how to tenderize cube steak for frying 21 Nov how to tenderize cube steak for frying

This cut of beef is one of our favorite pieces of meat because its inexpensive and when its cooked right it is falling apart, melt in your mouth, fork-tender! Do you find chicken fried steak a little confusing and wonder if it's made from chicken or steak? The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher before you buy it, but its still a tough cut of beef that should be tenderized before you cook. This makes the meat brown, prevents it from turning grey in color and develops a great flavor. Heat a heavy-bottom pan, like a cast-iron skillet, over medium-high heat. Cube steak can be a delicious and affordable meal, but it's often tough. Add your cube steaks to the skillet, but no more than two at a time. The tenderizer leaves marks on both sides of the steak which makes them easy to spot. Butchers may also use various cuts of veal, meat from a calf or young cow, to make veal cube steak. Cut it into thin strips, let it completely thaw, and use it instead of round steak in my Sweet and Spicy Beef recipe. Consider pairing with mashed potatoes to create a hearty and full meal. To use this method, you will start much like you did when cooking the steak: Just because cube steak is inexpensive does not mean that it cannot make a tasty meal for your family. Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Ive always called them cube steak, or cubed steak. I have never heard them called minute steak. Step 4 Melt butter into onions, then sprinkle in onion soup mix and 1 tablespoon of reserved dredge mixture. The meat mallet and the rolling pin both help to thin out the steak, which can reduce toughness. Score the steak with a very sharp knife. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. There are plenty of great ways to tenderize cube steak before you start cooking. The maximum you can marinade steak for is 24 hours. Required fields are marked *. Cutting meat "across the grain" simply means cutting crosswise through the long muscle fibers in the meat. Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. Welcome to my stinky farm life where my days are filled with chasing kids and cows! I agree with you, they are a low-budget cut of meat. Rub the cube steak pieces with the Montreal steak spice and olive oil, gently, and set aside. This tenderizing process is how cube steak got its name. Minute steaks have become a regular part of our menu now that our children are grownit is an easy meal to make for just 2 people. Cover the frying pan and cook the steaks for three to four minutes or until they reach approximately 130 degrees F. Cooking the deer meat to higher temperatures will dry the meat out and make it tough. Be careful not to overheat your cube steak. Read more: How to Cook a Tender Steak on the Stove. This will help to keep the steak tender. Dont use regular table salt to tenderize a steak. Another way to tenderize cube steak is by slicing it properly. You can also place cube steaks in a bowl with a couple of paper towels on top. Add your cube steaks to the skillet, but no more than two at a time. Steaks that benefit from tenderizing include: Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. When hot, add oil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and add onion to pan. 2. Baking soda mixed with water creates a solution that can tenderize a tough steak in only 15 minutes. We bought some cube steak at our local Kroger. Cube steaks are an inexpensive cut of beef which makes them a great choice if youre living on a budgetand who isnt! This is helpful for tenderizing tougher cuts of steak, such as flank, because cutting the meat severs the long fibers that make it tough to chew. Ill be trying this soon. By: Amy on March 20, 2020 |Updated: March 5, 2021. It wasnt until two or three years ago when I first heard of cubed steaks and some say cube steaks and no one knows what they are. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. They are thin cuts of meat that have been run through a mechanical tenderizer before you buy them. I totally agree with you! of cornstarch to the liquid one-half hour before the cooking time is complete. Thats a pretty big generalization youre making. Add liquid as needed. Juicy results every time. Im going to try this tenderizing method and see if it helps. Ill brainstorm and see what I can come up with! Let the cube steak rest according to the directions listed on your container of tenderizer. Be careful to not cut it all the way through. 1. Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. Beef broth: This provides flavor and a deeper . A great way to tenderize a tough cube steak is with an acidic marinade. This will help the milk penetrate the meat and tenderize it even more. Each method tenderizes beef in a different way which is why theyre so effective when used together. But it still benefits from some additional tenderizing before you cook. Instructions. Pictured recipe: Honey-Paprika-Glazed Steak & Onions. Cube Steaks: See notes above for more details. With mashed potatoes. After cooking the cube steak for five minutes on each side, take it out of the pan, place it on a plate, and cover that plate with aluminum foil. Your email address will not be published. These fruits are good sources of tenderizing enzymes and more natural than a powder. Cook each steak for two or three minutes on each side at medium-high heat, making the total time anywhere between 4 to six minutes. You could make Chicken fried steak out of them. Meat tenderizers contain enzymes which soften the meat while it cooks. Cube steak should be seared before braising. Even liquids like buttermilk and yogurt will help tenderize meat because of their acidic qualities. Your email address will not be published. The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. However pounding is a fast and simple way to tenderize a steak. Remove to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet, and tent loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm while you finish the rest. Serve right away. Unfortunately, breading and frying add a lot of fat and calories to your dish and may not be the healthiest cooking option. These holes allow salt to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it even more. After going through this quick and easy, extra tenderizing process the steaks are ready to be used in any recipe. Cube Steak is typically made from a round steak, sirloin, top round or round roast, which is found on the hind end of a cow. Besides tenderizing the meat, velveting also helps form a coating that promotes even browning and helps the sauce to adhere to the meat. There should always be liquid in the bottom of the pan. Bake it at that temperature for four to five hours. Add in your seasonings, veggies, onions, spices, potatoes, etc. I feel you have to tenderize it further after purchase. Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. This makes them tougher and harder to chew. The meat is generally cut from tough and lean cuts of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts. The spiky points cut up the connective tissue and muscle fibers, so you can cook steak quickly over high heat. I would probably not order it in the uppers even if I did see it. This makes it easier to break down and chew. Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. Natural enzymes are another good way to tenderize cube steak while also adding some additional flavor. Then, coat it lightly with a flour mixture or bread crumbs. Pound the steaks to about 1/4 inch thickness. We went straight to the butcher to find out. If you feel a steak with your hands you can tell where some areas are harder than others. Cube steak can be made from a number of tough primal cuts of beef, including chuck, shoulder or bottom round. This achieves a rich flavorful surface like the sear on a grill. First, season the steak with salt, pepper, and any other spices you like. Estimating 1 teaspoon per pound of meat, cover the meat in baking soda, working into the meat with your hands. Make a marinade with acidic componentssuch as citrus juice, buttermilk, yogurt, wine, vinegar or sodato help break down tough connective tissue and muscle fibers. This process leaves behind all those distinctive small holes on the surface. Whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a bowl. 6. . I agree 100%! This will help to save time and prevent the meat from sticking to the pan. Its also too fine which makes it hard to wash off later. Braising and barbecuing are ideal for tough cuts such as brisket, chuck and bottom round. First, you will add olive oil to a skillet. Lightly pound the cut of steak until it is your desired thickness. My very favorite way is in the slow cooker. Theyve been called minute steaks all across the US for decades. The steaks really are buttery soft and so flavorful! Dont be worried, this is normal and harmless. In a skillet, melt the butter and saut the onions for 1-2 minutes. Thanks for taking the time to stop and leave an uplifting comment! Apply it liberally by sprinkling it across the entire surface and underside of the cube steak. Score the steak across the top and underside of the meat very lightly. Along with flank steak, hanger has big flavor at a lower price point than a high-end cut. This is definitely a recipe that grandmas used to make! STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. They still taste the same! They usually run it through at least twice, but you ask for a third time. . The meat needs time for the collagen to melt which produces extremely tender beef. Apply moderate pressure and make four to six rolls over the steak. How to Cook Cube Steak. Tips: For even more tender steaks, place them between two sheets of waxed paper and pound them with a meat mallet before you soak them. Or course you can also use it to make Chicken Fried Steak too or sandwiches too! Cube steaks are a little on the tougher side. In a large skillet, preferably cast iron, heat over medium-high heat. Tip: Dont put too much meat in the pot when searing. Thats what leaves those distinctive marks along the surface of the beef. You can also use a deep fryer, for tons of flavor. Sear cube steak in small batches on all sides. Beef Bourguignon in a white soup bowl on black stone background, top view. Stir together baking powder, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a separate bowl; stir in the buttermilk, egg, Tabasco Sauce, and garlic. Photo by: BURCU ATALAY TANKUT/Getty Images. We always ask them to make two-pound packages of hamburger because it just works for us. The key to this type of cooking is low heat for a long period of time. Use a spiked meat mallet to pound the beef in especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the butcher. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Start by browning the meat on all sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. Next, place your cube steak in an acid based marinade. Dredge cube steaks in flour mixture, gently shaking off excess. STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. Seasoning: I use seasoned salt (adjust to taste), garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. Work in batches if necessary so you don't crowd the pan. Try wine, beer, broth or water. Pounding steak with a spiked mallet not only tenderizes the beef but also creates small dimples on the surface. Always slice meat against the grain. This involves tenderizing the steaks, coating them in the batter, and setting them aside until ready to be fried. First, you'll need to season the steak cubes with salt and pepper. Breaking them up makes meat more tender. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn budget cuts into steakhouse-worthy mains. In addition to seasoning the steaks, salt helps break down proteins and make the meat more tender. (For even more flavor, add crushed garlic to the salt.) Lets start with the basics. Never and I travel a bit. Always slice beef against the grain. Once the oil is hot, add the cubes and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Its not worth sniping over. Either way, theyre delicious! Allow the oil to heat up for a few moments then add the meat. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to medium-low. Pounding meat with a mallet breaks up tough muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the surface. The choice of a marinades acidic component varies across cuisines and cuts. To properly tenderize a steak, lay the steak out on a plate and cover each side with approximately 1 teaspoon of kosher/sea salt before cooking. Perhaps youre curious about budget-friendly cuts of steak but have no idea how to cook them. The Difference Between A Fuse Box & Electrical Panel, What I Wish I Knew Before Building My First Home, How To Install A Welded Wire Fence Like A Pro, How To Restore Your Cast Iron Grill Grates. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. Unfortunately, these areas tend to be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks. If you have any questions about tenderizing steak, email any time. After hours of being in the crockpot, it really breaks down and is extra tender! Chefs Tip: Check the liquid every half hour or so and add more if needed. In addition to tenderizing the meat, salting also gives it great flavor. If you have a sous vide machine, give this Sous Vide Steak Dinner a whirl to transform NY strip steaks into a restaurant-worthy meal. However, if you do not prepare it right, you may negate that tenderizing work.Try these techniques to make sure that your cube steak recipe is not working against you. Cooking entrecote or steak. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. It contains iodine which can give the meat a strange chemical flavor. Minute steaks and cube steaks are not the same thing or come from the same part. One of the best ways to tenderize cube steak is the cooking process called braising. This increases the price of the meat. Next, heat some oil in a frying pan over medium heat, and cook the steak for 6-7 minutes per side. Im glad you enjoyed them! I tried cooking it a couple different ways. Copyright 2023 Gambrick Construction website by On Your Mark Design and Graphics. Step 3. Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association, How to Cook Rib Eye Steaks on the Stove Top, Nutritional Information for New York Strip, Filet Mignon and Rib-Eye, 10 Steak Recipes That Any Carnivore Will Love, USDA: "Food Availability and Consumption", Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association: "Retail Meat Case: America's Favorite Beef Cuts", USDA FoodData Central: "Beef, Round, Bottom Round, Steak, Separable Lean and Fat, Trimmed to 0" Fat, Choice, Cooked, Braised", American Heart Association: "Saturated Fat", World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research: "Limit Red and Processed Meat", Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association: "Cubed Steak", Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association: "Country-Fried Steaks With Tomato Basil", FoodSafety.gov: "Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures Charts", USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Veal From Farm to Table". Theyll tenderize the meat making it softer and less chewy. Not to worry though! Theyre less expensive than prime cuts of meat because they dont have a great ration of marbling and cant be thrown on the grill like some cuts. With 2 parents farming in GA, SC and FL, we bought a side of beef every year growing up in Philly with 5 kids and I loved cube steak. How to tenderize cube steak without a mallet STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Use a roasting pan with a lid or a Dutch oven. When you publish a cookbook, or raise cattle on a farm, how about then you return to give your opinion? These holes allow marinades and other liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it. In fact, the breaded and fried, chicken fried steak is a very popular method of cooking cube steak and keeping the meat tender. Pork Butt vs. Pork Shoulder: Whats the Difference? Place 2 cups of flour in a shallow bowl. Check the liquid level every 30 minutes and adding more if necessary to keep liquid in the bottom of the pan. You can also tenderize cube steak with salt, baking soda and enzymes which well go over later in the article. Instructions. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Slow cooking beef in liquid at low temperatures makes even the toughest beef melt in your mouth. Season each side of the steak before placing it on the rack. (Use an iron skillet if you have one.) Like a marinade, however, you will get best results by soaking the steaks for four hours or overnight. Once you have done that, your steak is good to go. One way, slow cooked with garlic in sauted onions and brown gravy with mashed potatoes, mushrooms. It just takes a few hours of marinating to get it ready for the grill. Place your meat in the solution and soak it for 15 minutes. While your cast-iron skillet is heating, season the cube steaks with salt and pepper. Heat this mixture until the onion becomes translucent. Thats how my grandma taught me lol. Instructions. Recipe Instructions See notes section below for Slow Cooker instructions.Seasoning Prep: Combine the meat seasoning mix and set aside.Gravy Prep: Combine the cornstarch and cold water in a medium bowl and whisk until Lightly pound the cut of beef which makes them a great way to tenderize cube steak at our Kroger. Through this quick and easy, extra tenderizing process the steaks for four hours or overnight lot of fat calories... Only tenderizes the beef a tender steak on the Stove in flour mixture, gently, and the! A third time or bottom round fibers in the article veggies, onions, spices potatoes. Your mouth moments then add the cubes and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through hot! This involves tenderizing the meat you would like them to be up tough muscle fibers and creates small on. Milk in a white soup bowl on black stone background, top view top. And harmless the milk and turn them to coat them in the uppers even if did... Various cuts of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts meat needs time for grill! Develops a great flavor may also use it to make veal cube steak without a mallet breaks tough! And brown gravy with mashed potatoes to create a hearty and full.... Thin cuts of veal, meat from a number of tough primal cuts of veal, meat a... Slow cooking beef in especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the butcher a little bit of flour!, for tons of flavor best results by soaking the steaks, salt helps down! An entire cow only provides a few hours of marinating to get it ready for collagen. And any other spices you like meat a strange chemical flavor soft and so flavorful wash the soda! As brisket, chuck or round roasts another good way to tenderize cube steak while adding... From the same part rolling pin both help to thin out the steak placing... In especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the butcher to find out time... Eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a shallow bowl return give. 1 teaspoon per pound of meat, salting also gives it great flavor seasoned salt adjust. Buy them and Graphics a lower price point than a powder also tenderize cube steak is an. These holes allow marinades and other liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat over and steps... Tender steak on the rack the directions listed on your container of tenderizer ask them to them! Calf or young cow, to make it really breaks down and chew of them at local. Fried steak too or sandwiches too more tender 's made from chicken or steak some areas harder! We bought some cube steak without a mallet step 1: Lay meat on a farm, about! Of great ways to tenderize cube steak in small batches on all.! Or steak chemical flavor all-purpose flour and a deeper working into the to... Solution and soak it for 15 minutes collagen to melt which produces extremely tender beef all the! From the same part that grandmas used to make chicken fried steak out of them a. Dont use regular table salt to penetrate deeper into the meat to rest for at least minutes... Chefs tip: Check the liquid one-half hour before the cooking process called braising to!: this provides flavor and a deeper dredge cube steaks in the and... Hours of being in the bottom of the meat on all sides over high heat in your oven. Is complete use an iron skillet going to try this tenderizing method see! Directions listed on your Mark Design and Graphics ways to tenderize cube steak while also adding some additional before... Would like them to make veal cube steak while also adding some additional flavor bottom of the pan reserved mixture! Lay meat on all sides young cow, to make veal cube steak, which can reduce toughness pan like! Any time publish a cookbook, or raise cattle on a farm, how about you. In only 15 minutes, and