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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:25:22

Title: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:25:22
This has eluded me, primarily because I've only tried the boiling kind, and I've heard the greatest meatballs can't be made without deepfryer ?
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:28:42
Boiling and frying? What the ****?

Bake them, you are supposed to BAKE meatballs. See, this is what happens when Asians try to make Italian food. :))
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:31:23
Boiling and frying? What the ****?

Bake them, you are supposed to BAKE meatballs. See, this is what happens when Asians try to make Italian food. :))

I pan-fry meatballs.

Boiling is dumb though.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Signature on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:32:22
lol deep fry meatballs?  :))
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:33:21
Boiling and frying? What the ****?

Bake them, you are supposed to BAKE meatballs. See, this is what happens when Asians try to make Italian food. :))

I pan-fry meatballs.

Boiling is dumb though.

Yeah, pan-fried works too as long as you're careful. I usually brown them in a skillet then finish in the oven @ 400.
God, now I wan to make meatballs  :-X
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:34:51
Boiling and frying? What the ****?

Bake them, you are supposed to BAKE meatballs. See, this is what happens when Asians try to make Italian food. :))

I pan-fry meatballs.

Boiling is dumb though.

Yeah, pan-fried works too as long as you're careful. I usually brown them in a skillet then finish in the oven @ 400.
God, now I wan to make meatballs  :-X

That sounds like a good idea...

I guess I'm making meatballs this week.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 02 November 2014, 11:49:11
mom says baking them is the easiest, but last time she made szechuan meatballs she stir-fried them on the wok.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 12:04:44
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)


Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 02 November 2014, 12:12:53
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)





I'll mail you some if you like. Beware, the szechuan ones are spicy.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 12:16:22
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)





I'll mail you some if you like. Beware, the szechuan ones are spicy.

ppreciates,  I don't wanna give ur mother more work.. my mother the princess can't be bothered to cook, oh she can boil water, that's about it....(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)

I will try stirfrying tonight..

so, I'm assuming the kind ya'll are making are more Solid to start ?  what's ur trick to making them stick together in the beginning to retain the shape...


I've tried cornstarch/ flour, and they go flat and become misshapen even when boiled and many disintegrate all together and I end up with soup. .

Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 02 November 2014, 12:18:33
I've never had this problem.

Just make sure to cook them evenly. Should be cooked all the way through, it's not like a steak.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: paicrai on Sun, 02 November 2014, 12:20:29
ya pretty much
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: paicrai on Sun, 02 November 2014, 12:21:33

lol deep fry meatballs?  :))
youre from ikea right? u must be good at ballmeats :b
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Signature on Sun, 02 November 2014, 14:22:44

lol deep fry meatballs?  :))
youre from ikea right? u must be good at ballmeats :b
Yup sweden is just like a big IKEA
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: snoopy on Sun, 02 November 2014, 14:26:38
How to make Magic Meatballs?
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 02 November 2014, 14:39:20
How to make Magic Meatballs?

Just cause. Here ya go kids, enjoy your Sunday afternoon:
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 02 November 2014, 15:33:45
As I recall, my mom used to brown her meatballs in a skillet to seal them and then transfer them to a pot with a lid on top to cook them through. I don't remember if she put the pot in the oven or let it cook on the stove.

Industrially made meatballs are often deep-fried. You would otherwise have to shake the skillet from time to time to make the meatballs get brown on all sides.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tjcaustin on Sun, 02 November 2014, 15:36:52
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)





I'll mail you some if you like. Beware, the szechuan ones are spicy.

ppreciates,  I don't wanna give ur mother more work.. my mother the princess can't be bothered to cook, oh she can boil water, that's about it....
Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)


I will try stirfrying tonight..

so, I'm assuming the kind ya'll are making are more Solid to start ?  what's ur trick to making them stick together in the beginning to retain the shape...


I've tried cornstarch/ flour, and they go flat and become misshapen even when boiled and many disintegrate all together and I end up with soup. .

1.  Are you using cold meat?  Are you then putting the meatballs back into the fridge to set before cooking?  Warm meat doesn't hold shape for ****.

2. Are you using an egg?
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 16:29:48
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)





I'll mail you some if you like. Beware, the szechuan ones are spicy.

ppreciates,  I don't wanna give ur mother more work.. my mother the princess can't be bothered to cook, oh she can boil water, that's about it....
Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)


I will try stirfrying tonight..

so, I'm assuming the kind ya'll are making are more Solid to start ?  what's ur trick to making them stick together in the beginning to retain the shape...


I've tried cornstarch/ flour, and they go flat and become misshapen even when boiled and many disintegrate all together and I end up with soup. .

