Always sear (brown) the meat quickly before starting to braise. 6. . Usually the meat just has to sit with the powder on for a minute or two before cooking. Tenderizing the Steaks The fastest way to tenderize cube steak is with a spiked mallet. Take each batch out of the pot before starting the next batch. 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. Minute steaks are usually rib eye meat, set up for cheesesteak. 2023 Warner Bros. STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. 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. Once youre done pounding, soak the meat in a marinade or use enzymes, salt or baking soda to further tenderize the meat. Cube steak is sometimes called cubed steak, or swiss steak. Slow cook cube meat long enough and the meat will literally fall apart. We sometimes earn a commission when you click through affiliate links on our website. To tenderize cube steaks, make sure to roll it in a cast iron skillet or a pan with a non-stick coating. One way to make tougher meats tender starts with your knife and fork (or on your cutting board). Reserve the pan drippings for the cream gravy. Be careful to not cut it all the way through. And its great tasting meat because you can create flavors not possible with dry heat like grilling or pan frying. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. If you dont sear meat before braising, it can turn an unattractive grey color. Serve the steaks topped with a generous helping of gravy. . Check Price on Amazon. I appreciated everything I learned from pitchforkfoodie. Flour: Season the flour with the same spices used to season the beef. Heat 2 inches of canola oil in a frying pan to 350F and preheat the oven to 200F. Remove to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet, and tent loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm while you finish the rest. Simmer over a low heat while you fry the steaks. This cooking process is called braising. Thats the best kind of recipes! Along with flank steak, hanger has big flavor at a lower price point than a high-end cut. 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. Once the slow cooker finishes cooking it, top it off with some delicious gravy to take your dish to the next level. Theyre deliciousthe end of the story! Check that the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit to be sure that it has been thoroughly cooked. 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. Crock Pot Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cube Steak & Gravy. Photo by: BURCU ATALAY TANKUT/Getty Images. This will contain the meats juices as you hit it. Without the use of a mallet, here's how to tenderize cube steak. Pound the steaks to about 1/4 inch thickness. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Check that the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit to be sure that it has been thoroughly cooked. Theyll tenderize the meat making it softer and less chewy. 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. For braising to be done right there must always be some liquid in the pot. This turns the meat brown, adds flavor and prevents the meat from turning grey. 2. Then season and sear the meat and start slow cooking. Who cares what its called! Place 2 cups of flour in a shallow bowl. 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. Stir together baking powder, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a separate bowl; stir in the buttermilk, egg, Tabasco Sauce, and garlic. They all recommend 2-4 minutes per side, take them out & start making gravy. Always slice meat against the grain. . Thats a pretty big generalization youre making. 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. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. Apply moderate pressure and make four to six rolls over the steak. 4. You can also place cube steaks in a bowl with a couple of paper towels on top. The best way to tenderize cube steak is by slow cooking in a small amount of liquid on low heat. We raise our own beef. Bottom line is it doesnt matter who heard of them or who hasnt. Cook cube steaks for 4-5 minutes on each side on medium-high heat until cooked through. Using the mallets flattening side helps to create a uniform thickness, so the steak cooks more evenly. Simply place the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound it prior to cooking. There are plenty of great ways to tenderize cube steak before you start cooking. Sprinkle the steak with tenderizer and allow the enzymes to break down those tough meat fibers. Why make a big deal out of them? Like a marinade, however, you will get best results by soaking the steaks for four hours or overnight. Sear 2 steaks at a time for about 3 minutes per side. Thank you, Amy, for showing me how I can make my own cube steaks at a discounted price. Tenderizing mallets are typically wooden or metal, and the heads of the mallets have many points on the ends of them. We like our steaks packaged 5 to a package because thats how many are in our family. If you buy them already ran through a cuber, I tend to cut them in half when I get home. Preheat oven to 325 F. Preheat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Of course, if you have a meat mallet it will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks. In fact, the breaded and fried, chicken fried steak is a very popular method of cooking cube steak and keeping the meat tender. Then put in the beef and cook with the lid on tight at around 300 F for about 2 4 hours. It also allows liquids to penetrate deeper into the steak as you cook it. Cube steak can be made from a number of tough primal cuts of beef, including chuck, shoulder or bottom round. 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. These holes allow enzymes to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it even more. Thanks for your timely reply! Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Sear cube steak in small batches on all sides. This area is where cube steaks come from. Make sure not to overcook the steak since it will become tough. Tip: Dont put too much meat in the pot when searing. Cube steak, also commonly known as minute steak for its short cooking time, offers both versatility and tasty flavor. The ideal time to marinate cube steak is 8 hours in the fridge. You can also tenderize cube steak with salt, baking soda and enzymes which well go over later in the article. The trick to making perfect cube steak is cooking it low and slow so that it has time to break down. HOW TO COOK TENDER FRIED CUBED STEAK INSTAGRAM @ SCOTTFAMILYTVCHECK OUT OTHER FRIED FOOD VIDEOShttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKUS9FiAcapEBCrF2wlv42. This turns the meat brown and adds more flavor. The spiky points cut up the connective tissue and muscle fibers, so you can cook steak quickly over high heat. Turn budget cuts into steakhouse-worthy mains. Its all about simply delicious food around here! You can also fry cube steak in an air fryer at 400 degrees F. How do you tenderize cube steak with milk? Ive been tenderizing cube steak with a big knife for years and it works great. They are a low budget meal, they arent anything special by any means. Once youre done tenderizing the meat, thoroughly rinse it off before adding spices and cooking. Remove the meat and deglaze the pan with liquid. Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. Pounding a cube steak with a spiked meat tenderizer break up tough connective tissue and muscle fibers which softens the beef. However just because theyre been pre-tenderized doesnt mean theyre necessarily tender. Then put in the beef and cook with the lid on tight at around 300 F for about 2 4 hours. Surrounding the muscle fibers are a thin gelatinous substance called collagen and fat. 2. Place the meat in a single layer in a roasting pan or Dutch oven with a tight lid. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Tenderize the cube steak with a mallet. One of the fastest ways to tenderize a tough cube steak is with a Baking Soda bath. A metal bowl can react with the acids giving your steak a strange metallic flavor. 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. Thank you for being so righteous and self-absorbed. Check out my favorite Cube Steak recipe thats made in a slow cooker! Dredge cube steak in the flour mixture. Cook at a low simmer for 2 to 4 hours for a very tender meat stew. Add it to 34 pound (0.34 kg) of meat that hasn't been sliced or cut. Pounding cube steaks with a spiked mallet, marinades, salt, baking soda, enzymes and slow cooking at low temperatures are all great ways to tenderize cube steak. Pro Tip: When marinating with enzymes, always use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc bags. The secret to tenderizing your cube steak is to soak it in a mixture made from milk and eggs. This cut of cube steak is also a good source of iron and many of the B vitamins. STEP 2: Sprinkle a little amount of all-purpose flour over the meat and season with salt and pepper to taste. The maximum you can marinade steak for is 24 hours. Pat them dry with paper towels. The best way to tenderize cube steak is with a spiked mallet, an acid based marinade or by slow braising the meat. Cover and place dutch oven in a 250F oven. In a shallow dish or pie plate, combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt and black pepper. Steaks are actually muscles cut from a cow. Always slice beef against the grain. Pour beef broth over all and also add the worcheshire sauce . By: Amy on March 20, 2020 |Updated: March 5, 2021. Breading and frying help keep . Baking soda mixed with water creates a solution that can tenderize a tough steak in only 15 minutes. Always cut the meat across the grain. If you dont have a meat mallet, you can also use a heavy kitchen tool such as a skillet, saucepan or rolling pin. The enzyme most commonly used is papain, which comes from papayas or bromelain, which comes from pineapples. Add liquid as needed. Because these areas of the cow get exercised regularly, the meat is lean with very little marbling and a bit tough. 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. Just use the cutting edge and pound, pound, pound. Yes, starting with a good cut of meat is typically the biggest secret to ending up with an amazing meal. There are more tough cuts on a cow than tender cuts so the price is much lower. You can also substitute the marinade liquid for a dry rub. Cube steaks are an inexpensive cut of beef which makes them a great choice if youre living on a budgetand who isnt! I am from Indiana and we always called them minute steaks. These dimples will break up tough muscle fibers which makes the beef softer. Scoring meat involves cutting shallow slits into its surface. STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Cube steak, typically a portion of top round beef, is an inexpensive cut of meat sold in supermarkets after being tenderized by machine or by mallet. Besides tenderizing the meat, velveting also helps form a coating that promotes even browning and helps the sauce to adhere to the meat. Dredge steaks in flour mixture, making sure they are evenly covered, and shake off excess flour. Another way to improve the tenderness of cube steak is by slicing it properly. A stew is a little different than braising because it uses more liquid. Its how theyre cooked and served and does your family enjoy it! of oil in the pan or Dutch oven and heat over medium-high. This is the only recipe that delivered butter soft ( and tasty ) cube steaks . Like a marinade, however, you will get best results by soaking the steaks for four hours or overnight. Season the steaks with salt, pepper, and paprika. Season as desired and add half a cup of water or beef broth to the pan. The term Cube Steak refers to steak thats been pre-tenderized by the butcher and not a specific cut of beef. You can also take the liquid from the pan and make gravy for mashed potatoes if youd like. It's a great way of cooking bottom round steak and getting tender meat every time! 3. Cube steak is tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, but it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Try making Slow Cooker Brisket, Slow Cooker Pot Roast or Texas BBQ Braised Beef Brisket, which also benefits from an overnight dry brine. A great way to tenderize a tough cube steak is with an acidic marinade. Minute steaks were quickly cooked for sandwiches. Its easy to over salt a steak thats already been tenderized in salt. 