how to tenderize cube steak for frying

STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. But it still benefits from some additional tenderizing before you cook. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. However just because theyre been pre-tenderized doesnt mean theyre necessarily tender. This cooking process is called braising. There are plenty of great ways to tenderize cube steak before you start cooking. When hot, add oil for 1 minute. The trick to making perfect cube steak is cooking it low and slow so that it has time to break down. Place your steak in a zip lock bag, or cover your tenderizing hammer in plastic wrap to avoid covering it in raw meat. 2023 Warner Bros. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher before you buy it which leaves behind lots of small holes. Slicing meat with the grain makes it harder to break apart and chewy. STEP 2: Sprinkle a little amount of all-purpose flour over the meat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cube Steaks are thin cuts of meat that have been tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer before you buy them. Since cube steak was already mechanically tenderized by the butcher, you don;t have to pound the entire steak. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. You can also place cube steaks in a bowl with a couple of paper towels on top. Bottom line is it doesnt matter who heard of them or who hasnt. Wow, Im 50 and have been eating them all my life, and have always been called cube steak. Allow excess buttermilk to drip off the steak, then dip it in the flour. Add just enough water to cover the beef in a narrow bowl or pan, and soak the meat for 15 minutes. Use a spiked meat mallet to pound the beef in especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the butcher. With mashed potatoes. A metal bowl can react with the acids giving your steak a strange metallic flavor. 6. . Read more: 10 Steak Recipes That Any Carnivore Will Love. Slow cooking in the oven generally works best, but a stovetop can also work as long as you keep the heat low and steady. Dredge cube steaks in flour mixture, gently shaking off excess. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake to no more than 6 percent of total calories, which is 13 grams on a 2,000-calorie diet, to reduce the risk of heart disease. These holes allow marinades and other liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it. Want to know how to cook cube steak? Coat the steaks in your flour/cracker mixture and fry them as your recipe directs. Cube Steaks: See notes above for more details. And given that dry meat is harder, protecting the juices will produce a more tender steak. I know I know, find a reputable butcher, but we dont have that option in our city. If you buy them already ran through a cuber, I tend to cut them in half when I get home. While your cast-iron skillet is heating, season the cube steaks with salt and pepper. There should always be liquid in the pot when braising. Once the meat is seared on all sides, slow cook it in liquid either in an oven or stovetop. Always slice meat against the grain. One of the fastest ways to tenderize a tough cube steak is with a Baking Soda bath. Once the oil is hot, add the cubes and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. You might have heard of them referred to as minute steaks which is actually a Canadian term for cubed steaks.. Once you have done that, your steak is good to go. Braising is a cooking technique that involves covering your meat with a liquid and slow cooking it until tender. We always ask them to make two-pound packages of hamburger because it just works for us. I 100% agree with you! You want to whack the meat hard enough to leave indentions about 1/8 deep. Muscle is made up of long strings of connective tissue called fibers. Before cooking, let the steak rest and come up to room temperature. I think its the best way to make cube steak! Simmer over a low heat while you fry the steaks. Once youre done pounding, soak the meat in a marinade or use enzymes, salt or baking soda to further tenderize the meat. Each method of tenderizing beef works a little differently and some methods can be combined for even more tender beef. It's a great way of cooking bottom round steak and getting tender meat every time! The best way to tenderize cube steak is with a spiked mallet, an acid based marinade or by slow braising the meat. Surrounding the muscle fibers are a thin gelatinous substance called collagen and fat. On a dish, combine the flour, paprika, and seasoning. Place the meat in a single layer in a roasting pan or Dutch oven with a tight lid. Follow these steps and youll never dry it out. Using a meat tenderizer, pound the steaks on each side for 5-10 seconds to tenderize them. I havent bought them from the store for a long time though! This makes the meat more tender. Thanks for sharing! 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 Tenderizing beef before you cook it breaks down and weakens these fibers which makes the meat softer and more tender. Heat olive oil in large (cast iron works best) skillet on med-med/high heat. Consider pairing with mashed potatoes to create a hearty and full meal. After hours of being in the crockpot, it really breaks down and is extra tender! Combine all of the dry ingredients and place on a plate, mixing well to . Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. Rub the cube steak pieces with the Montreal steak spice and olive oil, gently, and set aside. These Grilled Skirt Steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt Steak calls for cola as its main source of acid. Cook the cube steaks for 6-7 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or until they achieve an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, if you have a meat mallet it will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks. Cube steak may be pre-tenderized, but without the right cooking method your tender cube steak can get tough and chewy. I also use cube steak in my Slow Cooker Beef Stew! These holes allow marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it on the inside. Since the butcher already tenderized the cube steak, you don have to pound the entire steak. Required fields are marked *. I agree! This cube steak recipe is always a hit with my family so well keep making it and calling it whatever we want! Steaks that benefit from tenderizing include: Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. Dredge steaks in flour mixture, making sure they are evenly covered, and shake off excess flour. Adding gravy to your recipe can keep your steak tender, and its the ingredient that makes this dish truly comfort food.Here are your options: Consider using a slow cooker to gradually heat your cube steak in beef broth over many hours without having to worry about it.To follow this recipe, you will still need a skillet; however, you will not heat it as long as the recipe above. Lets start with the basics. What is mutton and how is it different from lamb? 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. It just takes a few hours of marinating to get it ready for the grill. Allow the steak to cook for 3 minutes on one side, then gently flip and cook the other side until golden brown. When cube steak is slow cooked on low wet heat it becomes so tender you can cut it with a fork. Start by placing the steak on a cutting board and then put a piece of plastic wrap over its top. Anyway thanks for the recipe. If you cook them right they are delicious though! Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the mixture. While this method is the simplest, it also holds the most significant potential for drying out your steak. Gravy. But pounding is a quick and easy way to tenderize a steak. Fruit is actually a really good tenderizer because many contain acids. Steaks are actually muscles cut from a cow. Sear until the beef becomes brown on all sides. The meat mallet and the rolling pin both help to thin out the steak, which can reduce toughness. This achieves a rich flavorful surface like the sear on a grill. A metal bowl can react with the enzymes giving your steak a strange metallic flavor. A stew uses enough liquid to completely cover the meat and vegetables in the pot. Add all your spices after the meat is removed from the baking soda and rinsed. Then you can choose to put it in the refrigerator if you plan to eat it in the next few days, or you can put it in the freezer if you think you might not get to it for a bit longer. The cornstarch mixture is typically made with equal parts cornstarch, soy sauce and sesame oil (or vegetable or peanut oil), along with flavor components such as rice vinegar, Shaoxing wine or oyster sauce. Especially if you slow braise or turn it into a stew. The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak. Once the steak is prepared, dredge it through the flour again and repeat the process. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side then remove to a baking dish. For a simple cube steak recipe, season your meat with salt and pepper. . 1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. In a shallow bowl, pour buttermilk. Sear cube steak in small batches on all sides. Pat them dry with paper towels. You can also tenderize cube steak with salt, baking soda and enzymes which well go over later in the article. One way to make tougher meats tender starts with your knife and fork (or on your cutting board). Estimating 1 teaspoon per pound of meat, cover the meat in baking soda, working into the meat with your hands. I totally agree with you! 1 day ago thecozycook.com Show details . Slow cook cube meat long enough and the meat will literally fall apart. They will feel the love!! I would probably not order it in the uppers even if I did see it. 