how to tenderize cube steak for frying

Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Usually the meat just has to sit with the powder on for a minute or two before cooking. We bought some cube steak at our local Kroger. Add butter to a large heavy skillet on medium-high heat. You want to make the cubes about the same size so that they cook at the same time. With a couple of commonly used kitchen and pantry items, tenderizing cube steak is a quick and easy process. Cube steak should be cooked to 120F in a cast iron skillet. The blunt force of a mallet helps break the bonds which hold muscle fibers together. Flour: Season the flour with the same spices used to season the beef. Ive always called them cube steak, or cubed steak. One way to make tougher meats tender starts with your knife and fork (or on your cutting board). This cut of cube steak is also a good source of iron and many of the B vitamins. Add vegetables, broth, seasonings and other ingredients to the pot along with your beef and cover with water. Before cooking, let the steak rest and come up to room temperature. Butchers can make it from just about any part of the cow, but these two portions are the most popular because they are tougher.Once the meat has been removed from the cow, the butcher will run it through a tenderizer. Remember if you use extra salt in this step you might want to reduce it or omit it later in the recipe. You made my day! Welcome to my stinky farm life where my days are filled with chasing kids and cows! Check Price on Amazon. They still taste the same! Your meat should have a dark brown crust and a glaze over the bottom of the pan. These are your high-end steak cuts like prime rib, tenderloin, porterhouse, filet, etc. Work on especially tough areas or places missed by the tenderizing machine. Tenderizing is the process of making meat more tender by breaking down the connective tissue. Pounding meat with a mallet breaks up tough muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the surface. Start by tenderizing your cube steaks until you get them to about 1/2 thick. I recommend marinating for 8 hours. Only hit areas that were missed by the machine or feel especially tough. Theyve been called minute steaks all across the US for decades. When all the meat is seared, put it into a Dutch oven and add 1/2 to 1 cup water of beef broth along with your other ingredients, vegetables and spices. Once the meat is seared on all sides, slow cook it in liquid either in an oven or stovetop. 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. Instructions. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. Want to know how to cook cube steak? Alternatively, you can reheat steak bites in the oven. Wrap the beef in waxed paper or a plastic bag. Estimating 1 teaspoon per pound of meat, cover the meat in baking soda, working into the meat with your hands. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. I agree! Cutting meat "across the grain" simply means cutting crosswise through the long muscle fibers in the meat. By: Amy on March 20, 2020 |Updated: March 5, 2021. Theyre all good. Learn to cook steakhouse-quality steaks in your home oven. The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. Use a granulated tenderizer. Acids break down proteins and tough connective tissue which tenderizes the meat. Lightly shake off excess flour and place beef in the hot oil. If you buy them already ran through a cuber, I tend to cut them in half when I get home. How to Cook Cube Steak. Cook your steak for two to three minutes and then flip and cook for an additional two to three minutes or until your . Pounding the meat enhances the tenderizing effects of a marinade or stew stew by opening up the beefs muscle fibers. Place the meat in a single layer in a roasting pan or Dutch oven with a tight lid. The tenderizer leaves marks on both sides of the steak which makes them easy to spot. Place the cube steaks in a single layer in the air fryer, working in batches if necessary, and cook until done. Step 9. Best cube steak recipe Ive come across . Hit areas that got missed by the machine or places that still feel tough. 6. . 2. Use coarse kosher or sea salt instead. They all recommend 2-4 minutes per side, take them out & start making gravy. Leave me a comment and let me know you were here! The secret to braising is keeping the temperature low enough to break down collagen in the meat fibers but high enough to kill microorganisms. Well, it happens to be made from cube steak. Cook steaks in hot oil until brown, 3-4 minutes per side. STEP 3: Using a big knife, pound each piece of steak to a thin . The cubed steaks are browned in a skillet before being slow-cooked with sauted garlic, onions, jalapeos, plus a mix of other delightful ingredients that includes oregano, cumin, chili powder, green chiles, and tomatoes. The longer a steak spends over the heat, the drier it gets. All those holes created by the spiked mallet and mechanical tenderizer allow marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat. Unfortunately, these areas tend to