Does lemon juice cook raw meat?

Lemon juice does not cook raw meat in the same way that heat does. When you cook meat, the proteins in the meat coagulate and change structure, which kills harmful bacteria and makes the meat safe to eat. Lemon juice, on the other hand, does not cause the proteins in meat to coagulate, so it does not kill harmful bacteria. In fact, lemon juice can actually help bacteria to grow, which is why it is important to cook meat thoroughly before eating it.

However, lemon juice can be used to help tenderize meat. The acid in lemon juice breaks down the connective tissue in meat, which makes it more tender. This can be helpful when cooking tough cuts of meat. To tenderize meat with lemon juice, simply marinate it in lemon juice for several hours or overnight.

So, while lemon juice does not cook raw meat, it can be used to help tenderize it. However, it is important to remember that lemon juice does not kill harmful bacteria, so meat must be cooked thoroughly before eating it.