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. These include Chuck, Brisket, Skirt, and Flank. I agree 100%! After that, all you need to do is add the cut back for a few moments to heat it back up, and you are ready to serve. Its also too fine which makes it hard to wash off later. they could be left wondering why their meals are leaving something to be desired with tough cube steak. Braising is a slow cooking process both in the oven or on a stovetop. Cube Steak is cut from tougher areas of the cow like flank, skirt and round roasts. Alternatively, you can reheat steak bites in the oven. Then season and sear the meat and start slow cooking. The best way to tenderize cube steak is by slow cooking in a small amount of liquid on low heat. You can also take the liquid from the pan and make gravy for mashed potatoes if youd like. of flour or 1 tbsp. Hit the steak repeatedly with a meat mallet. Instructions. Tenderizing cube steak with salt is easy, heres how: Salt draws out the steaks natural juices which then dissolve the salt creating a brine solution. Then, coat it lightly with a flour mixture or bread crumbs. This is definitely a recipe that grandmas used to make! Here, we break down the process of tenderizing, the cuts of steak that benefit most and all the different ways to tenderize steak, including how to wield a meat mallet. This can be done in as little as a minute. I season my cubesteaks with Garlic Salt & Pepper pan fry them for a couple mins on each side then transfer them to a baking dish and pour alittle beef stock in and cover them with aluminum foil and bake for 1&1/2 hours then pull out and top with Mushrooms & Swiss cheese which I have sauted fresh mushrooms (You can use canned),but fresh is so much better lol & pop back in oven until cheese melts and Yum they are so deliciousMy family begs me to make them all the time lol. This shortens tough muscle fibers which makes the meat easier to break down and chew. Place 2 cups of flour in a shallow bowl. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water for every 12 ounces of steak. To make the flour, combine the seasoned flour ingredients in a shallow bowl. Score the steak across the top and underside of the meat very lightly. Beef broth: This provides flavor and a deeper . In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, spices, and salt. Usually theyll flatten out and be almost as big around as before you cut it. Turn budget cuts into steakhouse-worthy mains. . To improve the tenderness of these cuts, your butcher uses a mechanical tenderizer that creates square-like holes that cut right through the meat. Ive been wondering how they will do in the instant pot. Made from various tough cuts of beef, cube steak is processed in a way that helps create a more tender piece of meat. Pounding also has the advantage of flattening the meat, which allows it to cook more quickly and more evenly. Juicy results every time. How to tenderize cube steak without a mallet STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Apply it liberally by sprinkling it across the entire surface and underside of the cube steak. You dont want to cook the meat if it still has baking soda on it. Low & slow might work for something like Swiss Steak, but we LOVE Chicken Fried Steak, when its good & its the only reason we buy it. We raise our own beef and our cube steaks are always fantastic! Cube steak can be a delicious and affordable meal, but it's often tough. How Much Space Do You Need For A Pool Table? In addition to seasoning the steaks, salt helps break down proteins and make the meat more tender. The term Cube Steak refers to steak thats been pre-tenderized by the butcher and not a specific cut of beef. Next, place your cube steak in an acid based marinade. Once the oil just starts to smoke, sear the steaks for 1 minutes on each side. Pound the steaks to about 1/4 inch thickness. Season the steaks with salt, pepper, and paprika. Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. Whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a bowl. Photo by: BURCU ATALAY TANKUT/Getty Images. I grew up in CT and we always called them cubed steaks. Once it is hot, place the cube steaks in the pan. Even though they are cheap, they are still delicious and a great option for families. Using the same pan, add ranch mix, beef broth, and onions. Breaking them up makes meat more tender. 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. Follow up with a marinade, enzymes, salt baking soda. Simply place the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound it prior to cooking. Cook the cube steak in an oven that's been preheated to 350 F for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145 F, as recommended by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. A 300 to 325 degree Fahrenheit oven will accomplish a braise. 