How to Get Rid of Killer Bacteria in Food
Hype Check: CulinaryPrep
What it is: CulinaryPrep is a device built to prepare your food and eliminate food-borne bacteria, including in the process.
How it works: You put your food (non-ground meat, pork, poultry, veggies), eight cups of water, and an all-natural powder (citric acid, salt, etc) into the canister, screw on the top, and use the included tube (which stretches from the main unit) to remove all of the air from said canister, creating a vacuum-sealed environment inside. You then place this canister on its side, install it on the device, and let it to roll around automatically for about 20 minutes. Presto, you've got safe and succulent food that's ready to cook.
The idea is that exposing food to the vacuum environment and the solution will kill bacteria, including E. Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella -- the manufacturers even have the independent studies to back it up.
Why it's different: There really hasn't been anything quite like it, not for the consumer or pro markets.
What we like: First off, we didn't die of food poisoning, which is a miracle considering we used CulinaryPrep to secure some smelly frozen shrimp that had been left in a car to fester for a few hours. Post-treatment, the shrimp was not only non-threatening, it also tasted moist and delicious after we fried it up – even when we had some the next day. The CulinaryPrep is superb as a tenderizer for otherwise lackluster meats – the normally dry and bland chicken breast we prepared came out tender and flavorful, despite being in the oven for 30 minutes. Same goes for the meat we cooked up.
What we don't like: This thing is huge, which is helpful when you're trying to tenderize an entire chicken or 75 fingerling potatoes, but is only practical if you've got a big kitchen. Also, set-up can be complicated, thanks to the vague directions (where to put the random plastic pieces that come with the box – one clear set-up image would have done the trick, manual-making people!)
Does it live up to the hype? We're alive, and we're now four-for-four on tasty, zero-prep meals, so we're giving it the thumbs up. If at any point in the near future we die of food poisoning, though, you'll be the first to hear about it. If you take you're a serious cook who doesn't like to waste food, you may want to add this to your cooking arsenal.
Price: $399, at the CulinaryPrep Web site. The company also sells a bunch of custom-made marinades specifically designed to be used with the Culinary Prep, like Texas Mesquite and Lemon Pepper, as well as additional ProPrep packets for about $1.25 a pop).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yabbi @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:00PM
So, you prepped 4 meals in this device, and you're still alive, therefore you recommend it. I've prepared thousands of meals without it, and am still alive, too. Hmm.
I don't follow your logic in the statement, "If ... you're a serious cook who doesn't like to waste food, you may want to add this to your cooking arsenal." How does one 'waste' food if one doesn't have this device? It appears you imply that one wastes food if one doesn't kill germs it may contain before preparing it. If the result of eating such food is food poisoning, who's to say if food was 'wasted' in that instance?
Here's another line" We're alive, and we're now four-for-four on tasty, zero-prep meals" Uh, hello, using this device is extra work prior to any preparation. The device was used for those 4 meals and that sure sounds like 'prep' prior to cooking.
How do people get jobs writing this stuff, and who's editing publishing an article that doesn't make sense? It's a joke.
Stop smoking crack! Damn.
Crack Smoker @ Oct 4th 2007 7:24PM
Not sure what Yabbi is all excited about, perhaps he needs a fix.
Takes all kinds - writers, germaphobes and jerks.
I have no idea about this product, but why not - I own a copy of the movie fat albert and one of those sonic toothbrushes, so something for everyone.