Beef tongue: benefits and harm to the body

Beef tongue is an offal that consists of muscle tissue. The structure of the tongue is tender, there are no partitions, fibers, films. The average weight is from 0.2 to 2 kg. Scientists have proven that the product is not only useful, but also a delicious delicacy that will appreciate even the most sophisticated gastronomic gourmet. The language is able to compete with sausages and meat products, this makes it a unique product that deserves special attention. With proper and moderate use, beef tongue will provide the body not only with all the necessary useful chemical elements, but also with a whole vitamin complex.

Composition and calorie content

Beef tongue is notable for its low calorie content. 100 g of boiled product contains 173 kcal, as well as 16 g of protein, fats - 12.1 g, carbohydrates - 2.2 g. With a low content of carbohydrates in the tongue, a high amount of cholesterol was found - 132 mg per 100 g of product.

The chemical composition includes fat-soluble vitamins D, D3, E, K and water-soluble B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, as well as micro and macro elements, such as: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium , iron, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, zinc, copper.

What is the difference between beef tongue and pig tongue

Both offal are delicacies. In the prepared form by taste, they differ little from each other, but still they have other differences:

1. Beef tongue is larger than pig.
2. In pig, unlike beef, there are streaks, and in structure it is not so tender.
3. Cooking time for beef tongue is several hours longer.
4. Boiled pig offal is less valuable, as it contains more fat, and there is practically no zinc in the chemical composition.
5. Unlike beef tongue, pork has significantly less cholesterol.
6. In meat cutting, beef tongue will look better and more beautiful, but pork is better to use in salads.
7. Offal varies in value. Pork is cheaper.

What is healthier and tastier

For people who prefer a more delicate structure of meat product, calf tongue will be tastier.

It is better for people with high blood cholesterol to choose pork tongue, since it practically does not contain this substance, in contrast to the high content in beef offal. And those who are overweight or diabetes should choose a calf tongue, because it is in it that the minimum fat content.

Specialists in proper and healthy nutrition argue that beef tongue has a more beneficial effect on human health than pork.

In any case, the benefits and taste preferences regarding the types of language for each will be individual. Both offal are tasty and healthy.

What is beef tongue useful for?

General benefit

Due to its vast and beneficial chemical composition, eating beef tongue as a food has a positive effect on the entire human body. In addition, low calorie content allows you to include this product in diet food. Rare beneficial compounds can restore the chemical balance in the body.

1. The iron content will provide oxygen exchange between the environment and internal organs.
2. Vitamin B12, which is part of the tongue, favorably affects the circulatory system.
3. The calf by-product contains the daily rate of zinc. This substance is extremely necessary for the human body, as it is able to improve the general condition of the skin, hair and nails, and also acts as a prophylactic for diabetes, activates brain activity, accelerates the healing process.
4. The use of beef tongue will help to recover quickly after a serious illness and operation, has a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional background, eliminates migraines.

For women

Of course, beef tongue can bring the most important benefit to the fair sex in improving the condition of the skin, hair and nails. Thanks to the active compounds, regeneration of skin cells at the internal level takes place, which will prolong the skin's elasticity and its natural freshness. Including beef tongue in the diet, you can not be afraid for the figure, because this dietary product is not able to harm it. In addition, beef offal favorably affects the nervous system, relieves insomnia.

For men

The vitamins, macro- and microelements contained in the beef tongue have a positive effect on the male body. When calf by-product is consumed, the supply of energy and forces increases, and, moreover, the forces already consumed are restored rapidly. That is why this product must be present on the menu, especially if a man is actively involved in sports or his main work activity is associated with excessive physical exertion. The protein, which is part of the beef tongue, contributes to the rapid growth of muscle mass. The zinc content also has the most beneficial effect on the male body. This chemical element reduces the risk of infertility, the development of adenoma and prostate cancer.

During pregnancy

Doctors strongly recommend that women who are expecting a baby regularly eat beef tongue. The fact is that during pregnancy the level of hemoglobin in the blood very often decreases. The increased content of iron and easily digestible protein in the chemical composition of the tongue will make it possible to quickly fill in the missing element, which will undoubtedly positively affect not only the health of the expectant mother, but also the development of the fetus, and provide it with the necessary amount of oxygen. But do not abuse the eating of beef tongue during pregnancy, because it enhances the liver and kidneys, which is undesirable for a woman's body.

