Use the timing in any stew recipe as a guideline. You can also place cube steaks in a bowl with a couple of paper towels on top. Be careful not to overheat your cube steak. It is best to heat it in short increments and test the steak after each one. Pork Butt vs. Pork Shoulder: Whats the Difference? Read more: 10 Steak Recipes That Any Carnivore Will Love. 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. Pound the steak on both sides hard enough to create dimples in the meat. All rights reserved. The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak. Fruit is actually a really good tenderizer because many contain acids. In this Oven Steak recipe, strip steaks are sprinkled with salt and pepper on both sides 30 minutes prior to cooking. Remove from pan and drain on a wire rack or paper towels. Repeatedly pound the steak on both sides. Serve your steak with roasted potatoes and carrots. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher which leaves behind lots of small holes. Melt the butter in a large frying pan. Place the meat in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Enjoy. Dont over pound cube steak because its already been mechanically tenderized by the butcher. When youre done marinading, you can either pat dry the meat with a paper towel or sear it wet. 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. A pounding combined with a meat tenderizer can tenderize a tough steak in as little as 2 3 minutes. Cube steaks are an inexpensive cut of beef which makes them a great choice if youre living on a budgetand who isnt! 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". They will feel the love!! One way, slow cooked with garlic in sauted onions and brown gravy with mashed potatoes, mushrooms. Start by placing the steak on a cutting board and then put a piece of plastic wrap over its top. 7 Ways to Tenderize Steak. Of course, if you have a meat mallet it will work great for tenderizing cubed 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. Place your steak in a zip lock bag, or cover your tenderizing hammer in plastic wrap to avoid covering it in raw meat. Use your fingers to gently work the salt granules into the surface, breaking down the fibers of the meat. 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. This can be done in as little as a minute. When you publish a cookbook, or raise cattle on a farm, how about then you return to give your opinion? The Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association recommends that you prepare your tender cube steak in the skillet. Ive been eating this cut of meat my whole life and have always referred to them as cubed steak. If its open steam can release which dries out the meat. Hit areas that got missed by the machine or places that still feel tough. Breaking them up makes meat more tender. Dredge steaks in flour mixture, making sure they are evenly covered, and shake off excess flour. These include Chuck, Brisket, Skirt, and Flank. 3. The best way to tenderize cube steak before you start cooking is with a meat tenderizing mallet. Cube steak in my part of the world was with great reverence we called it COUNTRY STYLE STEAK , along with lots of onions and brown gravy, of course biscuits As pH levels rise toward the outside of the meat, proteins on the inside loosen their bonds. Preheat the air fryer to 400F (205C) and line a baking sheet with foil. Try wine, beer, broth or water. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Best cube steak recipe Ive come across . Im glad you enjoyed them! Place the cube steaks in a single layer in the air fryer, working in batches if necessary, and cook until done. Place the meat in as soon as the oil gets hot. I am from Indiana and we always called them minute steaks. Keep in mind that each of these meat tenderizing methods are done before you start braising or slow cooking the meat. Chefs Tip: Check the liquid every half hour or so and add more if needed. 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. Or course you can also use it to make Chicken Fried Steak too or sandwiches too! Close up. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil.Fry steaks in batches until deeply golden, about 2 minutes per side.Transfer steaks to a plate. Another way to tenderize cube steak is by slicing it properly. Thank you! 