Step 1 : Introduction to the question "3. Macbeth says, to an apparition of a king, "Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls" in Act IV of "The Tragedy of Macbeth." What does it mean when a cook sears an ingredient? "
...1. To dehydrate an ingredient by long exposure to heat 2. To quickly cook the surface of food (usually meat) over high heat 3. To wilt a vegetable by tossing it in a hot dry pan 4. To cut into a jagged edge with notches or teeth Searing meat produces an appetizing brown colour on the surface and induces savoury flavours through the Maillard reaction. Contrary to common belief, searing does not "seal in" the juices of the meat during further cooking. That notion is 150 years old but has been disproved by kitchen science. Once seared, meats may be fried at a lower temperature, baked, roasted or braised to finish them.