When breastfeeding

Beef tongue is an indispensable product for women during lactation. The protein that is part of it helps increase lactation. The vitamins contained in the tongue will help not only to accelerate the process of recovery of the female body after childbirth, but also to improve the quality of milk.

Despite all the useful properties, you should not eat beef offal more often than several times a week. It is not recommended to include this product in the menu until the baby is three months old. Until this age, beef tongue in the diet of a nursing mother can cause a baby's upset stomach and an allergic reaction.

For kids

Pediatricians consider beef tongue as the first tender delicacy for the baby and often prescribe it as the main source of multivitamins, as well as if the baby has low hemoglobin. In the children's menu, beef offal can be included from the moment a child reaches 8 months of age. A prerequisite is to cook longer than expected and be sure to pass through a meat grinder several times.

Up to a year is better not to give the language in its purest form. It is better to cook a gentle puree, which includes 70 g of tongue, boiled carrots and potatoes, one quail egg. Season with a small amount of natural yogurt. It is tasty and healthy.

In the diet of older children must be present boiled beef tongue.This product enhances children's immunity and energy, has a beneficial effect on mental and physical development during the period of active growth of the body.

When losing weight

Low calorie content and chemical composition allow beef tongue to be included in the list of foods recommended during weight loss. The B vitamins contained in the by-product improve carbon and fat metabolism, as well as the digestive tract. Dishes, which include this product, can quickly quench hunger, which will help to gradually reduce the amount of food consumed without serious harm to health.

Nutritionists recommend eating beef tongue in boiled form and in reasonable quantities. With a diet, everything should be a measure, regardless of the calorie content and benefits of the product. If you add physical exercises to the use of beef offal, then the result of losing weight will be fast and high-quality, and the extra pounds will not return soon. After the diet, you need to regularly include the language in your diet at least once a month.

Beef tongue in medicine

Doctors from various medical sectors have long agreed that the addition of an offal such as beef tongue to human food is necessary. With proper use, the body will only benefit. Medical experts recommend including the tongue not only in the diet menu for weight loss, but also in the therapeutic diet for certain diseases. But with some pathologies, this product is contraindicated.

With diabetes

One of the important features of beef tongue is its effective positive effect on patients with diabetes. Due to the zinc, which is part of the tongue, there is a natural production of insulin, which favorably affects the thyroid gland. A chemical element such as chromium in large quantities contributes to better absorption of glucose, which reduces the risk of further development of diabetes.

With pancreatitis

Pancreatitis, like cholecystitis, refers precisely to those diseases in which doctors categorically prohibit the use of any offal, including beef tongue. The fact is that a high cholesterol content can increase the load on the pancreas, which is extremely undesirable for pancreatitis.

With gastritis

With gastritis and peptic ulcer, you can and should eat beef tongue. It is only necessary to pay attention that doctors strongly advise such patients to eat offal in small quantities and exclusively in boiled form. Subject to medical advice, the product is easily and quickly absorbed without overloading the stomach.

Attention: during an exacerbation, beef tongue should be excluded from the diet.

With gout

Patients with gout are strictly prohibited foods with a high content of such chemical compounds as purines. Per 100 g of beef tongue accounts for 72 mg of purines. This figure is considered high. For this reason, people with gout are not allowed to include beef offal in the menu.

Harm and contraindication

Despite the fact that the use of beef tongue has a positive effect on the human body, as mentioned earlier, there are a number of diseases and features in which the use of this by-product is forbidden:

1. Individual intolerance.
2. Elderly (it is not recommended to use beef tongue, as it has a negative effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys).
3. Gout, asthma, some gastrointestinal diseases (pancreatitis, cholecystitis), as well as deviations in the thyroid gland and a period of exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers.
4. Allergic rhinitis.

If you really want to enjoy the most delicate taste of boiled beef tongue, all of the listed categories, in order to avoid causing serious harm to your health, you must always consult a doctor before use!