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. a little milk tenderized and floured fry and cooked in gravy. The best way to tenderize cube steak is with a spiked mallet, an acid based marinade or by slow braising the meat. It is not the same for cube steak. Simply place the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax . Certain fruits, including kiwi, papaya, pineapple and Asian pears, contain enzymes that are effective in tenderizing tough meat. The longer a steak spends over the heat, the drier it gets. (Use an iron skillet if you have one.) 4. Since cube steak was already mechanically tenderized by the butcher, you don;t have to pound the entire steak. The blunt force of a mallet helps break the bonds which hold muscle fibers together. Then, place the cubes in a saute pan with a little bit of water. Consider serving it with some hearty vegetables to round out your simple cube steak meal. When hot, add oil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and add onion to pan. Over medium heat, sear your cube steaks in a pan with olive oil for around three minutes on each side. Seasoning: I use seasoned salt (adjust to taste), garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. Not to worry though! Let me show you how it works! But they can also be made with chuck, shoulder, skirt, flank or just about any other area of the cow. Take the steaks out of the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature in the milk mixture. I cant wait for you to try this tenderizing method. I hope you found something to share with your family. Season steak with paper and salt and then dredge in flour mixture, taking care, not to overcoat. Steaks that benefit from tenderizing include: Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. If you dont sear meat before braising, it can turn an unattractive grey color. Why You Should Let Steak Rest After Cooking. The term Cube Steak refers to steak thats been pre-tenderized by the butcher and not a specific cut of beef. One of the most popular ways to cook cube steak right is in the skillet over medium-high heat. Cover your steak in a plastic bag or plastic wrap, and pound it thoroughly, until the entire steak is covered with marks from the mallet. Thanks for taking the time to stop and leave an uplifting comment! Cook your steak for two to three minutes and then flip and cook for an additional two to three minutes or until your steak has reached an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. It contains iodine which can give the meat a strange chemical flavor. This is what leaves those distinctive marks all over a cube steaks surface. However, the cooking method you use may turn your tender cube steak into a chewy, tough slab of inedible meat. I love how easy it is to make enough to feed a crowd, or just enough for 2! Even liquids like buttermilk and yogurt will help tenderize meat because of their acidic qualities. The chef beats a piece of meat with a metal hammer. 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. You want to whack the meat hard enough to leave indentions about 1/8 deep. Instructions. 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. Acids break down proteins and tough connective tissue which tenderizes the meat. You made my day! STEP 1: Place the meat on a chopping board and cut it into pieces. This makes it easier to break down and chew. Your email address will not be published. This will help to keep the steak tender. We bought some cube steak at our local Kroger. For best cooking results ensure it is evenly pounded out. I agree! Raw beef steak served with vegetables and herbs on rustic wooden board background. While this cut of meat comes packaged already tenderized, tenderizing it more helps bring out more flavor and softness in a meal. Grab your mallet and hit the meat with the spiky side, starting from its center and moving outwards to its sides. Be careful to not cut it all the way through. Hopefully, that helps! Salt: Salting your steak is a simple tenderization method that breaks down the protein cells in the meat. These dimples will break up tough muscle fibers which makes the beef softer. Low heat slow cooking break down tough muscle fibers and makes cube meat melt in your mouth tender. The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. They are a low budget meal, they arent anything special by any means. Heat until golden brown for 3-4 minutes on each side. Its also too fine which makes it hard to wash off later. When cube steak is slow cooked on low wet heat it becomes so tender you can cut it with a fork. Brown steaks maybe 5 min. The steaks really are buttery soft and so flavorful! In a shallow bowl, pour buttermilk. of cornstarch to the liquid one-half hour before the cooking time is complete. Well, it happens to be made from cube steak. In another pie plate, stir an egg and half a tablespoon of hot sauce into about two cups of buttermilk. Make a marinade with acidic componentssuch as citrus juice, buttermilk, yogurt, wine, vinegar or sodato help break down tough connective tissue and muscle fibers. Pounding a cube steak with a spiked meat tenderizer break up tough connective tissue and muscle fibers which softens the beef. Prepare a baking sheet for the uncooked breaded steak, and a wire rack lined baking sheet for the cooked steak. STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. Ive been wondering how they will do in the instant pot. Place your seared steak in your slow cooker, cover with our healthy Mushroom Thyme Gravy and cook on low for seven to eight hours. Each method of tenderizing beef works a little differently and some methods can be combined for even more tender beef. Add 1/2 cup of water or beef broth to the pan along with your other ingredients, vegetables and spices. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Preheat oven to 325 F. Preheat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. After Cube Steak is tenderized, cut into cubes and seasoned, it should be seared. Use a granulated tenderizer. In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, and oregano. Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom. Pounding meat with a mallet breaks up tough muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the surface. Cube steak should be cooked to 120F in a cast iron skillet. Velveting is often used to tenderize beef for stir-fried dishes, as with the sliced beef sirloin in this Spicy Beef Stir Fry and this Beef and Mushroom Stir Fry. The cuts should be just enough to soften the topmost layer of the meat, but not damage the shape of the meat. Thanks for your timely reply! Then, coat it lightly with a flour mixture or bread crumbs. Unfortunately, these areas tend to be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks. I agree! Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water for every 12 ounces of steak. 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 season my cubesteaks with Garlic Salt & Pepper pan fry them for a couple mins on each side then transfer them to a baking dish and pour alittle beef stock in and cover them with aluminum foil and bake for 1&1/2 hours then pull out and top with Mushrooms & Swiss cheese which I have sauted fresh mushrooms (You can use canned),but fresh is so much better lol & pop back in oven until cheese melts and Yum they are so deliciousMy family begs me to make them all the time lol. Maybe you could add a little water to the bottom of the pot? Score the steak across the top and underside of the meat very lightly. Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher which leaves behind lots of small holes. Step 9. Our website is supported by our users. We raise our own beef and our cube steaks are always fantastic! Put the lid on, and cook for about 2 4 hours. 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. Wow, Im 50 and have been eating them all my life, and have always been called cube steak. Bottom line is it doesnt matter who heard of them or who hasnt. . You can also fry cube steak in an air fryer at 400 degrees F. How do you tenderize cube steak with milk? Pat them dry with paper towels. But its very flavorful beef thats inexpensive, which makes it perfect for steak dishes like tacos, fajitas, sandwiches or a stew. This cube steak recipe is always a hit with my family so well keep making it and calling it whatever we want! Beef burgers need nothing more than a sprinkle of salt, preferably kosher salt, to cook up juicy and delicious. 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. Dredge cube steaks in flour mixture, gently shaking off excess. . 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. Place your meat in the solution and soak it for 15 minutes. Wrap the beef in waxed paper or a plastic bag. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Cube steak is one of my favorites because its inexpensive and perfect for the slow cooker! Velveting Beef - Tenderizing a Cheap Cut of Beef for Stir Frying with Baking Soda. There are several cuts of steak with lots of connective tissue that benefit from tenderizing. Stew with carrots, onions, mushrooms, bacon, garlic and bouquet garni. Just use the cutting edge and pound, pound, pound. You can also tenderize cube steak with salt, baking soda and enzymes which well go over later in the article. Add all your spices after the meat is removed from the baking soda and rinsed. Once finished, set your cube steaks on a side plate. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. I also think restaurants use meat tenderizer before cooking and in my opinion theres no shame in that. Im going to try this tenderizing method and see if it helps. A basic marinade like this one has . Use multiple tenderizing methods together. 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. Add in your seasonings, veggies, onions, spices, potatoes, etc. Cube steak may be pre-tenderized, but without the right cooking method your tender cube steak can get tough and chewy. This can be done in as little as a few minutes. Let the steak rest for at least 30 minutes and no more than 24 hours. Thanks for stopping by! For more simple to make steak recipes try this Garlic Butter Herb Steak Bites with Potatoes, Brown Sugar Garlic Flank Steak . There should always be liquid in the pot when braising. Cube steaks are a little on the tougher side. All those holes created by the spiked mallet and mechanical tenderizer allow marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat. 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. How to tenderize cube steak without a mallet STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Check out my favorite Cube Steak recipe thats made in a slow cooker! Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. 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. Vegetable oil: The oil is used for frying the steak and gives it its crispy exterior.