how to tenderize cube steak for frying

Work on areas that still feel tough or that were missed by the tenderizing machine. I agree with you, they are a low-budget cut of meat. The grocery store calls them cube steak. Using a meat tenderizer, pound the steaks on each side for 5-10 seconds to tenderize them. 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. First, slice the steak into individual cubes about 1/3 of an inch. Pounding it with a mallet helps break down tough muscle fibers and connective tissue which softens the meat. Like a marinade, however, you will get best results by soaking the steaks for four hours or overnight. When you publish a cookbook, or raise cattle on a farm, how about then you return to give your opinion? Work on especially tough areas or places missed by the tenderizing machine. Rub seasoning mix on each side of the steak, then rub with flour. Turn the meat over every 2 to 4 hours to keep it drenched in marinade. Although ribeye is the most popular cut of beef, according to the Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association, cube steak makes the top-10 list of favorite beef cuts, coming in at number 10. Little Dairy on the Prairie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Its all about simply delicious food around here! Start checking your meat when you hit around 80% of the total recommended cooking time, and stop cooking as soon as it reaches the stage at which the meat is tender, but not falling apartso, if a recipe says to cook the stew for two and a half hours, start checking it around the two-hour mark. This easy chicken fried cube steak recipe will transform your kitchen into a sweet Southern paradise in no time. Layla Khoury-Hanold is a contributor at Food Network. Repeat process with remaining steaks. Once the slow cooker finishes cooking it, top it off with some delicious gravy to take your dish to the next level. However pounding is a fast and simple way to tenderize a steak. To cook cubed steak without drying it out, follow these tips: Season your steak with salt and pepper before cooking. Pounding also has the advantage of flattening the meat, which allows it to cook more quickly and more evenly. Flip the baking sheet for another 3-5 minutes and then bake for 4 minutes, flipping, and then baking for another 3-5 minutes. Im in the US and Ive NEVER heard cube steaks be called minute steaks . But, cube steak is a low-budget cut of meat, and to be honest, I dont think Id spend extra money buying it from the butcher. Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. When braising on a stove top, this is considered a low simmer. 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. Tenderize the cube steak with a mallet. Pour over meat. Be careful to not cut it all the way through. All you need to do to get great results is to follow this simple recipe: Another popular way to prepare cube steak and make it tender is to follow a chicken fried steak recipe.To do this, you must bread and fry it. Some black pepper is also welcome, and there's no reason not to branch out with . Add the cubed steak and coat both sides. These include Chuck, Brisket, Skirt, and Flank. A simple and delicious meal made in less than 30 minutes! Salt: Salting your steak is a simple tenderization method that breaks down the protein cells in the meat. Marinades and slow braising work especially well on cube steak because it has holes in it from the mechanical tenderizer. 1. Thanks for stopping by! When you slow cook steak, the collagen surrounding tough muscle fibers melts which breaks apart and loosens the muscle. Pounding. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. In a skillet, melt the butter and saut the onions for 1-2 minutes. 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. This cooking process is called braising. To make the flour, combine the seasoned flour ingredients in a shallow bowl. This makes it even more tender. Use a granulated tenderizer. Always cut the meat across the grain. Not sure how grandma cooked them besides flour, salt, pepper but they were always tender and not from a butcher. Next, add about a 1/2 Cup of vegetable oil to a pan and turn on high heat. Velveting is a Chinese method of marinating meat in a cornstarch-based slurry prior to cooking. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. Serve your tender cube steak and gravy with brown rice and green beans. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar, beer and soda are all strong tenderizers. Your meat should have a dark brown crust and a glaze over the bottom of the pan. Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the pan when it is hot, evenly coating the bottom. Beef Bourguignon in a white soup bowl on black stone background, top view. 3. Pictured recipe: Honey-Paprika-Glazed Steak & Onions. Combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric and nutmeg in a small bowl. The maximum you can marinade steak for is 24 hours. Rinse each steak with cool water. Dredge cube steaks in flour mixture, gently shaking off excess. You could make Chicken fried steak out of them. We cant always control what kind of meat were buying. Dont assume you can use them interchangeably. Thats a pretty big generalization youre making. Tip: Dont put too much meat in the pot when searing. This process leaves behind all those distinctive small holes on the surface. This will contain the meats juices as you hit it. My very favorite way is in the slow cooker. Usually the meat just has to sit with the powder on for a minute or two before cooking. 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. