Halal cooking is basically a form of cooking that doesn’t use impermissible or haram ingredients based on the dietary guidelines of Islam. It means avoiding the use of pork and alcohol or staying away from things that contain the by-products of these two.
Other impressible ingredients include blood as well as predatory animals with fangs. However, since they are not often consumed in this part of the world, they are seldom mentioned in discussions about halal cooking.
Basic Requirement for Eating and Cooking Halal
The basic requirement to cook halal is that every ingredient used in cooking must be based on what is halal or permissible foods in accordance with Islamic law.
Methods for Halal Cooking
There are no specific methods of cooking that are forbidden. But anything that involves impermissible or halal ingredients such as pork or alcohol or other non-halal ingredients is now allowed. For instance, cooking using alcohol that doesn’t burn off completely or cooking using the bouillon or broth of animals not properly slaughtered based on Islamic practice is not considered halal.
Tools and Equipment for Halal Cooking
There is no such thing as special pans, pots, utensils, or other cooking equipment required to be used in a halal kitchen. Those who want to make halal food in a kitchen and are not aware of what was cooked in the pots are simply advised to clean the equipment and utensils thoroughly before use.
Where to Buy Halal Ingredients
If you want to go Halal shopping in San Francisco, make sure you look for Middle Eastern or Mediterranean markets, but don’t assume right away that the meat is really halal just because the butcher claims it to be. You should ask the owner about the source of the meat and the way it was slaughtered. Ask to see if there is a stamp of approval or certification regarding the authenticity of the meat being halal.
These types of shops often carry halal-certified ingredients as well. Provided that the halal foods did not touch or mix with non-halal foods, a dish can already be considered halal.
Halal Shopping Tips
All consumers are recommended to always check the product labels, something Muslims have been doing all this time when looking for ingredients that might be red flags when it comes to their halal factor.
However, now more than ever, there are also products that may seem to have alcohol or pork-free ingredients but are these also good for you? There are some “halal” products that contain chemicals, sweeteners., artificial dyes, and other synthetic elements that are not good for you at all.
Whether you are Muslim or not, it is important to take care of your body and feed it only healthy and nutritious food free of impurities. Your food must be halal, but you should not just assume that the products marketed to you are also healthy for you.
Remember to always keep these requirements in mind to ensure that you will have the best halal shopping and cooking experience.