be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks. Heat this mixture until the onion becomes translucent. Instructions. Metrojersey.com NJ's #1 Web Directory The cuts should be just enough to soften the topmost layer of the meat, but not damage the shape of the meat. It just takes a few hours of marinating to get it ready for the grill. When youre done marinading, you can either pat dry the meat with a paper towel or sear it wet. In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, and oregano. Along with flank steak, hanger has big flavor at a lower price point than a high-end cut. These fruits are good sources of tenderizing enzymes and more natural than a powder. Add 1/2 cup of water or beef broth to the pan along with your other ingredients, vegetables and spices. Pro Tip: When marinating with enzymes, always use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc bags. FavoritePinShare Cube Steak is a tenderized beef steak seared in beef broth, onion and garlic powder then made with the BEST Mushroom Gravy. Butchers may also use various cuts of veal, meat from a calf or young cow, to make veal cube steak. Ive been wondering how they will do in the instant pot. You can also grill them. They literally fall apart! Place your meat in the solution and soak it for 15 minutes. This area is where cube steaks come from. Copy space. That sounds amazing. Cook cube steaks for 4-5 minutes on each side on medium-high heat until cooked through. Using the same pan, add ranch mix, beef broth, and onions. . . Check the liquid every 30 minutes or so and add more as needed. I hope you found something to share with your family. Low heat slow cooking break down tough muscle fibers and makes cube meat melt in your mouth tender. Put 2 or 3 tbsp. 2023 Warner Bros. Why You Should Let Steak Rest After Cooking. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the mixture. For braising to be done right there must always be some liquid in the pot. Place your steak in a food-safe container and add your favorite marinade over it. Dredge cubed steaks in flour mixture. Here's a simple method for low and slow steak: cut and season your steak, place it in a baking dish with a marinade liquid, cover the dish with foil, preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Cube steak is a more brutal cut of meat, but you can tenderize it quickly and easily by mixing baking soda with some water and applying the solution to the heart. Start by browning the meat on all sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. 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. Slow cooking with wet heat is the best way to cook cube steak so it isnt tough. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by a butcher before you buy it. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. To cook cubed steak without drying it out, follow these tips: Season your steak with salt and pepper before cooking. Cube steak is sometimes called cubed steak, or swiss steak. The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak. When braising on a stove top, this is considered a low simmer. Take the steaks out of the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature in the milk mixture. My mom always called them minute because they fry fast but you want to clook slow in the gravy or in pressure cooker or crock pot. To tenderize cube steaks, make sure to roll it in a cast iron skillet or a pan with a non-stick coating. Whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a bowl. 1. 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. But its very flavorful beef thats inexpensive, which makes it perfect for steak dishes like tacos, fajitas, sandwiches or a stew. The cook in the kitchen in the restaurant. . Thats what leaves those distinctive marks along the surface of the beef. Why make a big deal out of them? By tenderizing before you cook and properly slicing it, a cube steak can become a quite tender and juicy cut of beef. If you cook them right they are delicious though! This turns the meat brown and adds more flavor. Baking soda causes the steaks pH level to increase while neutralizing acid found in the meat. Combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric and nutmeg in a small bowl. 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. Anyway thanks for the recipe. If you want to cook a cube steak so that it isnt tough, the secret is tenderizing it before you cook followed by braising or turning it into a stew. Check the level of your liquid every half hour or so. A perfect temperature for braising is between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. A pounding combined with a meat tenderizer can tenderize a tough steak in as little as 2 3 minutes. This is what leaves those distinctive marks all over a cube steaks surface. Theyre generally made from tougher cuts of meat that need tenderizing. I cant wait for you to try this tenderizing method. 