How to choose and store

In order to enjoy the aromatic and delicate taste of beef tongue, it is very important to purchase a fresh and high-quality product. To do this, you must follow a number of simple rules:

1. The first thing you need to pay attention to when buying a beef tongue is its color. When stored properly, the color should be a purple hue. Gray indicates product stale, and pink indicates that the tongue was frozen.
2. An incision can tell about the freshness of the offal. The release of a clear liquid indicates its freezing, a cloudy anemone signals improper storage. Such a product should not be eaten. And if the beef tongue is of good quality, then blood droplets stand out on the cut.
3. It is important to pay attention to the smell, it should be similar to the aroma of meat. The repulsive spirit of rot is unacceptable.
4. High-quality language to the touch has a solid structure. When pressed, the dimple from the finger should disappear quickly.
5. It is best to purchase beef offal, which is stamped with the sanitary service. If you have this sign, you can be sure that the animal was not sick.
6. When buying frozen, you need to pay attention to the layer of ice. It must be thin.

Beef tongue is a rapidly spoiling product. It is recommended to cook it immediately. The product purchased in frozen form may be stored exclusively in the freezer and not more than 6 months. When prepared, the product can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, in fresh - no more than 24 hours. Before sending for short-term storage, cover the beef delicacy with cling film.

Is it possible to freeze

It happens that after buying a language there is no possibility or desire to cook it, or it was bought in advance by a certain date. In this case, you can safely freeze a fresh product and leave it in storage in the freezer. A quick tip: if the size of the by-product is large, you can cut it into pieces, wrap each in a separate bag and safely store it at a temperature not lower than -18 degrees for 6-8 months. In the same way, you can freeze boiled beef tongue. Its beneficial properties will not go anywhere. But re-freezing is strictly prohibited.

How to quickly clean beef tongue

In order for a dish from the tongue to turn out tasty and high-quality, it is first necessary to clean it. The cleaning process takes place in two stages:

Stage 1
Place raw beef tongue in a container of cold water for 60 minutes. This will help to remove unnecessary waste faster and easier. Removing excess water from the water using a paper towel or towel. Then, with light movements, but rather carefully scrape with a knife all the unpleasant plaque on the skin of the tongue. Remove fat and remaining meat from the neck. Rinse well under a stream of cold water and send to the pan for further cooking.

An important condition, if the offal was frozen, then it must thaw before cleaning, be sure to naturally, and not at room temperature. Move the tongue from the freezer to the refrigerator. It is also not allowed to defrost using hot water or a microwave. If the above conditions are not met, there is a high risk of developing bacteria that can lead to serious food poisoning.

Stage 2
The next cleaning step must be carried out after the product is cooked. After taking the finished tongue out of the pan, place it for 1 minute in cold water.Such manipulation will lead to the fact that the skin will be easily separated from meat. Carefully pick up the skin with a knife from the neck and pull gently to the bottom. An important point: the 2nd stage of cleaning must be carried out until the product has cooled down. Otherwise, it will be necessary to cut off the skin, which will inevitably damage the linguistic meat itself.

How and how much to cook beef tongue

In order for the dish with the tongue to turn out tender, and not resemble the sole, you need to properly cook it. To do this, you can use an ordinary pan, pressure cooker or a representative of modern household appliances - a multicooker.

Cooking in a classic pan

Place the beef tongue in boiling water for 15 minutes. After the specified time, drain the water and pour new boiling water into the pan. Add spices to your taste. Leave to boil over medium heat, periodically removing foam from the surface of the water. Half an hour before the end of cooking salt and optionally add peeled onions and carrots. Cooking time depends on the size of the tongue: a small one will boil for a couple of hours, and if the weight is 1.5–2 kg, then the cooking time will increase to 3-4 hours. Readiness can be determined using an ordinary fork, piercing the product. If the cutlery tines enter easily and a clear liquid is released, the beef tongue is completely ready.

