ChefSteps is a team of chefs, writers, and food lovers who develop recipes, techniques, and guides to help people cook better at home.

ChefSteps

We’ve all experienced it—flames flare up and suddenly the edges of your steak go from perfectly crispy to charred and crunchy. This elixir was created to help tame those flame-grilled flavors by helping to mellow the bitterness caused by charring. On its own, this magical concoction adds bright and refreshing notes that balance the rich smoky and savory flavors of grilling. Acid is a great way to slow down the Maillard reaction by lowering the pH on a food’s surface. The vinegar in this elixir provides enough acidity to tame the radiant heat reaction, “washing” away some of the char and color for meats. It’s not just for “cleaning” up extra charred bits, though. While <a href="https://www.chefsteps.com/recipes/elixir-cs-party-potion">Elixir 1: The Booster</a> is best suited for dark meats, Elixir 2 is a wonderful way to enhance the flavor of leaner proteins like chicken breast and fish, and lighter vegetables like asparagus.