How does moisture content affect the cooking time of meat?

The impact of moisture content on cooking time primarily relates to the heat transfer properties of meat. When meat has higher moisture content, it tends to retain heat more efficiently through the moisture, which can lead to longer cooking times. Moisture acts as a barrier, as the water needs to evaporate before the meat reaches the desired internal temperature. This means that cuts with higher moisture content can often take longer to cook thoroughly because they require more time for evaporation and proper cooking.

In contrast, meat with lower moisture content may reach the desired temperature more quickly because there is less moisture to evaporate. Therefore, the correct understanding is that higher moisture content can indeed result in longer cooking times due to the additional energy required to convert that moisture into steam and heat the meat through.