1.  Are you using cold meat?  Are you then putting the meatballs back into the fridge to set before cooking?  Warm meat doesn't hold shape for ****.

2. Are you using an egg?

slow down tj..  ur meatball level is too advanced for me to comprehend..

so .. COLD meat... as in how cold is cold.. frozen?

so do i roll the cold meat.. then pan fry, then oven..

or do I roll the cold meat.. pan fry, then (pot) <-i'm assuming boil in tomato sauce..
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 02 November 2014, 17:50:11
You are rolling the meat mixture into balls. If you can keep them spherical, then fry them in hot oil, rolling around constantly to keep their spherical shape.

If the meat mixture is cold, then the fat in it will be relatively solid. If you can get them started cooking, at least the outer layer, then the egg in the mixture will solidify and they will keep their round shape. Once they are comfortably round and cooked over the surface, you are free to move them to the oven to finish cooking.

If they are relatively fatty, such as with ground chuck or ground pork, you may want to bake them on a wire mesh rack to allow the fat to render out.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: eth0s on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:00:50
This has eluded me, primarily because I've only tried the boiling kind, and I've heard the greatest meatballs can't be made without deepfryer ?

dude, meatballs are my thing.  I make Swedish meatballs though, instead of Italian.  Only difference really is no garlic.  Also, no tomato sauce.  Just meaty sauce.  The secret is using good meat.  Use USDA Prime sirloin and veal, and grade US1 pork.  If you don't know what this means, you should not attempt to make anything with meat, until you find out.  Also you need lingonberries.  Or lingonberry preserves are even better.  If you don't have lingonberries in your local market, you live in a bumpkin-filled backwater.  You should move closer to civilization.

Here is the awesome recipe for awesome Swedish meatballs:

Ingredients:

For the meatballs
1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/3 pound ground chuck or sirloin
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons honey
1 large egg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the sauce
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup lingonberry preserves
2 tablespoons pickle juice

To garnish
:
lingonberry preserves
quick pickled cucumbers

Directions:

    Combine the breadcrumbs and heavy cream in a small bowl, stirring with a fork until all the crumbs are moistened. Set aside.
    Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about five minutes, until softened. Remove from heat.
    In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, veal, pork, onion, honey and egg, and mix well with your hands. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Add the breadcrumb-cream mixture and mix well. With wet hands (to keep the mixture from sticking), shape the mixture into meatballs the size of a golf ball, placing them on a plate lightly moistened with water. You should have about 24 meatballs.
    Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning frequently, for about 7 minutes until browned on all sides and cooked through. Transfer the meatballs to a plate and drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet.
    Return the skillet to the heat, whisk in the stock, cream, preserves and pickle juice, and bring to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the meatballs to the sauce, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about five minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly and the meatballs are heated through. 
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:02:19
You are rolling the meat mixture into balls. If you can keep them spherical, then fry them in hot oil, rolling around constantly to keep their spherical shape.

If the meat mixture is cold, then the fat in it will be relatively solid. If you can get them started cooking, at least the outer layer, then the egg in the mixture will solidify and they will keep their round shape. Once they are comfortably round and cooked over the surface, you are free to move them to the oven to finish cooking.

If they are relatively fatty, such as with ground chuck or ground pork, you may want to bake them on a wire mesh rack to allow the fat to render out.


Ok.. so.. the pan portion is only half way .. is this done Covered or uncovered.. because I'd imagine cold meat in hot oil would cause a great deal of ballistic oil..
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: RED-404 on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:08:21
Use a smoker, smoked meatballs are best meatballs.

I think I'm going to make smoked meatballs tomorrow.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:09:07
You are rolling the meat mixture into balls. If you can keep them spherical, then fry them in hot oil, rolling around constantly to keep their spherical shape.

If the meat mixture is cold, then the fat in it will be relatively solid. If you can get them started cooking, at least the outer layer, then the egg in the mixture will solidify and they will keep their round shape. Once they are comfortably round and cooked over the surface, you are free to move them to the oven to finish cooking.

If they are relatively fatty, such as with ground chuck or ground pork, you may want to bake them on a wire mesh rack to allow the fat to render out.


Ok.. so.. the pan portion is only half way .. is this done Covered or uncovered.. because I'd imagine cold meat in hot oil would cause a great deal of ballistic oil..

I do it uncovered
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:10:23
Use a smoker, smoked meatballs are best meatballs.

I think I'm going to make smoked meatballs tomorrow.

wtf.. is everyone making meatballs all the time....

