Top 10 Food Myths (And 1 Surprising Truth)

Photo by: Photo by Conde Nast Digital Studio

Searing a Steak or a Burger "Seals In" Its Juices
No. This one sounds so awesome that we want it to be true, but folks have tested it and found that searing before roasting can sometimes diminish meat's juiciness. What searing does is provoke the Maillard reaction, when heat causes the proteins in meat to brown. The resulting molecules have a slightly sweet, very meaty flavor that appeals to many of ... more 

Photo by: Photo by Conde Nast Digital Studio

Searing a Steak or a Burger "Seals In" Its Juices
No. This one sounds so awesome that we want it to be true, but folks have tested it and found that searing before roasting can sometimes diminish meat's juiciness. What searing does is provoke the Maillard reaction, when heat causes the proteins in meat to brown. The resulting molecules have a slightly sweet, very meaty flavor that appeals to many of us. So keep searing! Just don't do it for "the juice." less