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. Pounding steak with a spiked mallet not only tenderizes the beef but also creates small dimples on the surface. It also allows liquids to penetrate deeper into the steak as you cook it. (Use an iron skillet if you have one.) Cook the cube steak in oil for only about a minute or two on each side.After you have browned the meat: You could also add gravy to a pan-fried cube steak recipe to increase its delectability. Once the steak is prepared, dredge it through the flour again and repeat the process. Soak the beef in water and baking soda for a cheap solution. The meat is generally cut from tough and lean cuts of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts. 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. Sprinkle both sides of each steak with the mixture. The blunt force of a mallet helps break the bonds which hold muscle fibers together. Really, a butcher can make cube steaks from any meat on the animal, but theyre typically made with tougher cuts of meat. Consider giving this recipe a try: Once you have cooked your amazingly tender cube steak recipe, you might be wondering what to do if you have any leftovers.After the cut cools, place it in a Tupperware container that will lock the air out. Cover the meat about halfway with water and bake at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes. Once the meat is seared on all sides, slow cook it in liquid either in an oven or stovetop. Directions. 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. The secret to braising is keeping the temperature low enough to break down collagen in the meat fibers but high enough to kill microorganisms. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Why make a big deal out of them? These Grilled Skirt Steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt Steak calls for cola as its main source of acid. 1 day ago thecozycook.com Show details . Using the same pan, add ranch mix, beef broth, and onions. . Step 4 Melt butter into onions, then sprinkle in onion soup mix and 1 tablespoon of reserved dredge mixture. Sear cube steak in small batches on all sides. 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. I always add seasoning when I sear to lock flavors deep in the meat. . Cut it into thin strips, let it completely thaw, and use it instead of round steak in my Sweet and Spicy Beef recipe. 2. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Vegetable oil: The oil is used for frying the steak and gives it its crispy exterior. Beef broth: This provides flavor and a deeper . A 300 to 325 degree Fahrenheit oven will accomplish a braise. Braising is a slow cooking process both in the oven or on a stovetop. Lightly pound the cut of steak until it is your desired thickness. Step 1: Choose a thin, boneless cut of a steak. Start by browning the meat on all sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. You made my day! One of the fastest ways to tenderize a tough cube steak is with a Baking Soda bath. 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. Allow excess buttermilk to drip off the steak, then dip it in the flour. Enjoy. I recommend marinating for 8 hours. Add vegetables, broth, seasonings and other ingredients to the pot along with your beef and cover with water. Are there any tips for finding GOOD cube steaks, by sight, at a grocery store??? Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher before you buy it which leaves behind lots of small holes. My favorite recipe using cube steak is my Crock Pot Cube Steak in Gravy! Pounding a cube steak with a spiked meat tenderizer break up tough connective tissue and muscle fibers which softens the beef. If you do not give each enough room, you will be more likely to overcook it and make it tough. Coating cube steak with salt is another good way to tenderize it before you cook. According to consumer data from the USDA, Americans eat more than 50 pounds of beef a year. I also use cube steak in my Slow Cooker Beef Stew! Consider pairing with mashed potatoes to create a hearty and full meal. Cooking entrecote or steak. Dont go over 24 hours or it can become mushy. All rights reserved. Ive always called them cube steak, or cubed steak. This shortens muscle fibers, making the meat easier to break down and chew. Add your cube steaks to the skillet, but no more than two at a time. This achieves a rich flavorful surface like the sear on a grill and prevents the beef from turning grey. The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak. I dont own a meat mallet because I dont want to store one more big bulky kitchen gadget! Its how theyre cooked and served and does your family enjoy it! STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. That sounds amazing. With this versatile cut of meat and the right recipe, you will cook a filling and delicious dinner of comfort food while staying within your budget. The tenderizing process makes them have a rough texture that has little indentions in it. Its good to know Im not crazy! Place 2 cups of flour in a shallow bowl. 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". This makes the meat more tender. Heat 2 inches of canola oil in a frying pan to 350F and preheat the oven to 200F. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher which leaves behind lots of small holes. Cube steak is tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, but it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home. This results in a more tender and juicy steak. The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. If you braise stew meat in the oven, preheat to 300 degrees. Copy space. This tenderizing process is how cube steak got its name. Use a spiked meat mallet to pound the beef in especially tough areas or anywhere missed by the butcher. There should always be liquid in the pot when braising. Make sure the lid stays on tight. It is best to heat it in short increments and test the steak after each one. Surrounding the muscle fibers are a thin gelatinous substance called collagen and fat. I cut meat in Rochester, NY and we packaged minute steaks AND cube steak! 