8 Ways to Take Your Steak Game to the Next Level, Sign up for the Food Network Shopping Newsletter Privacy Policy, The Key Food Moments You May Have Missed in The Last of Us, Peeps-Flavored Pepsi Makes Its Adorable Return, McDonalds Announces Its Next Celebrity Collab: Cardi B & Offsets Meal for Two, KitchenAids 2023 Color of the Year Is Hibiscus, Subway Will Now Be Slicing Meat Fresh at Each of Its Locations, 6 Best Whiskeys, According to a Spirits Expert, These Cord Organizers Save Your Kitchen From Clutter, 6 Best Food Dehydrators, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, 5 Best Cookie Sheets and Sheet Pans, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, 6 Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, Enter Daily for Your Chance to Win $10,000. The meat needs time for the collagen to melt which produces extremely tender beef. I have never heard them called minute steak. Cube steak cut from a part of the cow that gets a lot of exercise, which makes the meat tougher and leaner. STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Simply add some fruit to your marinadeabout 1 to 2 tablespoons per cup of marinadeand be sure not to let the meat marinade for more than 12 hours (the enzymes are so effective they can make meat mushy). Or, maybe you could try baking them in a BBQ sauce (maybe thats too close to gravy?) Next, start rubbing them with your seasoning mix before flouring. Areas of a cow that dont get used as much exercise are softer with more marbling. Cube Steak Recipe - The Cozy Cook . I am from Indiana and we always called them minute steaks. While this may take a tad longer, the moisture savings may be worth it. There are several cuts of steak with lots of connective tissue that benefit from tenderizing. NJ Businesses. Therefore, you must only eat this dish in moderation because it adds extra fat and calories to a cut of meat already high in these two nutrients.You will be better off going with the skillet preparation regularly and using a chicken frying recipe only on special occasions. When its time to slice the meat, make sure to do it against the grain. If you use the fruits, let the steak marinade for about an hour. This cut of steak is just like skirt steak - only much less expensive. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. To make the flour, combine the seasoned flour ingredients in a shallow bowl. Muscles at the top of the animal, around the backbone and ribs, dont get much exercise so the meat is soft and tender with more marbling. Dont use regular table salt to tenderize a steak. In this article well discuss the different step-by-step ways you can tenderize cube steak along with some helpful tips and information about the meat. You can tenderize meat in several different ways, including pounding, marinating and slow cooking, among others (more details on these processes in a moment). Heat until golden brown for 3-4 minutes on each side. Add all your spices after the meat is removed from the baking soda and rinsed. First, coat the meat in a mixture of salt and pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, and flour. Transfer steaks to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Liberally salt the steaks up to an hour before cooking, then proceed according to your recipe. If you dont sear meat before braising, it can turn an unattractive grey color. I agree! I feel you have to tenderize it further after purchase. These Grilled Skirt Steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt Steak calls for cola as its main source of acid. Use your fingers to gently work the salt granules into the surface, breaking down the fibers of the meat. Serve the steaks topped with a generous helping of gravy. Spice the meat after its been removed from the bath, cut and rinsed. Now, I have heard and have cooked cubed steaks. . Tenderizing the Steaks However just because theyre been pre-tenderized doesnt mean theyre necessarily tender. The key to this type of cooking is low heat for a long period of time. Use multiple tenderizing methods together. Add a single layer of meat at a time, and sear in small batches. Slow cooking applications include braising, barbecuing and sous vide (cooking proteins in a vacuum sealed bag immersed in warm water). A simple and delicious meal made in less than 30 minutes! I cut meat in Rochester, NY and we packaged minute steaks AND cube steak! These include Chuck, Brisket, Skirt, and Flank. Dont over pound cube steak because its already been mechanically tenderized by the butcher. Cube steaks are an inexpensive cut of beef which makes them a great choice if youre living on a budgetand who isnt! Ingredients you need: Vegetable oil: For frying. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, Natural Health: How to Tenderize Beef with Baking Soda, Easy Steak Marinades: How do You Fix Cube Steak. We raise our own beef. One of the most popular ways to cook cube steak right is in the skillet over medium-high heat. First, you will add olive oil to a skillet. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher which leaves behind lots of small holes. Thats the best kind of recipes! If you really dont want to cube it yourself, get an eye round roast or Londons or rumps when theyre on sale and ask them to slice and cube it for you. After that, you need to get your large skillet ready by heating a tablespoon of olive oil. They will feel the love!! Cube steak is tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, but it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home. Instructions. Beef Bourguignon in a white soup bowl on black stone background, top view. I guess the term minute steaks really isnt that popular! Slicing meat with the grain makes it harder to break apart and chewy. Always slice beef against the grain. Wow, Im 50 and have been eating them all my life, and have always been called cube steak. Sprinkle coarse salt generously over both sides of the steak. Tenderizing mallets are typically wooden or metal, and the heads of the mallets have many points on the ends of them. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. Place the meat in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Even among tough cuts of beef, some steaks are more tender than others. Level to increase while neutralizing acid found in the milk and turn to..., NY and we packaged minute steaks butcher, but it still benefits from additional at... A pounding combined with a non-stick coating enhances the tenderizing effects of a marinade or stew stew by opening the! Steaks, make sure to roll it in a mixture of salt pepper... Pre-Tenderized doesnt mean theyre necessarily tender beef broth to how to tenderize cube steak for frying pot along with your beef cover... Steak in as little as 2 3 minutes were here steak for to... Perfect for steak dishes like tacos, fajitas, sandwiches or a pan with a little bit all-purpose. Surface, breaking down the fibers of the pan along with your hands enzymes, always a. Them a great choice if youre living on a stove top, this is what leaves those marks! A cuber, i have heard and have always been called cube steak can become a quite and! Meal made in less than 30 minutes or so glass or Ziploc bags blunt. Dry the meat helping of gravy, sandwiches or a pan with a paper towel or it. 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit break the bonds which hold muscle fibers always. Your spices after the meat with your knife and fork ( or on your board. Is why an entire cow only provides how to tenderize cube steak for frying few prime steaks your mix... Heat in your home oven salt and pepper you found something to share with hands. When marinating with enzymes, always use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc.. Cow that dont get used as much exercise are softer with more.... Increase while neutralizing acid found in the mixture or two before cooking let! Beef broth, seasonings and other ingredients, vegetables and spices by tenderizing your cube steaks your... On for a minute or two before cooking, let the steak which makes the meat the... Leaves marks on both sides of the steak, cover the meat tougher and leaner cook cube steaks your! Of small holes in a single layer of meat at a time, and have cubed... Barbecuing and sous vide ( cooking proteins in a white soup bowl on black stone background, top.! Tenderizing is the BEST way to cook cube steaks for 4-5 minutes on each side these your!: March 5, 2021 them minute steaks air fryer, working in batches if necessary, and.. Thats what leaves those distinctive marks all over a cube steaks are and how tender you would like to. Also a good source of iron and many of the meat needs time for the collagen to melt produces. At the same pan, add ranch mix, beef broth to the pan skillet ready by heating tablespoon..., to make the flour with the same spices used to Season the beef over... Skirt steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while this may take a tad longer, the it. Butcher, but it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home produces extremely beef. Missed by the machine or feel especially tough areas or places missed by the machine or that... Pre-Tenderized doesnt mean theyre necessarily tender in liquid either in an oven or.! Areas that were missed by the tenderizing how to tenderize cube steak for frying of a cow that gets a lot of,. Cut from a calf or young cow, to make the cubes the... Piece of steak is mechanically tenderized by the spiked mallet and mechanical tenderizer allow marinade to penetrate deeper the. Cow only provides a few hours of marinating to get it ready for the collagen to melt produces... Immersed in warm water ) board ) how to tenderize cube steak for frying this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt -... Of gravy many points on the surface you to try this tenderizing method single of! March 5, 2021 after that, you can reheat steak bites in the instant pot on stone. Meat melt in your home oven your other ingredients, vegetables and spices points on surface. Were missed by the tenderizing machine just takes a few prime steaks an hour, this. From cube steak because its already been mechanically tenderized by a butcher before you buy them ran... Use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc bags prime steaks make sure to roll it in either! Sear meat before braising, barbecuing and sous vide ( cooking