Things to keep in mind while buying fresh meat

Meat is a rich source of proteins. Apart from proteins, it also contains an abundant amount of Vitamin B-complex (Vitamin B1 to B12), Vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorous and Omega 3 fatty acids that are required to maintain the nutrition balance in our body.

Here are tips to help you buy the right stuff:

Check the colour:

• The colour of the meat says a lot about its freshness.
• Poultry meat must be white or light pink.
• Check that the meat does not have a green tinge, especially under the wings.
• There should not be any bruises or blood clots on the surface.
• In the case of red meat, it must be bright red in appearance.
• If the meat is vacuum packed, it may appear slightly brown.
• This is also good quality meat and will last longer in the refrigerator.

Check the odour:

• Poultry meat is generally odour-free but may have a slightly meaty odour on rare occasions.
• The smell of red meat is very specific to the type of meat and there should not be any variance from the typical smell of a goat or lamb.
• One should make sure there is no foul or pungent odour to any kind of fresh meat being purchased.

Check the texture:

• For poultry, the texture should be firm and the muscle fibres must be clearly visible.
• Furthermore, the meat must not be slimy and if you touch it, the fingers should be dry rather than sticky.
• The meat should not appear translucent and watery when it is cut.
• In addition,in the case of red meat, it should not fall off easily when it is being cut.
• The fat should not be yellow in colour, as it indicates that the meat is not fresh.

Prefer skinless:

• The skin of the meat has saturated fatty acids, which are high on calories and can potentially increase the risk of cardiac ailments.
• Hence, it is always recommended that meat is consumed after removing the skin.

Ensure food safety standards:

• It is absolutely essential that every packaged meat product has a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) certified label on it to ensure that all food safety standards are met.
• This is also the primary reason why you should avoid buying meat from a butcher shop, since there is no guarantee of food safety.