Thanksgiving: this occured.
Ham was being served at the dinner.
The ham was marinaded with lemonade. This is served every year and I've only eaten it once. (not too fond of the odd taste [sort of like pinapple ham])
argument:
I was told that coldcuts contain nitrites so I told my mom some time back. Well..she tells my aunt who always makes this dish. Then I get called over and (by the way I have no idea what went on untill asking my mom after this wholw incident)get lectured on how the low ph of the lemonade will remove the nitrites from the meat and thus if you dispose of the lemonade before serving it is "nitrite free".
(I was just listening and thinking where is this coming from?)
Anyways is this true?
There were a whole bunch of chemists there and yet the person speaking wasn't one but nobody else said anything (not like they talk chem during family gatherings anyway)
thus I have no idea if this statement was true but if it is then it would be interesting to know how that works exactly.
Thanks
Nitrites are soluble. I doubt if throwing away the solution removes much of the embedded nitrites. It is not the low pH, it is just the water.
The purpose of marinates is mainly flavor. In one part of the country, all pork products are treated with lemon juice in barbeque sauce, or in marinates. Yes, it is a very odd taste. I held it to be just plain ignorance on their part, never having been introduced to BBQ or Ham cooking in Texas.
But, some folks like odd tastes, and a few even claim they enjoy Ludfish or even Haggis. Such is life, and an intelligent chemist is not going to argue.
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/scottish/haggis.html
I was thinking that the low pH wasn't going to do much. I was thinking about the water content that was used to make the lemonade in the first place.
I'd have to say that having lemon juice in barbeque sauce not to be as bad as just straight lemonade without anything else as a maranade.
Haggis? ew..."wash the lungs and stomach well"
seriously how would one go about washing the lungs? I highly doubt one would be able to wash the lungs properly. However out of all the gibblets that they mention in the ingredient list the lungs I would have to say would be the most dirty of all.
After all it's what organisms such as the sheep use to breathe and I highly doubt their living conditions are pristine.
The claim made by your aunt that the low pH of lemonade can remove nitrites from the ham is not scientifically accurate. Nitrites are commonly found in processed meats, including cold cuts, and they serve as preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.
The low pH of lemonade, which is acidic, can help to inhibit the growth of bacteria but it does not remove nitrites. Nitrites are chemically bound to the proteins in the meat and cannot be simply washed or removed by the acidity of lemonade. So, disposing of the lemonade before serving would not make the ham "nitrite-free".
If you're concerned about nitrites in ham or other cured meats, it's important to know that nitrites are regulated by food safety authorities and are deemed safe for consumption when used within legal limits. However, excessive consumption of processed meats has been associated with certain health risks, so moderation is key.
In summary, the claim that the low pH of lemonade removes nitrites from ham is not true. Nitrites remain in the meat, even if it is marinaded with lemonade. It's always a good idea to be critical of such claims and consult reliable sources or experts in the field for accurate information.