| By Steve9389 (Steve9389) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:12 am: Edit |
I'm doing a paper for my meats class on veal vs. beef for brown stock. The genisis came from a comment from a former instructor, who teaches nights and owns two upscale and very successful lunch-only restaurants. He said that even though veal bones are more expensive, veal stock is more cost-effective because you have to reduce it so much less than beef (and the product is better, too). So two questions for you all:
1. Do you agree with this assessment?
2. Can anybody tell me what they pay for veal vs. beef bones?
Thanks.
| By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 12:23 pm: Edit |
Veal .85, beef .41.
Why would you reduce the stock any more or less then one another?
It would depend on the use.
If you are making a demi, you reduce it by half, either one.
The veal bones are definitely the preference for a good stock, the marrow is much better from the young animal.
| By George (George) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 12:50 pm: Edit |
Veal bones have a more neutral flavor than beef so you get the taste of your sauce not just the beef.
G
| By Steve9389 (Steve9389) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:22 pm: Edit |
Manny, the reasoning goes that since veal bones have so much more collagen in their youthful, unexercised selves, they impart more gelatin into the stock, thus thickening it faster. And I know from a test I did last week that I had to reduce beef stock by three-fourths to achieve the same consistency I got by reducing the veal stock by half (demi). Keep in mind this is straight stock reduction, no brown sauce.
Given your figures and my understanding of three-fourths vs. one-half comparison (which confirmed what my instructor told me), the yield from a 20 gal. stock pot would cost $1.06 per quart in veal bones and $1.05 in beef bones, and the reduction time is cut in half. And I agree with both you and George about the superior quality of veal stock.
| By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 02:06 pm: Edit |
well thats one I didn't know.
maybe I forgot it ummm,....................thinking,..thinking,..thinking,...............................................................................thinking...........................................ummm..............................................................thinking...............thinking................................................................................................................no, didn't know that one.