Comments on: Good stuff: Just Cured

By: valereee

valereee — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:47:00 +0000

Julie, thanks for the shout out!

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:04:00 +0000

Ceviche is cooked because the proteins are denatured– makes sense. Pickles, too!

By: WestEnder

WestEnder — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:58:00 +0000

Technically speaking I believe “cooking” means denaturing protein bonds, i.e. breaking them apart and reassembling them differently. This can be done with heat but also chemically, such as with citrus juices. I’m guessing smoking is a type of “chemical cooking.”

BTW, this is the reason high fevers are dangerous, because body proteins start to denature. Your insides literally get cooked.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:54:00 +0000

Thanks, Michael.

By: Cin Twin1

Cin Twin1 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:57:00 +0000

Perfect! Thanks for the info, Michael!

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:59:00 +0000

Julie and Twin,

Cold-smoked salmon is not cooked in the traditional sense as it has never been exposed to a temperature above room temperature. It is certainly, however, cooked in the technical sense. The curing process alters the nature of the raw salmon in very much the same way that cooking with heat does.

That said, most people who do not like raw foods such as sushi object to the texture. The Just Cured smoked salmon has a texture that is still quite similar to that of raw fish.

Enough explanation?

Michael

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:12:00 +0000

It’s so hard NOT to just eat it out of the paper. I would not consider it raw! I’d love to see Michael pop in and explain “cure” vs. “cook”; curing is a preservation method–like cured ham isn’t “cooked” but is not raw– but I’m sure he could go into more detail.

I’m thinking about doing eggs Benedict with the salmon and some homemade hollandaise, or perhaps some canapes of cucumber, wasabi creme fraiche and the salmon. I’m not sure yet. We’ll see!

By: Cin Twin1

Cin Twin1 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:05:00 +0000

I want to know what you do with the salmon you get this weekend! I need some ideas instead of eating it from the paper it came in! I am amazed to find that his prices are at or better than what I can find in the grocery store.

I ate 1/2 lb in one sitting one time! That was supposed to last me a week.....

My hubby who doesn't eat sushi asked me if the salmon was cooked when I tried to give him a bite of it. Would you called this "cooked"?

I emailed Michael and wanted to know when he would be adding other products to his smoking line. I think he may have found his niche.