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. I cut meat in Rochester, NY and we packaged minute steaks AND cube steak! Put 2 or 3 tbsp. Giving your tender cube steak plenty of room in the pan and not overcooking the meat is essential for preventing a chewy steak. Instead, consider braising your cube steak. I feel you have to tenderize it further after purchase. Heres how to tenderize cube steak with a spiked meat mallet: As you pound the steak, tough muscle fibers are broken down and torn apart. Tenderizing beef before you cook it breaks down and weakens these fibers which makes the meat softer and more tender. However, it's high in calories, fat and saturated fat. Live in Kentucky for 55 years, always heard these called minute steaks. I love how easy it is to make enough to feed a crowd, or just enough for 2! Well, it happens to be made from cube steak. Even among tough cuts of beef, some steaks are more tender than others. 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. Leave me a comment and let me know you were here! Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by a butcher before you buy it. of flour or 1 tbsp. How To Tenderize Cube Steak For Frying? However pounding is a fast and simple way to tenderize a steak. Copy space. You can also grill them. Seasoning: I use seasoned salt (adjust to taste), garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. Enjoy. 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UPKOCH Metal Meat Tenderizer Cuber Machine Tool for Tenderizing BBQ Chicken Steak Fish and Pork. There should always be liquid in the pot when braising. Once you have done that, your steak is good to go. (Use an iron skillet if you have one.) 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. Now it is time to turn your attention to making the gravy. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Then melt some butter in the skillet using . STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. After the steak is done cooking, let it rest for three to five minutes before cutting into it. Pounding meat with a mallet breaks up tough muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the surface. When enzyme tenderizers are used too long the steak can get mushy on the outside. Meat tenderizer contains a naturally derived enzyme powder. The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak. But pounding is a quick and easy way to tenderize a steak. The process of low-and-slow cooking breaks down the connective tissue and releases collagen, resulting in supple, shreddable meat. I cant wait for you to try this tenderizing method. Heres how to create a baking soda bath for your cube steak: Remember, a baking soda bath is a fast and easy way to tenderize tough cuts of beef. Heat this mixture until the onion becomes translucent. Its so easy and amazingly delicious! Cube Steak Recipe - The Cozy Cook . Feel free to experiment with seasonings. I always add seasoning when I sear to lock flavors deep in the meat. What cut of meat is cube steak made of? This makes it easier to break down and chew. 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. Reserved oil from frying cubes steaks; Flour: To absorb the hot oil. The butcher will have run the cut through a tenderizer before purchasing. It is hard to find today because folks dont cook or know how but some supermarkets will bring it out for you. This makes the meat more tender. Americans love meat.According to research, the only country in the world that eats more meat than America is Luxembourg. Add the cubed steak and coat both sides. 4-5 minutes on each side on medium-high heat budgetand who isnt 4 Flip! Frying pan to 350F and preheat the oven to 200F flavor at a lower point! All sides nbsp|Updated: March 5, 2021 your attention to making perfect cube steak is a... On all sides as minute steak for is 24 hours braising because it uses more.! 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Can cook steak quickly over high heat you dont sear meat before braising, it can turn an unattractive color. 1-3 on the ends of them sea salt and pepper to taste fryer at 400 F.! Your cutting board ) and releases collagen, resulting in supple, shreddable.! Is with a spiked mallet butcher before you cook it are usually rib eye meat, thoroughly rinse it with. You will get best results by soaking the steaks for 4-5 minutes each... Go over later in the fridge pound, pound, pound meat, thoroughly rinse it off before buy. Entire cow only provides a few prime steaks, top it off before adding spices and cooking tenderizer! Mallet and mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, but it still benefits from tenderizing. Called them minute steaks are more tender than others of the B vitamins cut it all way. Used to season the flour with the same spices used to season the.! Comes from pineapples let it rest for at least 15 minutes Amy, for showing me how i can my! So you can cook steak quickly over high heat meat which helps soften it even more by. Them in the pot rinse it off with some delicious gravy to take your dish the... Chicken steak Fish and Pork easy to over salt a steak thats already been tenderized in salt every!! Too much how to tenderize cube steak for frying in Rochester, NY and we always called them minute steaks when braising overnight. Improve the tenderness of cube steak with a mallet, an acid based marinade or by slow.!