Pressure cooker

Put the product in a pressure cooker, add salt, spices and root vegetables, based on your taste preferences, pour everything in water in such an amount that the tongue is completely immersed in the liquid. Close the lid tightly and cook over medium heat for 40-50 minutes

Cooking in a slow cooker

Place the beef tongue and vegetables in the multicooker bowl, pour water. Set the "Extinguishing" mode and the time - from 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on size. Salt and add spices 20 minutes before cooking.

What can be cooked from beef tongue: recipes

Beef tongue is a unique, tasty and healthy product, from which you can cook a huge amount of both ordinary and gourmet dishes. This offal can be prepared as a separate independent snack, or included in salads, first and second courses. For many years, the product has been decorating tables at banquets of the upper strata of society and at festive feasts of ordinary people.

Salad

Professional chefs and ordinary culinary lovers use beef tongue with great pleasure when preparing salads. Consider some interesting and delicious recipes.

New Year's salad
Ingredients:

• 200 g of boiled beef tongue;
• 3-4 tbsp sour cream;
• 100 g of any fresh mushrooms to your taste;
• about 50 g of prunes and walnuts;
• salt and mayonnaise to taste.

Cut boiled and well-chilled tongue and prunes thoroughly washed with hot water. Cut mushrooms into slices, sprinkle salt and simmer in sour cream in a pan, allow to cool and combine with the tongue. Add walnuts, pre-grinding them and prunes. Fill everything with a small amount of mayonnaise and send for several hours in the refrigerator. Please note: the finished salad can not be salted, since the tongue is cooked in salt water, mushrooms are salted when stewed and mayonnaise already contains salt.

Puff salad
This dish will be appreciated even by the most fastidious gastronomic gourmet. To prepare it you will need:

• 200 g of boiled tongue;
• 2 pre-cooked and chilled carrots;
• 2 fresh and pickled large cucumbers;
• protein of one chicken egg;
• mayonnaise and horseradish ready for dressing.

All ingredients must be cut into cubes, but not very small. Protein can be grated on a coarse grater. Prepare dressing by mixing mayonnaise with horseradish, the amount of these products is determined individually.Next, put the products in a shallow salad bowl in layers in the following sequence: carrots, dressing, pickled cucumbers, dressing, beef tongue, dressing, fresh cucumbers, dressing, grated protein. So that all layers are well saturated, it is better to cook the salad 3-4 hours before serving. The main thing is not to overdo it with dressing, otherwise the mayonnaise will clog the taste of other ingredients.

Dietary salad
This snack will be a real joy for people who are on a diet and want to lose weight, as well as for those who suffer from diabetes. Salad will not only decorate the table, but also delight the stomach.

Ingredients:

• 100 g of boiled beef tongue;
• 1 small fresh or lightly salted cucumber;
• 2 chicken or 4 quail eggs;
• 5 cherry tomatoes or 2 regular medium-sized;
• 1 tsp mustard seeds;
• 2 tbsp olive oil;
• 1 tbsp wine vinegar;
• Fresh dill and salt to taste.

Cut everything into cubes, mix, season with the prepared sauce: mix oil, vinegar and mustard. Sprinkle fresh chopped dill on top.

Despite the simplicity of preparation, the salad is not only beautiful, but also very healthy and tasty.

Jellied

A beef tongue is prepared from beef tongue. This dish rightfully occupies a central place on the festive table. Preparing the right and tasty jellied is not easy, but its excellent taste is worth the time.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium beef tongue;
• 2 carrots;
• 2 chicken eggs;
• 20 g of gelatin;
• half a liter of broth;
• 1 onion;
• salt and pepper peas to taste;
• to decorate cranberries and a few sprigs of parsley.

The first step is to properly weld the tongue. Estimated cooking time of the main ingredient is 2 hours on low heat. After an hour and a half from the start of cooking the tongue, add peeled and coarsely chopped carrots and onions, salt and pepper to the pan. While the tongue is boiling, boil hard-boiled eggs, cool and peel them. Prepare the gelatin part of the aspic: pre-soak the gelatin in cold water and leave to swell for 40 minutes. Finished and peeled tongue cut into thin slices, eggs - rings.