I've only ever succeed in creating misshapen meat spludges..
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: eth0s on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:13:32
Use a smoker, smoked meatballs are best meatballs.

I think I'm going to make smoked meatballs tomorrow.

wtf.. is everyone making meatballs all the time....

I've only ever succeed in creating misshapen meat spludges..

Don't seek perfection in the meatball.  Let the meatball be as it will.  Find balance in the meatballery.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 02 November 2014, 18:20:00
Use a smoker, smoked meatballs are best meatballs.

I think I'm going to make smoked meatballs tomorrow.

wtf.. is everyone making meatballs all the time....

I've only ever succeed in creating misshapen meat spludges..

Don't seek perfection in the meatball.  Let the meatball be as it will.  Find balance in the meatballery.

You're very wise today, eth0s
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: munch on Sun, 02 November 2014, 19:20:49
I'm from IKEA too, and this is my favourite recipe for more traditional IKEA ones:
http://daktarisdiner.blogspot.se/2012/09/cooks-illustrated-swedish-meatballs.html

but for something easier, I just like coarse ground chuck + fatty pork, cream-soaked toasted bread as a binder, all-spice, salt, pepper, roll into big balls (like 3 inches in diameter), sear in pan, put in oven 150c for 40min after.
serve with mashed lingonberries mixed with a pinch of sugar, pan sauce made from pan drippings + butter-flour roux + heavy cream + lemon juice. and riced potatoes with lots of butter melted on top of it.
and pickled grated cucumbers, just salt+sugar+lemon juice.

then there's the japanese meatballs which only recipe I really know is http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/10/tsukune-japanese-chicken-meatballs-recipe.html
they're amazing too.
and thai ones... similar but different flavourings, coriander lime garlic chili fish sauce etc. also amazing.
and... italian ones... those you bake in tomato sauce though, no other way that's as good IMO! then sprinkle dat parmigiano all over it.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 19:23:59
I'm from IKEA too, and this is my favourite recipe for more traditional IKEA ones:
http://daktarisdiner.blogspot.se/2012/09/cooks-illustrated-swedish-meatballs.html

but for something easier, I just like coarse ground chuck + fatty pork, cream-soaked toasted bread as a binder, all-spice, salt, pepper, roll into big balls (like 3 inches in diameter), sear in pan, put in oven 150c for 40min after.
serve with mashed lingonberries mixed with a pinch of sugar, pan sauce made from pan drippings + butter-flour roux + heavy cream + lemon juice. and riced potatoes with lots of butter melted on top of it.
and pickled grated cucumbers, just salt+sugar+lemon juice.

then there's the japanese meatballs which only recipe I really know is http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/10/tsukune-japanese-chicken-meatballs-recipe.html
they're amazing too.
and thai ones... similar but different flavourings, coriander lime garlic chili fish sauce etc. also amazing.
and... italian ones... those you bake in tomato sauce though, no other way that's as good IMO! then sprinkle dat parmigiano all over it.

(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/eaten-alive-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862501)

Wow ikea is complicated..
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: 0100010 on Sun, 02 November 2014, 19:26:54
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)



Me, nope.  The wife - yes.  Mixes, shapes and pops in the fridge for a while.  Then brown in a skillet and finish baking in the oven.
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 02 November 2014, 19:32:04
Ffffff.....

So EVERYONE here has achieved Meatball Greatness...



Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/depressed1-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862499)



Me, nope.  The wife - yes.  Mixes, shapes and pops in the fridge for a while.  Then brown in a skillet and finish baking in the oven.

wait.. ok. so  you mix.. make the ball shape.. THEN fridge ?

How does the ball stay a ball in the fridge.. wouldn't it settle out slightly ?
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 02 November 2014, 19:44:16
If it's a whole cut of meat generally you want to bring it to room temp for even cooking. If it's ground you'll want to slap it on the pan cold so it keeps it's shape longer until it browns and seals up. If chuck is warm the meat will be sticky and formless :)

Always add salt, always sear your balls before-hand for color and flavor, braise(baking in sauce) in the oven, consider cutting your beef with veal or pork 50/50 for more flavor and better cooking. I don't use eggs in my meatballs, just salt, olive oil, garlic, and breadcrumbs (and sometimes cheese.)
Title: Re: haz anyone ever successfully made meatballs ?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 02 November 2014, 20:02:55
The best lingonberry jam is very simple to make, if you have fresh or frozen lingberries that is.
Add one volume of granulated sugar to two volumes of berries. Then stir, stir, stir until the sugar has been completely dissolved in the juices from the berries. Done!
Lingonberries are quite acidic and are high in pectin, which is a natural gelling agent.