Oxtail, Long-simmered broth, 95°

Cook Oxtail as “Long-simmered broth” until the centre reads 95 degrees. The mark to keep is 95°. Before you pay, check once that the cut named on the package matches the cut on the slip. If the seam of sinew is badly split, change the slip from a short sear to a long cook. The finish line is when the marrow has fully surrendered and the broth has gone opaque. At the butcher, open Oxtail so the slip shows 95° first, 95 next, and “Long-simmered broth” beside them.

This week, before you enter the butcher, write the cut, the method, and the core temperature at the top of the shopping slip, and at home keep the heat until the thermometer shows that figure. If the grain is coarse, give more time at the same temperature, and do not time a thin slice and a chunk the same way. The order is Oxtail, 95°, 95, then “Long-simmered broth”. When the thermometer is done, look again only at 95° for Oxtail and leave 95 on the slip.

Do not call the meat done from color alone, and do not read the temperature as a grade score. Check that the core temperature on the slip and the thermometer match, and do not kill the heat before that mark even if the color changes first. If the seam of sinew is badly split, change the slip from a short sear to a long cook. Match Long-simmered broth with 95 at the butcher before you close 95° for Oxtail. Cook Oxtail as “Long-simmered broth” until the centre reads 95 degrees. The mark to keep is 95°.