Why Your Restaurant Should Offer Braised Menu Items
If your restaurant isn't braising something, your guests are missing out.
Braising is one of the most savory, flavorful cooking options often used to render tougher cuts of meat into succulent masterpieces. The process takes time, but the end result will almost guarantee greater sales by generating happy returning customers.
Many braised foods hot hold very well throughout the day without quality loss.
How To Braise
Generally, braising food means roasting in a covered vessel at a low temperature in a shallow liquid. Depending on the dish, additional steps can be added such as searing a protein first. After searing, deglaze the leftover fond to incorporate more flavor and richness into the braising liquid.
Braising works on proteins by breaking down collagen into gelatin, the slower this process happens the better the result. When we braise we are applying gentle heat by preventing the product from boiling while cooking. Avoiding high temperatures ensures the proteins remain relaxed while the collagen breaks down, resulting in the pull-apart moist texture we all know and love.
These Sriracha-Braised Brisket Sandwiches from Bon Appétit are very easy to make, hot hold well, and would generate strong sales at any restaurant.
Not all braised dishes must include a protein. Braised cabbage is a classic dish with high versatility, such as this recipe from Food and Wine.
This Williams Sonoma article goes more in-depth on the basic steps and procedures needed to fully understand the braising process. Employing these basic principles can act as guidelines when creating new unique recipes.
We Can Help
Here at Thermodyne Foodservice Products, Inc., we carry a full line of food warmers for commercial, industrial, and institutional kitchens. We offer premium tools for any kitchen planning to cook and hold food in large batches - perfectly suited for your braised menu items!
To chat with us on how we can serve you, or to hear more about our premium products, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Posted in: Cooking Tips & Recipes