Strain the hot broth, which was obtained during cooking by-product, mix thoroughly, mix with swollen gelatin and mix well until smooth without lumps. In a deep dish, beautifully lay the chopped tongue, eggs, you can add slices of carrots, cranberries and sprigs of parsley, but this is if you wish. Gently pour the gelatin broth and put in the refrigerator until completely solidified. Serve recommended with horseradish or mustard.

Bouillon

Beef tongue broth can be consumed as a separate first course or used as the basis for noodle soup or hodgepodge.

In order to cook a delicious classic broth, you will need:

• beef tongue weighing no more than 1.5 kg;
• 2 onions ;;
• 2–2.5 liters of water;
• 1 carrot;
• if desired, several stalks of celery;
• salt pepper.

Rinse the tongue thoroughly and prepare for cooking. Put in a pan, pour the indicated amount of water, wait for boiling over high heat, then remove the foam that appears on top with a slotted spoon and leave to cook for 2.5-3 hours already on low heat. After the specified time, add diced vegetables and cook for another 30 minutes. To prevent the broth from becoming cloudy, it is important not to allow a strong boil during cooking.

Rice soup
Based on the broth, you can prepare diet rice soup from the ingredients that every housewife always has on the kitchen shelves.

Ingredients:

• 1.5–2 l. beef tongue broth;
• 1 glass of rice;
• 4–5 pcs. medium-sized potatoes;
• 2 onions;
• salt, pepper greens - to taste.

Cook the broth according to the classic recipe, as described above.Remove the finished tongue from the pan, and instead send rice and chopped vegetables to it. Cook for 15–20 minutes. Willingness is determined by croup. Cut the cooled tongue into slices and add to the finished rice soup. The diet first course is ready.

Soups can be prepared not only on the hob, but also in a modern multicooker

Beef tongue potato soup in a slow cooker
The following ingredients will be required:

• 200 g of boiled beef tongue;
• 4 potatoes;
• 1.5 l of language broth;
• 1 bell pepper;
• 2 stalks of celery;
• greens, salt and pepper - to taste.

Pour the broth into the multicooker bowl, add peeled and diced potatoes, chopped with celery sticks. Select the “Soup” mode and set the cooking time - 40 minutes. 20 minutes before the soup is cooked, add chopped bell pepper and beef tongue to the multicooker bowl. Pour greens and salt in 10 minutes before the end of cooking.

Barbecue

Everyone is used to cooking kebabs from meat, fish and vegetables. But beef tongue shish kebab is able to delight lovers of dishes on the grill. Having tried this rare, but very tasty and juicy dish, it’s hard to deny yourself the temptation to cook it again. In order for the kebab to be perfect, you need to follow some recommendations:

1. Choose a quality and fresh product.
2. Boil beef tongue and peel off the skin.
3. While the main product is boiling, prepare the marinade: put 4 cloves of garlic, 5 leaves of bay leaves, 5 g of freshly ground black pepper, 3 medium onions, previously peeled and cut into large cubes, pour 20 ml of apple cider vinegar, 50 ml each olive oil and soy sauce. Beat everything thoroughly at maximum speed. You should get a homogeneous mass, reminiscent of liquid mashed potatoes.
4. Chilled beef tongue cut into portions. It is important not to cut too finely, as the kebab will turn out dry.
5. The distance between the pieces worn on the skewer should be at least 1 cm, this is important.
6. Fry until golden brown.

It is recommended to eat immediately hot. The cooled barbecue loses its unique taste and begins to dry out.

Can a dog be given tongue

Beef tongue is one of the most important sources of protein, as well as vitamins and beneficial elements not only for humans, but also for our smaller brothers. Dog food manufacturers are actively including this ingredient in their products. Moreover, the price of dog food with the addition of beef offal is much higher than usual.

It is especially important to give the tongue to the dog in the cold season, as it contains vitamin D, which is so lacking in winter.

Since beef offal is an expensive pleasure, it should be considered a delicacy in the diet of a four-legged friend.

In order to pamper your furry pet with a tasty and healthy product, you can buy dry or wet food with this component, share the boiled tongue prepared for yourself, or give it raw. Also in pet stores you can buy special goodies in the form of dried beef tongue.

From this beef offal, the dog, regardless of breed and size, will receive only benefit.

Photo of beef tongue