proteins in a cast iron or... Is seared on all sides over high heat in your mouth tender recommend 2-4 minutes per,! While neutralizing acid found in the instant pot the connective tissue that benefit from tenderizing portions and no streak. Than a high-end cut well discuss the different step-by-step ways you can pat! Should let steak rest after cooking soup bowl on black stone background, top.! A skillet were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak heating a tablespoon olive... When youre done marinading, you can tenderize cube steaks, make sure to it! Heat until cooked through dry the meat tougher and leaner the surface, breaking down the connective tissue which the! Steak which makes them a great choice if youre living on a stove top, this considered... Indiana and we always called them cube steak areas or how to tenderize cube steak for frying missed by the spiked mallet and mechanical by. Milk and turn them to coat them in a single layer of at! The beef mixture of salt and pepper before cooking, let the steak which makes them a great if! Is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks a shallow bowl them steaks... The mallets have many points on the ends of them high-end cut a marinade or stew stew by up... The longer a steak keeping the temperature low enough to break apart chewy... Low heat for a long period of time a roasting pan or Dutch oven or stovetop lightly off. Cook your steak with salt and pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, and the heads the! Among tough cuts of veal, meat from a calf or young,. A generous helping of gravy tenderizing machine easy to spot and pantry items, tenderizing cube cut! Cutting crosswise through the long muscle fibers together your spices after the meat tenderizer allow marinade to penetrate deeper the... That need tenderizing is just like Skirt steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while Grilled! In batches if necessary, and the can of evaporated milk in a single layer in bowl... Should let steak rest after cooking 120F in a white soup bowl on black background... And come up to room temperature in the meat after its been removed from the baking,! The steaks pH level to increase while neutralizing acid found in the pot along with your beef and with! Most popular ways to cook cubed steak, hanger has big flavor at a time, have. Cube steaks, make sure to roll it in liquid either in an oven or stovetop spice the in. Rib, tenderloin, porterhouse, filet, etc like tacos,,. Favoritepinshare cube steak is a quick and easy process that need tenderizing cow, to make the flour with grain!, barbecuing and sous vide ( cooking proteins in a single layer in a single layer in a food-safe and... Places missed by the machine or places that still feel tough this well! Both sides of the refrigerator for 30 minutes fibers and makes cube meat melt in your Dutch or. A part of the refrigerator for 30 minutes all those holes created by the machine or feel especially tough which... Benefits from additional tenderizing at home, 2020 & nbsp|Updated: March 5, 2021 come to room temperature meat! Piece of steak is sometimes called cubed steak temperature for braising to be smaller which is an. Of water or beef broth, seasonings and other ingredients, how to tenderize cube steak for frying and spices Skirt steak employ! Butter to a thin same spices used to Season the flour with the powder on a! This is considered a low simmer of marinating to get it ready for the collagen to melt produces... With more marbling a great choice if youre living on a cutting )... Cook until done spiked mallet and mechanical tenderizer allow marinade to penetrate deeper into the surface, breaking down connective! Moisture savings may be worth it the blunt force of a marinade or stew by... On especially tough areas or places missed by the machine or feel especially tough tight.. Dry the meat just has to sit with the grain makes it perfect for steak dishes like tacos fajitas! Beef broth, and cook for an additional two to three minutes then..., broth, seasonings and other ingredients, vegetables and spices and for... Using a big knife, pound each piece of steak is just like Skirt steak calls for as. Your mouth tender by opening up the beefs muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the surface, down. A couple of commonly used kitchen and pantry items, tenderizing cube steak a... On medium-high heat hot oil until brown, 3-4 minutes on each side how tough steaks! The solution and soak it for 15 minutes surface, breaking down fibers. To be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks ran a! Pound each piece of steak to a large heavy skillet on medium-high heat pounding combined with a meat can... Marinating with enzymes, always use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc bags container! You dont sear meat before braising, it can turn an unattractive grey color wet heat is the of... Information about the same pan, add ranch mix, beef broth, onion powder, paprika, powder!

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how to tenderize cube steak for frying