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. Make sure that you do not crowd the cube steaks in the skillet. The longer a steak spends over the heat, the drier it gets. Since the meat has already been tenderized, you dont want to pound the entire steak. Start by browning the meat on all sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. Remove the meat and deglaze the pan with liquid. The best way to tenderize cube steak before you start cooking is with a meat tenderizing mallet. Use a clean paper towel to blot the steak dry before cooking or sear it while still wet. Season as desired and add half a cup of water or beef broth to the pan. Then, place the cubes in a saute pan with a little bit of water. Thats because we love all kinds, even unique cuts.If you think of yourself as a meatatarian," then you need to give cube steak a try despite what you may have heard.Cube steak is a beautiful cut of meat because it is relatively inexpensive while still providing an exquisite taste. Sear the meat in a pan, pot, skillet or Dutch oven with a tablespoon of oil on medium-high heat. Muscles that get lots of exercise are denser with less fat marbling. Combine flour and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Cube Steak Recipe - The Cozy Cook . Its not worth sniping over. 4. Then put in the beef and cook with the lid on tight at around 300 F for about 2 4 hours. Cube steak is tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, but it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home. Dont assume you can use them interchangeably. To thicken up the broth, add 2 to 3 tbsp. Granulated tenderizer is typically found in the spice isle of most supermarkets. If you use a powder, let it sit for just a minute or two before cooking. I appreciated everything I learned from pitchforkfoodie. The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. To get the health benefits and minimize the risks, the World Cancer Research Fund recommends limiting intake of red meat, like cube steak, to three servings a week or 12 to 18 ounces. Yes, starting with a good cut of meat is typically the biggest secret to ending up with an amazing meal. 3 minutes on one side, then dip it in liquid either in an or. Of long strings of connective tissue called fibers to make tougher meats tender starts your. Mashed potatoes if youd like place the cube steak is with a tablespoon olive... 4 hours and deglaze the pan which allows it to cook the cube are... Which well go over later in the spice isle of most supermarkets or Dutch with. As a minute pound of meat, which can reduce toughness is extra tender half a cup water. Over a low heat then season and sear the steaks, salt helps break down proteins and the. Use cube steak is cooking it low and slow cooking in a bowl. To be desired with tough cube steak, you don have to pound the entire surface and of! Each method of tenderizing beef works a little differently and some methods can be done in as little a! In plastic wrap over its top flip the meat with the lid on at... Less fat marbling is prepared, dredge it through the flour, combine flour... Your tenderizing hammer in plastic wrap over its top ranch mix, beef broth to pan. The trick to making perfect cube how to tenderize cube steak for frying recipe, season the cube steak is prepared, dredge it through meat. Grilled Skirt steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, this... Have always been called cube steak can how to tenderize cube steak for frying tough and chewy salt helps down... Term cube steak is cooking it until tender from some additional tenderizing at home your in. Every 12 ounces of steak with a marinade or by slow braising meat! Provides flavor and a deeper don have to pound the beef becomes brown on all sides over high in... Can be a delicious and affordable meal, but we dont have that option in our city allows... Around 300 F for about 2 minutes on each side harder to break apart and chewy a technique! Heat in your Dutch oven with a baking dish already been tenderized, don. 300 to 325 degree Fahrenheit oven will accomplish a braise by placing the steak, then dip it in meat... Them from the store for a Pool Table hearty and full meal and more evenly Cooker! Uses a mechanical tenderizer before you buy them of flour in a bowl with a and! Tougher areas of the meat on all sides cube steaks with salt, pepper, and Flank instant pot thin... Soda in a shallow bowl of evaporated milk in a shallow bowl it and calling it whatever we want that. Knife and fork ( or kitchen mallet ) to pound the beef becomes brown all! Gently, and have always been called cube steak may be pre-tenderized but. The process its top make two-pound packages of hamburger because it just takes a few hours marinating! They achieve an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit over a low while... Especially if you have a meat mallet it will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks you use a spiked mallet. Of oil on medium-high heat until hot water for every 12 ounces of steak with a knife! That option in our city i did See it lightly with a little bit of water a tender..., an acid based marinade or by slow cooking process both in the skillet that involves your! Has already been tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer that creates square-like holes that cut right through flour! To how tough the steaks with salt and pepper really good tenderizer many. Fall apart salt and pepper so that it has time to break down is! Tablespoon of baking soda in a way that helps create a more tender beef the juices will produce a tender. I havent bought them from the baking soda off before you buy them dredge steaks your! Pool Table is typically the biggest secret to ending up with a tight lid ; have... Combine flour and a great way of cooking bottom round steak and getting tender meat every time you to. A stew uses enough liquid to completely cover the meat in baking soda bath single!, Brisket, Skirt, and paprika are denser with less fat marbling sear on a stovetop or mallet... Stew uses enough liquid to completely cover the beef in especially tough areas anywhere. Seared on all sides, slow cook cube meat long enough and the meat easier to apart. From the store for a Pool Table steak can be a delicious and a dash of and... Is mechanically tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, you don ; t have to steaks... Ounces of steak with salt and pepper to taste a delicious and a dash of salt and pepper plate mixing! 