Anonymous
Post 01/28/2025 13:39     Subject: Fix my chili
Anonymous wrote:I’ve always heard that adding beans to chili makes it dog food.


Chili has beans. Otherwise it is just meat sauce- think chili dog
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2025 13:37     Subject: Fix my chili
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Curious, why do you add baking soda to your other recipes? What does it add?


+1


Not the OP, but I’ve heard the meat will release less moisture and brown a little better. I wouldn’t do it because of the flavor, but maybe it works.


It works, but you have to be careful not to add too much.

Also you can just cook in small batches with a bit of hot oil in a very hot pan if you want more maillard. Don't dump the meat into the pan with the juices -- you want as little liquid as possible.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2025 13:02     Subject: Fix my chili
I’ve always heard that adding beans to chili makes it dog food.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2025 11:26     Subject: Fix my chili
Adding baking soda to meat helps in a few ways - it tenderizes the meat and helps browning by lowering the ph. This is super common in Asian cooking, called velveting. BUT - you don’t just dump it in. You mix it with water and marinade the meat in it for a little bit. This is so the meat can absorb it and actually do the things it’s supposed to.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2025 10:28     Subject: Fix my chili
Did you brown and drain the meat first?
I used both caramelized diced onion and onion powder. Did you use garlic and cumin, salt and pepper? Were the beans already salted?

Your chili will taste better the next day after the flavors have time to meld.

Source: I'm a chili contest winner
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2025 09:06     Subject: Re:Fix my chili
Anonymous wrote:Baking soda can be used to help tenderize meat, especially if your meat is lower fat (90/10 or lower fat content). However, you should add the baking soda to the meat and let it sit for at least 15 min, usually about 30 min before you apply heat. Then the baking soda is absorbed by the meat. In this case, the baking soda didn't get into the meat, it got into the stewing liquid and then it foamed.

If you want to stop the foaming, take it off the heat, cool slightly (like 5ish min), then stir until the foam dissipates. You will allow the meat to absorb the baking soda, leave another 5-10 min, then put it back on the heat and restart the cooking. It should not foam again.


This! You mix it into the raw ground meat and let it sit about 20 min before cooking. I do this with chili since I use 90/10 or leaner. Works great and I’ve never had foaming.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2025 22:39     Subject: Fix my chili
Adding baking soda will keep gas at a minimum lol. I added too much tonight and it was not inedible but definitely not nearly enjoyable. Have added tomato paste and water. Will make some more chili tomorrow to add to it, can’t allow it to be wasted.
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2023 06:55     Subject: Fix my chili
I was curious too so googled:

https://www.armandhammer.com/en/articles/baking-soda-meat-tenderizer

Who knew?
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2023 07:38     Subject: Fix my chili
Only trash-can can save you.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2023 06:26     Subject: Fix my chili
Dried beans? I've used baking soda in chickpeas to loosen the skin.

Agree that adding vinegar is the best idea.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2023 20:28     Subject: Fix my chili
That sounds really bad. How can you mess up chili?!?!
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2023 20:18     Subject: Fix my chili
Baking soda also helps temper the acidity of tomato based dishes.
Anonymous
Post 07/27/2023 11:02     Subject: Re:Fix my chili
Baking soda can be used to help tenderize meat, especially if your meat is lower fat (90/10 or lower fat content). However, you should add the baking soda to the meat and let it sit for at least 15 min, usually about 30 min before you apply heat. Then the baking soda is absorbed by the meat. In this case, the baking soda didn't get into the meat, it got into the stewing liquid and then it foamed.

If you want to stop the foaming, take it off the heat, cool slightly (like 5ish min), then stir until the foam dissipates. You will allow the meat to absorb the baking soda, leave another 5-10 min, then put it back on the heat and restart the cooking. It should not foam again.
Anonymous
Post 07/27/2023 10:55     Subject: Fix my chili
Anonymous wrote:Add a little vinegar and a spoonful of sugar


Chili Volcano!
Anonymous
Post 07/27/2023 10:52     Subject: Fix my chili
Add a little vinegar and a spoonful of sugar