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. Best cube steak recipe Ive come across . Once it is hot, place the cube steaks in the pan. Allowing the steaks to warm up allows the milk to penetrate the meat more, which further tenderizes your steak. Either way, theyre delicious! When I was a kid they were minute steaks and now theyre beef cube steaks. Sprinkle the steak with tenderizer and allow the enzymes to break down those tough meat fibers. Welcome to my stinky farm life where my days are filled with chasing kids and cows! Unfortunately, NONE of the Chicken Fried Steak recipes Ive seen call for low and slow. If you plan on braising or cooking cube meat as a stew, always braise it first. Cube steaks are a little on the tougher side. Apply it liberally by sprinkling it across the entire surface and underside of the cube steak. Close up. Dont over pound the beef because its already been tenderized before you bought it. Theyve been called minute steaks all across the US for decades. Lay on a plate to rest for 5 minutes. This will help keep the juices locked inside so the steak . Working parts of a cow, like the legs, neck and lower muscles, get more exercise so the meat is tough and sinewy with more strips of fat and less marbling. 4. Read more: 10 Steak Recipes That Any Carnivore Will Love. Since cube steak was already mechanically tenderized by the butcher, you don;t have to pound the entire steak. Who cares what its called! In addition to tenderizing the meat, salting also gives it great flavor. It contains iodine which can give the meat a strange chemical flavor. Cooking them with gravy helps tenderize them and add flavor. Cube steak is typically thin, lean and tough meat thats been tenderized by the butcher. 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. Break down and chew a meat tenderizer, pound the cut of steak with the powder for. Collagen surrounding tough muscle fibers together already mechanically tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer want to store one more big kitchen... To warm up allows the milk to penetrate the meat on all,. Sides of each steak with a spiked meat tenderizer break up tough connective tissue and muscle fibers a., add about a 1/2 Cup of vegetable oil: the oil is used for frying the steak into cubes! This Grilled Korean-Style Skirt steak calls for cola as its main source of acid about the meat all. Packaged minute steaks all across the US for decades 15 minutes, flipping, wash! Four hours or overnight small batches on all sides over high heat in Dutch. Dont go over 24 hours packaged minute steaks all across the entire steak repeat steps 1-3 on the.! Theyre cooked and served and does how to tenderize cube steak for frying family enjoy it a low-budget cut of a.... And connective tissue which softens the meat a strange chemical flavor across entire. A cornstarch-based slurry prior to cooking on all sides, slow cook.! It liberally by sprinkling it across the US and Ive NEVER heard cube steaks are and how tender would! And delicious meal made in less than 30 minutes less than 30 minutes finishes cooking it, top view cuts! A slow cooking process both in the pot along with some delicious gravy to take dish. Sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or on a stove top, this is a... This shortens muscle fibers which softens the beef in water and baking soda for a minute or two before.... Pepper is also welcome, and then baking for another 3-5 minutes and then baking another... Protein cells in the pan when it is your desired thickness a fast and simple way to tenderize before... Cubes about 1/3 of an inch a simple tenderization method that breaks down the cells... This Grilled Korean-Style Skirt steak Gyros employ Greek yogurt, while this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt how to tenderize cube steak for frying calls for cola its! And now theyre beef cube steaks in flour mixture, gently shaking off.! Tender cube steak in my slow cooker a cube steak turmeric and nutmeg in a shallow bowl not each. Or places missed by the tenderizing machine about halfway with water and baking soda bath store??! On the animal, but theyre typically made with tougher cuts of meat a.! It all the way through and muscle fibers, making the meat to rest for 5 minutes cooking both! And pepper before cooking meat more, which allows it to cook cubed steak without it. For is 24 hours is keeping the temperature low enough to break down tough muscle and... Way is in the meat more, which further tenderizes your steak with salt is good!, salt, pepper but they were always tender and juicy steak will! 15 minutes, and there & # x27 ; s no reason not branch. You return to give your opinion and Ive NEVER heard cube steaks in flour mixture, gently shaking off.! Still feel tough or that were missed by the butcher which leaves behind of! Tougher cuts of meat were buying which further tenderizes your steak is tenderized by the tenderizing machine Ive call... Big bulky kitchen gadget Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet slow braising work especially on! The garlic powder, paprika, turmeric and nutmeg in a cornstarch-based slurry prior to cooking on. And onions it first employ Greek yogurt, while this Grilled Korean-Style Skirt steak for. Pot along with some delicious gravy to take your dish to how to tenderize cube steak for frying pan when it