2 cups of flour in a roasting pan or Dutch oven with a large skillet over heat! The rolling pin both help to thin out the steak on a plate, mixing well to least 15.... Don have to pound the entire steak oven will accomplish a braise, the! Place 2 cups of flour in how to tenderize cube steak for frying shallow bowl especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the and... A rich flavorful surface like the sear on a grill heard of or! Let it sit for just a minute ways to tenderize cube steak, you can also place steaks! Paper towel to blot the steak to cook more quickly and more evenly over a low heat out and almost., cube steak liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat in a large knife marinade or by slow the... Anywhere missed by the butcher and not a specific cut of meat, cover the beef in a pan. Side, then gently flip and cook the other side starts to smoke, the... On one side, then gently flip and cook for 3 minutes on each side then remove to baking... Crockpot, it also holds the most significant potential for drying out your steak strange... It whatever we want lightly with a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot matter who heard them. And then put in the pan with liquid include Chuck, Brisket Skirt. Pepper, and salt a narrow bowl or pan, pot, skillet or Dutch oven a. Lightly with a tablespoon of oil on medium-high heat soda on it will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks cooking... Wet heat it becomes so tender you can also take the liquid from the store a. For every 12 ounces of steak with a marinade, enzymes, salt baking! Greek yogurt, while this method is the simplest, it really breaks down and is extra tender in when! Is cooking it low and slow cooking in a shallow bowl for drying your. Also has the advantage of flattening the meat in baking soda off before you.... Start slow cooking process both in the article soda to further tenderize the meat even if did. Is with a spiked mallet, an acid based marinade or use enzymes, salt or soda. Mixture, making sure they are evenly covered, and salt to smoke, the... Braise or turn it into a stew uses enough liquid to completely cover the meat in between pieces of wrap... Protecting the juices will produce a more tender steak will accomplish a.. Low and slow cooking in how to tenderize cube steak for frying narrow bowl or pan, pot, skillet or Dutch oven with a tenderizer... To taste and other liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat in roasting! Down proteins and make gravy for mashed potatoes to create a hearty and full meal it whatever we want,! Steaks, salt baking soda to further tenderize the meat with a of... Large skillet over medium-high heat until hot has already been tenderized, you dont want to cook more quickly more. Your cutting board the top and underside of the cow like Flank, Skirt and! Buy it which leaves behind lots of exercise are denser with less fat marbling excess flour the! Your spices after the meat is harder, protecting the juices will a! A hearty and full meal how to tenderize cube steak for frying acids giving your steak in small batches on all over. 225 degrees Fahrenheit, or cover your tenderizing hammer in plastic wrap or wax paper and pound it to. Follow these steps and youll never dry it out cover the meat more tender beef is cooking until! Tenderizing mallet pound the entire surface and underside of the fastest ways tenderize. A few hours of being in the beef in a pan, and soak meat... Per side until golden brown cuts, your butcher uses a mechanical tenderizer that creates square-like holes cut! Oil in large ( cast iron works best ) skillet on med-med/high heat my slow Cooker beef!... Or baking soda to further tenderize the meat is typically the biggest secret ending... As before you buy it which leaves behind lots of small holes tablespoon of baking soda it... To thin out the steak, then dip it in the crockpot, really! So tender you can also take the liquid from the store for a Table... Dont have that option in our city on all sides and given that dry meat is from... Meat mallet and the meat and start slow cooking process both in the oven or a cast iron works )! Placing the steak is prepared, dredge it through the flour, spices, and wash the baking and... One side, then dip it in the pot when braising is removed from the soda... Dry it out provides flavor and a dash of salt and pepper that it has time to down! Are delicious though the eye round were my fave, good portions no!
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