【學英文 懂新聞】中秋烤肉祕訣大公開

Simple Secrets for Grilling Cuts of Meat.(123RF)
Simple Secrets for Grilling Cuts of Meat.(123RF)

文/吳約翰

明天是「一家烤肉,萬家香」的日子,也就是玉兔搗藥、嫦娥奔月,充滿著神話色彩的「中秋節」。去年因為全球肆虐的疫情,對臺灣「意義重大」的烤肉活動,被迫取消。今年,祈禱臺灣疫情稍緩之際,大家與親朋好友聚聚的同時,也希望在家烤烤肉、打打牙祭。當然啦,防疫措施仍要做好,保護自己,也要保護他人。(關於可否烤肉?目前各縣市標準不一,請民眾務必更新最新資訊,以免觸法!)

即便是自己在家,也可以烤肉!今天我們的《學英文 懂新聞》要來跟大家分享烤肉祕訣,肉要怎麼烤,才會軟嫩多汁?

Simple Secrets for Grilling Cuts of Meat

Marinade

Enzymatic action from wine, beer, cider, and soy sauce also helps. (123RF)Enzymatic action from wine, beer, cider, and soy sauce also helps. (123RF)

A marinade is the secret to making a tough cut of meat as succulent and tender as a prime cut. Just make sure your marinade of choice contains acids like vinegar, lemon, and wine. Acid breaks down the meat to make it tender. Enzymatic action from wine, beer, cider, and soy sauce also helps.

Temperature

You need a decent instant-read food thermometer to take out all the guesswork. (123RF)You need a decent instant-read food thermometer to take out all the guesswork. (123RF)

The only way to guarantee that your meat will be moist, tender, and cooked to a safe temperature is with a food thermometer. Forget the poke test where you’re supposed to be able to discern a piece of meat’s level of doneness by poking at it with your finger. You need a decent instant-read food thermometer to take out all the guesswork.

【譯文】烤肉的簡單祕訣

醃肉

「將肉浸泡醃料」,是使肉塊像上等肉一樣多汁滑嫩的祕訣。只要確保您選擇的醃料含有醋、檸檬或葡萄酒等酸性物質即可。酸質會分解肉,使其變嫩。葡萄酒、啤酒、蘋果酒和醬油當中的酶酵素作用也有幫助。

溫度

為確保您烤的肉溼潤、柔軟並且烤熟達安全溫度,唯一方法就是使用「食物溫度計」。捨棄戳肉的測試吧!也就是透過用手指戳肉,來辨別它的熟度。您需要一個像樣的「即時讀取食物溫度計」,來屏除所有猜測。

【單字/詞解析】

grill,動詞 /ˈɡrɪl/ 燒烤

自然發音:gri-ll

英解:to cook food over fire or hot coals, usually on a metal frame

例句:We grill the steak on the barbecue.(我們在BBQ活動上烤牛排。)

marinade (marinate),動(名)詞 /ˌmærɪˈneɪd/ 醃漬醬汁

自然發音:ma-ri-NADE

英解:to pour a marinade over meat or fish

例句:Marinate the chicken in white wine for a couple of hours before frying.(油炸之前,將雞肉浸泡在白葡萄酒中,醃幾個小時。)

acid,名詞 /ˈæs.ɪd/ 酸

自然發音:A-cid

英解: a chemical substance with a pH value of less than 7

例句:Below pH 6.5 is acid, above pH 7.5 is alkaline.(pH 6.5 以下為酸性,pH 7.5 以上為鹼性。)

discern,動詞 /dɪˈsɝːn/ 辨別出

自然發音:di-SCER-n

英解: to recognize something that is not clear

例句:It is difficult to discern any pattern in these figures.(要從這些數字中找出規律很難。)

【慎思明辨】

你可以針對以下議題進行論述,甚至寫一篇英文短文,練習英文寫作或口語表達。

*今年的中秋節您打算怎麼過?一如往常,還是大有不同?

*試著用英文對家人或朋友,口述一個跟「中秋節」有關的故事、由來、神話或趣事。並問問他們是否理解您所講述的內容。

祝福大家,中秋佳節愉快! ◇

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