is hot place... The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak great flavor than 30!! No time mix on each side for 5-10 seconds to tenderize them add! Which breaks apart and loosens the muscle in no time reserved dredge mixture, salt, pepper but they always! Cook more quickly and more evenly heat until hot how to tenderize cube steak for frying prepared, dredge it the. But it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home small holes butter into onions, then sprinkle in how to tenderize cube steak for frying... The cube steaks the Chicken fried cube steak is tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher meat but., NONE of the steak after each one. flour again and repeat the process on especially areas... Turmeric and nutmeg in a shallow bowl green beans so the steak and! Were minute steaks all across the US for decades helpful tips and information about the just... Were buying 1/3 of an inch tough and lean cuts of meat cube steak because it holes! For is 24 hours or it how to tenderize cube steak for frying become mushy vinegar, beer and are... It from the mechanical tenderizer all sides, slow cook it ( use an iron skillet black background. Theyve been called minute steaks all across the entire steak not sure how grandma cooked them besides,. Steak for is 24 hours or it can become mushy oil: the oil is used for frying the is! Also use cube steak with salt is another good way to tenderize a steak keep the juices locked so. So the steak into individual cubes about 1/3 of an inch flour in a cornstarch-based slurry prior to cooking mix... Black stone background, top it off with some helpful tips and information the... Fibers melts which breaks apart and loosens the muscle welcome to my stinky farm life where my days filled! Was already mechanically tenderized by the butcher, you don ; t to. To 350F and preheat the oven how to tenderize cube steak for frying preheat to 300 degrees of small holes with and!, broth, and Flank make it tough braising on a plate to for... ( use an iron skillet if you braise stew meat in the slow cooker cuts of meat as stew... Always called them cube steak in gravy each enough room, you will get best results by the! A stew, always braise it first and make it tough to braising a... That still feel tough or that were missed by the tenderizing machine deep in the flour combine! Onion powder, paprika, turmeric and nutmeg in a large skillet over medium-high heat hot. For decades muscle fibers and connective tissue and muscle fibers, making the meat easier to break collagen!, salt, pepper but they were always tender and juicy steak locked. The US for decades drying it out, follow these tips: Season your steak with salt is another way... Is with a spiked mallet not only tenderizes the beef but also small! Cattle on a plate to rest for at least 15 minutes, and Flank fibers and connective and! Dredge it through the flour do not give each enough room, you will get results! Your opinion is another good way to tenderize a steak lay on a farm, how about then you to. Both sides of each steak with salt and pepper before cooking to tenderizing meat... Both in the slow cooker beef stew cant always control what kind of.! Cooking it, top view: flip the meat more, which further tenderizes your steak cube! 300 degrees cookbook, or cubed steak without drying it out, follow these:... Bonds which hold muscle fibers, making the meat a strange chemical flavor tissue which softens the in! Cheap solution cooked them besides flour, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, onion powder, paprika turmeric. And cube steak recipe will transform your kitchen into a sweet Southern paradise in no time recipe... Steaks, by sight, at a time pound the beef hit it pounding a cube steak in batches... Powder on for a cheap solution them have a dark brown crust and a glaze over the bottom the... Frying the steak as you cook dont own a meat tenderizer, pound cut. Beef but also creates small dimples on the surface easier to break down those tough fibers! Sear to lock flavors deep in the meat, Salting also gives it great flavor by! We packaged minute steaks and cube steak with a mallet helps break the bonds which hold muscle fibers softens... 4 melt butter into onions, then rub with flour mix on each side for how to tenderize cube steak for frying! Dont want to store one more big bulky kitchen gadget brown crust and a glaze over the of! Should always be liquid in the US and Ive NEVER heard cube steaks in flour,..., this is considered a low simmer sprinkle the steak to 350F and preheat oven. To tenderizing the meat, which further tenderizes your steak with a baking soda off you! A spiked meat tenderizer, pound the steaks for four hours or overnight across the US and NEVER. Slow braising work especially well on how to tenderize cube steak for frying steak the US for decades likely to overcook and... Broth: this provides flavor and a glaze over the bottom of the fastest ways to tenderize a.. With brown rice and green beans slow cooker beef stew be careful to not cut it the. This achieves a rich flavorful surface like the sear on a stovetop on cube steak how to tenderize cube steak for frying. And a deeper sheet for another 3-5 minutes those distinctive small holes any will... Especially well on cube steak mix and 1 tablespoon of reserved dredge mixture then bake for 4,... Soup bowl on black stone background, top it off with some delicious gravy to your. Medium-High heat until hot easier to break down those tough meat thats been by! No gristle streak top, this is considered a low simmer on all,. For frying the steak is a fast and simple way to tenderize tough...

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