is known only to her. However, there are universal tricks that can help anyone prepare an incredibly delicious and juicy dish. We figured out how to properly cook cutlets from minced meat.
Why Mineral Water is Added to Minced Meat
Many have probably heard that water is added to minced meat for cutlets, but the secret lies in the use of mineral water. The fact is that during thermal processing, meat inevitably loses its natural moisture, becoming dry, which negatively affects the taste of the finished dish. The use of mineral water helps not only to retain moisture but also to make the minced meat more tender due to the carbon dioxide.
Carbonated mineral water not only saves dry minced meat but also improves its texture. The carbonation saturates the minced meat with bubbles of carbon dioxide, which create a light, airy texture when frying and help retain the necessary moisture.
Moreover, the carbonation better distributes fat and moisture, allowing the cutlets to hold their shape and not fall apart, making them more voluminous. Another advantage of this addition is that mineral water helps spices to unfold better, meaning the finished dish will be tastier and more aromatic.
How to Properly Add Soda to Cutlet Mince
To achieve ideal juiciness, you don’t need to add a lot of water — just 100 milliliters for half a kilogram of minced meat is enough. When using salty mineral water, the amount of salt you add to the mince should be reduced accordingly.
Once the soda is added, the minced meat should be mixed well and left for 10–15 minutes at room temperature. Only after that can you form and fry the cutlets. By the way, instead of mineral water for juiciness, you can use ice or broth.
How to Make Cutlets Juicy
Bread, which makes cutlets tougher, can be replaced with semolina or oatmeal. In this case, you must definitely add water, as the cereal absorbs liquid very well, which will make the finished cutlets tough.
Instead of bread, you can add potatoes. They should be grated on a fine grater and well squeezed before adding to the mince.
Additionally, to ensure that lean meat receives the necessary moisture, you can add grated or very finely chopped vegetables, such as carrots, zucchini, or courgettes, which will add juiciness while keeping the dish light for the stomach and figure.
