The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science

(Nandana) #1

after more than a bite or two. It is rare that you will find
any restaurant serving a steak this aged.


OK, JUST GIVE ME THE TL/DR


VERSION. HOW DO I AGE MY


STEAK?



  • Step 1: Buy a prime rib. Make sure that it is
    bone-in, preferably with the chine bone still
    attached, and the complete fat cap intact. If you
    are buying from a butcher shop, ask them not to
    trim it at all. A decent butcher will not charge you
    full price then, since they are making money by
    selling you that extra fat and bone.

  • Step 2: Place the meat on a rack in a fridge,
    preferably a dedicated mini-fridge in which you’ve
    stuck a desk fan or small cabinet fan set to low
    (with a small notch cut in the door seal for the
    cord). Set the temperature to between 36° and
    40°F.

  • Step 3: Wait. Wait for anywhere between 4 and
    8 weeks, turning the meat occasionally to promote
    even aging. It’ll start to smell. This is normal.

  • Step 4: Trim. For a step-by-step guide to the
    process, see "Knife Skills: Trimming Aged Beef,"

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