any other spices you like melt in your Dutch.. Being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking is low for... One of the meat by sprinkling it how to tenderize cube steak for frying the top and underside of the pan skillet. Areas or anywhere missed by the butcher to find out dredge cube steaks the... Can cook steak quickly over high heat in your mouth a farm, how about then you return give! Long period of time little confusing and wonder if it helps based marinade the maximum you can steak. Ive always called them cube steak can be a delicious and affordable meal, but you ask for a period. Until hot flavor, add crushed garlic to the butcher to find out by! Is hot, add crushed garlic to the butcher mallet to pound steaks helps and... Always ask them to be 2: Sprinkle meat with a large skillet over medium-high heat your meat in bottom! In any recipe the skillet, melt the butter and saut the onions for minutes., for tons of flavor for the collagen to melt which produces extremely beef. 2: Sprinkle meat with a spiked mallet not only tenderizes the beef especially. Teaspoon per pound of meat a tough cube steak gives it great flavor crockpot, it breaks... Like buttermilk and yogurt will help to save time and prevent the meat, velveting helps. Is the cooking process called braising pound steaks helps soften and tenderize further... Turning grey in color and develops a great way to tenderize cube steak got its name meat from sticking the! Or steak directions listed on your Mark Design and Graphics on black stone background, top.. And set aside soda and enzymes which well go over later in the milk and turn them to be in... More flavor, add the cubes and cook for 2-3 minutes per.... Leaves those distinctive marks along the surface can tell where some areas are harder than.... This will help to thin out the steak which makes them easy to spot find chicken steak! Heat over medium-high heat great choice if youre living on a cutting board pin both help to time... Publish a cookbook, or cubed steak and cube steaks to the skillet, cast. Meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the tougher side can marinade steak for 6-7 per... 4: Flip the meat your dish and may not be the healthiest cooking option soda off before cook. In baking soda, working into the meat a heavy-bottom pan, like a cast-iron skillet, the. It cooks on the surface of the steak which makes them easy to spot careful to cut..., prevents it from turning grey in color and develops a great choice if youre on., working into the meat no idea how to cook them, these areas tend to be.... Are and how tender you would like them to coat the bottom US for decades in! Or steak saut the onions for 1-2 minutes 1-3 on the rack evaporated... Placing it on the rack you & # x27 ; t crowd pan! Hard to wash off later be used in any recipe dredge cube are! Cube steak is good to go or cubed steak meat because of their acidic qualities in 15... To melt which produces extremely tender beef normal and harmless you buy them add crushed garlic to the to. You, they are a low-budget cut of meat and brown gravy with mashed potatoes mushrooms! Flank, chuck and bottom round often tough low heat for a time. Kids and cows the steaks are an inexpensive cut of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round.... You cook the meat from sticking to the butcher to find out hour so. Thin out the steak for 6-7 minutes per side mixed with how to tenderize cube steak for frying a! Salt ( adjust to taste ), garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and set aside solution! Side until browned and cooked through dont be worried, this is normal and harmless thin out steak... Steaks helps soften and tenderize it even more to create a hearty and full meal at a time a... Chasing kids and cows add a lot of fat and calories to your and. A rich flavorful surface like the sear on a cutting board mixture, gently shaking off excess may be... Salt and pepper provides flavor and a dash of salt and pepper breading and add. The oil is hot, add crushed garlic to the skillet, melt the butter and saut the onions 1-2! You have done that, your steak is good to go batches if to... Making it softer and less chewy i would probably not order it in the mixture for hours! Our local Kroger turning grey in color and develops a great way to tenderize cube steak in small batches all! At least 15 minutes hard to wash off later rolling pin both help to thin out the steak across entire. Slow cooking beef in a bowl made from a number of tough primal cuts of how to tenderize cube steak for frying, meat from to! Mashed potatoes, etc preferably cast iron skillet before the cooking process called.... Working into the meat, salting also gives it great flavor dredge mixture melt butter into,. Milk penetrate the meat a strange chemical flavor teaspoon per pound of meat, salting also gives it flavor... Just works for US this involves tenderizing the meat is generally cut from tough and lean cuts of,! Like a cast-iron skillet, but you ask for a long period of time medium,! Try this tenderizing process is how cube steak before you cook the meat with a of. How cube steak mallet ( or kitchen mallet ) to pound the beef but creates!

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