Happy Chinese New Year

“Delicious New Year Dishes, Perfectly Cooked: Food Thermometers Make Your Festive Meals Even Better”

During Chinese New Year, food thermometers are used primarily in the preparation of certain traditional dishes that require precise temperature control. Here are some scenarios where food thermometers may be used during Chinese New Year:

1. Roasting Whole Chicken or Duck

• During the New Year, roasted chicken and duck are popular dishes on many family tables. To ensure that the food is cooked perfectly and safely, using a food thermometer helps guarantee that the meat reaches the desired internal temperature. For example, when roasting a whole chicken, the internal temperature should reach 75°C (165°F) to ensure the meat is fully cooked and safe to eat.

2. Hot Pot Cooking

• Hot pot is a popular dining style during Chinese New Year reunion dinners. In hot pot cooking, the cooking time of ingredients is very important, especially for meats, seafood, and tofu. Using a food thermometer helps ensure that meats reach safe consumption temperatures and prevents undercooking. For instance, pork, beef, and lamb need to reach certain temperatures to be considered fully cooked.

3. Making Candy or Sweet Snacks

• During Chinese New Year, many places make candies, candied fruit skewers (tanghulu), or nian gao (sticky rice cakes). When making candy, controlling the temperature of the sugar syrup is crucial. The syrup needs to reach a certain high temperature to create the right texture and flavor. Using a thermometer ensures the sugar reaches the right temperature without overcooking or burning.

4. Frying Spring Rolls

• Spring rolls are a common snack served during Chinese New Year. To avoid the oil being too hot or too cold, using a deep-fry thermometer ensures the oil temperature is within the ideal range, resulting in crispy spring rolls with fully cooked filling. The typical frying temperature is usually between 175°C and 190°C.

5. Making Chinese Sausages or Preserved Meats

• Many families make Chinese sausages or preserved meats (la rou, la chang) around the New Year. During the drying or smoking process, using a thermometer helps monitor the temperature of the smoking environment to ensure that the meat dries evenly and retains the best flavor. Accurate temperature control also prevents the meat from becoming too dry or moldy.

6. Steaming Fish or Spare Ribs

• Steamed fish and steamed spare ribs are traditional dishes that require careful control of steaming time and temperature to ensure the food is tender and perfectly cooked. If the temperature is too low or too high, the food may be undercooked or overcooked. Using a food thermometer ensures the food is steamed at the right temperature for the optimal result.

7. Low-Temperature Cooking (e.g., Slow Braising)

• Low-temperature slow braising has become increasingly popular, particularly for dishes like red-braised pork or braised beef. This method requires maintaining the temperature within a specific range for a long period, and using a thermometer ensures that the food cooks at the right temperature, resulting in tender and flavorful dishes.

8. Traditional Pastries (e.g., Mooncakes, Cakes)

• During Chinese New Year, making traditional pastries such as mooncakes and cakes may also require the use of food thermometers to ensure accurate baking temperatures. For example, when baking mooncakes, it’s important to adjust the oven temperature to ensure that the pastries are golden brown on the outside and fully cooked on the inside.

9. Boiling Dumplings

• In some regions, boiling dumplings is a traditional practice during the New Year. To ensure the dumplings are cooked properly and not stuck together, using a food thermometer can help monitor the water or broth temperature, ensuring the dumplings cook for the right amount of time.

Summary

During Chinese New Year, food thermometers are mainly used in the preparation of dishes that require precise temperature control, such as roasted chicken, hot pot, fried spring rolls, candy making, and preserved meats. Using a thermometer ensures both the cooking quality and food safety, preventing undercooking or overcooking. Therefore, especially during family gatherings or feasts, food thermometers have become an essential tool in many kitchens.

If you plan to cook these traditional dishes during the Chinese New Year and want to ensure they reach the optimal temperature, using a food thermometer is a very practical choice.