Why do vendors always use rags to wipe meat?

If you often go to the market, you may see some vendors using towels or rags to wipe and blot the meat. There are two main reasons for this action.

- To absorb excess bl.o.od on the meat

Freshly slaughtered pork will always have excess blood on the surface. If not wiped off in time, this blood will dry and make the meat look unsightly and difficult to sell. Therefore, the vendor must use a towel to absorb this excess blood, making the meat look cleaner and more beautiful.

- Absorb water that has been pumped or sprayed on the meat

A fresh, juicy piece of meat will look more "friendly" and easier to sell than a dry, dull piece of meat. Therefore, some vendors will pump water or spray a little water on the meat to make it look fresh and delicious. In addition, pumping water also makes the meat heavier, helping to increase profits for the seller.

However, after being injected with water, the meat will continuously leak water. At that time, the seller will use a towel to absorb the leaking water, avoiding detection by customers.

Pork injected with water often has poor quality and taste. Bacteria also grow and develop more easily.

Some notes when choosing to buy pork

- Color of the meat

Normally, meat that is frozen immediately after being slaughtered will have a lighter pink color. Meanwhile, fresh pork that has just been slaughtered and sold immediately will have a darker color due to exposure to air and oxidation.

In addition, the meat can also be contaminated during transportation and packaging and turn dark black. This type of meat is not only unsavory but also unhygienic.

- Touching the meat feels sticky

Pork that has been left for a long time and is not properly preserved will have mucus around the meat. If you touch it with your hand, you will feel a sticky feeling. This is because bacteria grow on the meat, causing the meat to deteriorate. When buying, try touching the meat. If it feels greasy and sticky, you should not buy it.

Meat that has been injected with a lot of water is often pale, unnatural, and may have bubbles. Use your hand or a paper towel to touch the surface and it will feel wet.

When buying meat, you should also try pressing on the meat with your hand. When you remove your hand and the dent on the meat quickly disappears, it is new, fresh, and has good elasticity. If the dent appears clearly and takes a long time to disappear, it is meat that has been stored for a long time, possibly frozen meat that has been thawed before being sold. It is best not to buy meat with such poor elasticity.

In addition, carefully observe the meat to see if there is any water coming out of the meat to avoid buying meat that has been injected with water.

- Meat has unusual signs

Pork has a strong fishy smell, a distinct rancid smell... it is best not to buy. This is a sign that the meat has spoiled, has an unpleasant taste and can cause poisoning to consumers.