Cow heel, also known as beef feet, is a tasty and nutritious part of the cow that is often overlooked. Some people prefer cooking with cow heels because they are less expensive than other parts of the cow and can be used to make a variety of dishes. However, cow heel can take a long time to cook due to its tough nature.
Why Cook Cow Heels Faster?
Despite its lengthy cooking process, cow heel is worth the wait. It’s rich in collagen, which produces a thick and flavorful broth that is high in protein. Additionally, cow heel contains a lot of cartilage making it a good source of glucosamine for healthy joints.
However, some people prefer to cook cow heels faster for several reasons. Firstly, it saves time in the kitchen. Secondly, it preserves the nutrients in the meat as overcooking may result in loss of nutrients.
Here are some tips for cooking cow heels faster:
1. Pre-Boil Cow Heels Before Cooking
Pre-boiling cow heels before cooking helps to soften them, thereby reducing the cooking time. Place the cow heels in a pot with enough water to cover them, bring to boil for about 15 minutes. Drain, and rinse the cow heels. From here you can begin cooking regular stews or any other recipe of your choice.
2. Use a Pressure Cooker
If you own a pressure cooker, you can use it to cook cow heels faster than boiling. A pressure cooker creates high pressure inside a sealed pot, causing the temperature to rise and the food to cook faster. Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes to an hour or until tender.
3. Tenderize the Cow Heel Meat
Tenderizing cow heel meat helps to soften them, thereby reducing the cooking time. To tenderize cow heels, you can use a meat mallet to pound the meat. Alternatively, marinate the meat with acidic ingredients such as vinegar or pineapple juice for at least thirty minutes.
4. Cut The Cow Heels Into Smaller Pieces
Slicing cow heel into small pieces helps to shorten the cooking time. Due to the thickness and density of cow heel meat, it can take a long time to cook whole chunks. Smaller pieces will not only cook faster, but also soak up the flavors of the dish more evenly.
Conclusion
Cow heel takes a while to cook, but it’s worth the wait. If you're looking to shorten the cooking time, there are few alternative ways outlined in this article to speed up the process. Whether you choose to pre-boil, use a pressure cooker, tenderize the meat or cut into smaller pieces, your cow heel dish will be ready in no time.
