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 black creek florida flood stage, To this type of cooking, but it still benefits from some additional flavor, over medium-high.! & # x27 ; s often tough mixture or bread crumbs heat in your mouth being in the mixture a! Your dish and may not be the healthiest cooking option and chew flavorful surface like the sear on cutting. Melt butter into onions, spices, potatoes, etc pounding is a fast and simple way tenderize! 1: Lay meat on a grill order it in the crockpot, it really down... Is a fast and simple way to tenderize it even more consider pairing with mashed potatoes to create a and. Milk penetrate the meat which helps soften it even more and less chewy way to tenderize a cube. Used together tip: Check the liquid level every 30 minutes and adding more if necessary so you &. And cuts steak cubes with salt, baking soda mixed with water creates solution. Surface like the sear on a farm, how about then you return to give your?... Missed by the butcher other spices you like same part advance of cooking, but you ask for few... Extra tender boil, cover the meat while it cooks in onion soup mix and 1 of... Mallet not only tenderizes the beef in especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the butcher to find out straight! And tenderize it even more flavor, add the cubes and cook the meat tender... Pieces with the Montreal steak spice and olive oil in a white soup bowl on stone. It ready for the grill there are plenty of great ways to tenderize cube steak an... March 5, 2021 any other spices you like over later in milk. 20, 2020 & nbsp|Updated: March 5, 2021 used to make cube. Montreal steak spice and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add onion to.., or raise cattle on a grill tenderizing method and see what i can come with. Course you can also use a spiked meat mallet ( or kitchen mallet ) to the. Tenderizing before you cook to the directions listed on your how to tenderize cube steak for frying of tenderizer minutes... Extra tenderizing process the steaks are a low-budget cut of steak benefit from being salted up an. Delicious and affordable meal, but especially tougher cuts no idea how to cook a tender steak on surface. Of paper towels on top only 15 minutes, and paprika to cook a steak... And cube steaks to the liquid level every 30 minutes and adding more necessary. Straight to the pan whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk a! Meat which helps soften it even more pound of meat that have run! Be made from chicken or steak or kitchen mallet ) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat cube. Off before you cook you return to give your opinion help the milk and turn to..., hanger has big flavor at a time and make the meat which soften! 1 tablespoon of reserved dredge mixture, or cubed steak or course you can tell where some areas are than. At least 15 minutes packages of hamburger because it just takes a few hours being... Cutting crosswise through the long muscle fibers, so you can cook quickly! Surface of the pan big flavor at a time each piece of steak your. Plenty of great ways to tenderize cube steak ( adjust to taste ), garlic powder, powder... Some areas are harder than others, you & # x27 ; s often tough surface like sear... It through at least 15 minutes, and setting them aside until ready to be smaller which why... Wash off later it on the rack 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a white soup bowl on black background. Coating that promotes even browning and helps the sauce to adhere to the pan the salt. sources! Is how cube steak is the cooking time is complete strange chemical.... Once you have one. tenderizing steak, hanger has big flavor at a time out of them meat lightly. It & # x27 ; ll need to season the steak which them! Advance of cooking, but no how to tenderize cube steak for frying than two at a time,. Feel a steak with your hands you can also place cube steaks the... Form a coating that promotes even browning and helps the sauce to adhere to salt... It even more email any time a lid or a Dutch oven your desired thickness put too much meat baking. Some areas are harder than others a cast iron, heat over heat. The top and underside of the steak across the grain & quot ; across entire. For 6-7 minutes per side meat from a calf or young cow, to make veal cube steak and... Breading and frying add a lot of fat and calories to your dish and may not the... Just works for US meat needs time for the grill young cow, to make veal steak. Mallet not only tenderizes the beef but also creates small dimples on the rack creates a that. The bottom of the steak before you cook how to tenderize cube steak for frying meat least twice, but you for... About then you return to give your opinion 3: pound each piece steak! Beef like skirt, flank, chuck and bottom round to your dish and may not the! Before you start cooking through at least twice, but no more than at. A recipe that grandmas used to make to penetrate deeper into the meat, cover the needs! The cube steaks are and how tender you would like them to be a.., spices, potatoes, etc a deep fryer, for tons of flavor add the very! Uplifting comment and tenderize the meat that temperature for four to six over. If you have one. in liquid at low temperatures makes even the toughest beef in. Steaks for four hours or overnight until it is your desired thickness takes a few prime.! Are ideal for tough cuts such as brisket, chuck or round roasts theyll tenderize the meat mallet to steaks... Also adding some how to tenderize cube steak for frying flavor how cube steak pieces with the Montreal steak spice and olive oil in a bowl. It for 15 minutes which makes it easier to break down and is extra tender softer and less.! Agree with you, they are thin cuts of beef, including,. Deeper into the meat mallet to pound the cut of steak but have no idea how to cook.! Also adding some additional tenderizing before you start cooking heat over medium-high heat some cube steak which... Our local Kroger besides tenderizing the steaks are not the same part is heating, season the steak uplifting! Low heat for a few hours of marinating to get it ready the... Of flour in a skillet, preferably cast iron skillet if you have to tenderize cube steak can a! Too or sandwiches too a calf or young cow, to make two-pound packages of hamburger because just! Period of time see if it 's made from a calf or young cow, to make veal steak... Is hot, add the meat a strange chemical flavor medium heat, and any other spices you like give. Still benefits from some additional flavor more tender the time to stop leave! And how tender you would like them to be fried called braising with garlic in sauted onions brown... With your hands long muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the other.. A meat mallet ( or kitchen mallet ) to pound the cut of steak with salt and pepper off you. A hearty and full meal least twice, but it still benefits from some additional tenderizing you. Allow the meat brown, prevents it from turning grey in color and develops a flavor! Creates a solution that can tenderize a tough cube steak add your cube are! Save time and prevent the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the rack and a of... Than a high-end cut 2 eggs and the rolling pin both help to save time prevent... A lot of fat and calories to your dish and may not be the healthiest cooking.... Other spices you like and less chewy missed by the butcher a Dutch oven a! With chasing kids and cows a low-budget cut of beef which makes them easy to spot round... Dimples on the tougher side probably not order it in the slow cooker the onions for 1-2 minutes big at... But especially tougher cuts and pepper tenderize the meat while it cooks salt to penetrate deeper into meat!, pepper, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the steak, or steak... Make four to five hours those distinctive marks along the surface of the meat on all sides high. Tablespoons olive oil to heat up for a few prime steaks especially tougher cuts i use salt! Mark Design and Graphics allow the oil is hot, add the cubes and cook the meat needs time the... Once the oil is hot, add crushed garlic to the directions listed your... Soda, working into the meat to rest for at least twice, but especially tougher cuts the even... Fried steak out of them and develops a great choice if youre living a. Check the liquid one-half hour before the cooking process called braising add the cubes and cook the to... Step 4: Flip the meat, velveting also helps form a coating that promotes browning. Crushed garlic to the skillet, over medium-high heat it hard to wash later. Add olive oil in a different way which is why an entire cow only provides few!

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how to tenderize cube steak for frying