Find here the best advices to choose a perfect foie gras. It is one of the key ingredients of the holiday season. Many people prefer duck to goose foie gras but if you know to pick them, both can be delicious. Whether you decide to buy your foie gras at the supermarket, at your butcher or in a grocery store, it is important to pay attention to the following parameters
Verify the Origin of the Foie Gras
The first question that you should ask yourself is where the product comes from. Certain packages display a certified origin or a collective certification mark. There are also official labels for foie gras, raw or pre-cooked. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée”, etc., those ensure that the product has a reliable origin. A foie gras charter created in 1987 by the Cifog (Interprofessional Committee for Foie Gras) even exists. In general, foie gras from France is the best.
Raw, Half-Cooked or Cooked Foie Gras?
Raw foie gras is obviously ready to be cooked, whether in a terrine or in a pan. You can store it in the fridge for seven days. On the other hand the semi-cooked foie gras has been cooked below 100 ° C. Thus pasteurized, it can be refrigerated up to three weeks. The vacuum version has a longer shelf life. The cooking of the cooked foie gras is between 105° C and 115° C, it is then completely sterilized. This type of foie gras is generally available in jars or canned. It can be stored in the fridge for several months, even for a few years.
Is the Most Expensive Foie Gras the Best?
When you are in the market or in a supermarket to purchase your foie gras, the most expensive ones are not necessarily the best ones. Sometimes, we pay more for the brad than the quality of the foie gras itself. What you need to look for, more than the price, is the product quality, its origin, its label and the know-how of its producer in terms of preparation of the foie gras. Most of the time, the mid-range has absolutely nothing to envy to the highly rated products in the rankings. However, be wary if the supplier is not clearly indicated. If you take time to check those essential factors before choosing a particular brand, you can be sure to have a quality foie gras.