Cooking Thin Protein

June 03, 2021 08:15

Many of Brava's recipe programs require using the TempSensor for thicker cuts of meat, poultry and seafood. For thinner cuts, we recommend using manual cooking modes, which we will explain below.

What is the minimum thickness for using the TempSensor?

1 - 1.25 inches

Why is there a minimum height requirement for the protein?

Based on extensive testing, the likelihood of mis-probing the TempSensor is very high for cuts less than 1 inch.

Why do I have to flip thin cuts?

As we've mentioned before, the height of your food plays a critical role in how the Brava cooks.
Thicker foods are closer to the lamps, and therefore take less time to sear relative to thinner cuts. Thinner foods, on the other hand, are further from the lamps and take longer to sear.
Thinner proteins with a long sear time tend to overcook in the center before they achieve the desired sear.
You can achieve the perfect sear AND doneness with thin proteins by searing from the bottom and flipping halfway through.

Tips for Cooking Thin Red Meat

Start with one zone of protein only; expand to multiple zones once you are more experienced.
Use the Metal Tray on the bottom shelf. Essentially you are turning the Metal Tray into a high-powered frying pan.
Place meat in Zone 2.
Select Zone 2 on your touchscreen. Make sure only Zone 2 is highlighted.
Select Bottom Sear on your touchscreen.
Cook meat for 3 - 3.5 minutes on the first side.
Flip meat and continue cooking 2-2.5 minutes on second side, or until desired sear is achieved.
Use the Reheat function, if needed, to cook meat to desired internal doneness.

Salmon

Start with one zone of protein only; expand to multiple zones once you are more experienced.
Use the Glass Tray on the bottom shelf.
Place salmon, skin side down, in Zone 2.
Select Zone 2 on your touchscreen. Make sure only Zone 2 is highlighted.
Select Bottom Sear on your touchscreen.
With skin: bottom sear for 4-4.5 minutes on the skin side to crisp the skin.
Without skin: bottom sear for 3-3.5 minutes.
If you want to brown the top a little, move the tray to the top shelf. Select Top Sear on your touchscreen and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Chicken

Start with one zone of protein only; expand to multiple zones once you are more experienced.
Use Metal Tray on bottom shelf. The Metal Tray acts like frying pan.
Place chicken in Zone 2.
Select Zone 2 on your touchscreen. Make sure only Zone 2 is highlighted.
Select Bottom Sear on your touchscreen.
Bottom sear for 3 minutes on the first side.
Flip and continue cooking about 2 minutes on second side.
Use the Reheat function, if needed, to cook chicken to desired internal doneness.

Note, when you're using Reheat to bring your protein to the right doneness level, use the top shelf if you want to brown the top and conversely, use the bottom shelf to brown the bottom more.