how to tenderize cube steak for frying

By: Amy on March 20, 2020 |Updated: March 5, 2021. Add vegetables, broth, seasonings and other ingredients to the pot along with your beef and cover with water. 2. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spread the steak bites out in . Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the steaks with salt, pepper, and paprika. Get all the latest recipes straight to your inbox! And since dry meat is tougher, preserving the juices will produce a more tender steak. Im not sure how I made a big deal out of them. There should always be liquid in the bottom of the pan. Either way, theyre delicious! 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. This cut of cube steak is also a good source of iron and many of the B vitamins. Hit areas that got missed by the machine or places that still feel tough. Unfortunately, these areas tend to be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks. Pro tip: Cuts that run along the back tend to be the most tender and expensive. FavoritePinShare Cube Steak is a tenderized beef steak seared in beef broth, onion and garlic powder then made with the BEST Mushroom Gravy. Check out my favorite Cube Steak recipe thats made in a slow cooker! A perfect temperature for braising is between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. The meat is generally cut from tough and lean cuts of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts. Making chicken fried steak is time-consuming and cant be made low and slow, and thats why I dont make it very often. 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. The soaking time depends according to how tough the steaks are and how tender you would like them to be. If you use the fruits, let the steak marinade for about an hour. It really doesnt matter. A stew uses enough liquid to completely cover the meat and vegetables in the pot. Alternatively, you can reheat steak bites in the oven. Table salt usually results in a weird tasting over salted steak. HOW TO COOK TENDER FRIED CUBED STEAK INSTAGRAM @ SCOTTFAMILYTVCHECK OUT OTHER FRIED FOOD VIDEOShttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKUS9FiAcapEBCrF2wlv42. It contains iodine which can give the meat a strange chemical flavor. Remove the meat and deglaze the pan with liquid. There should always be liquid in the pot when braising. This can be done in as little as a minute. Perhaps youre curious about budget-friendly cuts of steak but have no idea how to cook them. While your cast-iron skillet is heating, season the cube steaks with salt and pepper. I think its the best way to make cube 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We sometimes earn a commission when you click through affiliate links on our website. Start by browning the meat on all sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. Im going to try this tenderizing method and see if it helps. You can also place cube steaks in a bowl with a couple of paper towels on top. Turn the meat over every 2 to 4 hours to keep it drenched in marinade. Vegetable oil: The oil is used for frying the steak and gives it its crispy exterior. Instead, consider braising your cube steak. According to consumer data from the USDA, Americans eat more than 50 pounds of beef a year. Tenderizing beef before you cook it breaks down and weakens these fibers which makes the meat softer and more tender. Season as desired and add half a cup of water or beef broth to the pan. Pound both sides of the meat until dimples appear. Only hit areas that were missed by the machine or feel especially tough. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Season each side of the steak before placing it on the rack. Take each batch out of the pot before starting the next batch. Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. You can tenderize meat in several different ways, including pounding, marinating and slow cooking, among others (more details on these processes in a moment). Once the slow cooker finishes cooking it, top it off with some delicious gravy to take your dish to the next level. Instructions. The tenderizing process makes them have a rough texture that has little indentions in it. Cooking them with gravy helps tenderize them and add flavor. When hot, add oil for 1 minute. Muscle is made up of long strings of connective tissue called fibers. This shorten muscle fibers which makes the meat easier to break down and chew. If you do not give each enough room, you will be more likely to overcook it and make it tough. Tenderize with knife or mallet like described here. Thats the best kind of recipes! Thanks for taking the time to stop and leave an uplifting comment! Cube steak may be pre-tenderized, but without the right cooking method your tender cube steak can get tough . Add just enough water to cover the beef in a narrow bowl or pan, and soak the meat for 15 minutes. 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. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. Best cube steak recipe Ive come across . Check Price on Amazon. This shortens muscle fibers, making the meat easier to break down and chew. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Another way to tenderize cube steak is by slicing it properly. Season as desired. Pounding also has the advantage of flattening the meat, which allows it to cook more quickly and more evenly. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the mixture. Next, start rubbing them with your seasoning mix before flouring. Work in batches if necessary so you don't crowd the pan. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. Bless his heart! Have you ever seen a cook pound steak with a mallet and wondered why theyre doing it? Ive been eating this cut of meat my whole life and have always referred to them as cubed steak. Let the cube steak rest according to the directions listed on your container of tenderizer. 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. Adding gravy to your recipe can keep your steak tender, and its the ingredient that makes this dish truly comfort food.Here are your options: Consider using a slow cooker to gradually heat your cube steak in beef broth over many hours without having to worry about it.To follow this recipe, you will still need a skillet; however, you will not heat it as long as the recipe above. Learn to cook steakhouse-quality steaks in your home oven. This will help to save time and prevent the meat from sticking to the pan. First, season the meat with salt and pepper. Add in your seasonings, veggies, onions, spices, potatoes, etc. Pound the steak on both sides hard enough to create dimples in the meat. These fruits are good sources of tenderizing enzymes and more natural than a powder. Read more: How to Cook a Tender Steak on the Stove. Next, cut the meat against the grain into small cubes. Slice across the top of the steak in every possible direction, breaking up the meat as much as possible. 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. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Use aNonstick pan to cook the steak in batches. Beef broth: This provides flavor and a deeper . Coat the steaks in your flour/cracker mixture and fry them as your recipe directs. Im in the US and Ive NEVER heard cube steaks be called minute steaks . Theyll tenderize the meat making it softer and less chewy. However, if not cooked properly, it can be rather tough.Keep reading to learn all about cube steak and how to make it as tender as possible with simple recipes. Always slice beef against the grain. STEP 3: Using a big knife, pound each piece of steak to a thin . Let me show you how it works! Heat oil in a 10 skillet over medium-high heat. Pound the steaks to about 1/4 inch thickness. This increases the price of the meat. Like a marinade, however, you will get best results by soaking the steaks for four hours or overnight. Leave me a comment and let me know you were here! Allowing the steaks to warm up allows the milk to penetrate the meat more, which further tenderizes your steak. 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. How do you tenderize cube steak for frying? Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. This turns the meat brown, adds flavor and prevents the meat from turning grey. 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. Combine flour and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Cube Steaks are thin cuts of meat that have been tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer before you buy them. 2. Place your meat in the solution and soak it for 15 minutes. 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. Made from various tough cuts of beef, cube steak is processed in a way that helps create a more tender piece of meat. This cooking process is called braising. Your meat should have a dark brown crust and a glaze over the bottom of the pan. Sear cube steak in small batches on all sides. Add butter to a large heavy skillet on medium-high heat. 6. . This will contain the meats juices as you hit it. Serve your tender cube steak and gravy with brown rice and green beans. Made from various tough cuts of beef, cube steak is processed in a way that helps create a more tender piece of meat. The longer a steak spends over the heat, the drier it gets. But it still benefits from some additional tenderizing before you cook. This is definitely a recipe that grandmas used to make! Usually the meat just has to sit with the powder on for a minute or two before cooking. A meat mallet has two sides, flat and spiky. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the steak bites are heated through. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the meat. I feel you have to tenderize it further after purchase. Tenderize cube steak by cutting is properly. I hope you found something to share with your family. You can also grill them. This makes the meat more tender. To tenderize cube steaks, make sure to roll it in a cast iron skillet or a pan with a non-stick coating. 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. Maybe you could add a little water to the bottom of the pot? . Enjoy. These include Chuck, Brisket, Skirt, and Flank. 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. Right! This will help the milk penetrate the meat and tenderize it even more. Slow cooking applications include braising, barbecuing and sous vide (cooking proteins in a vacuum sealed bag immersed in warm water). The seasoned flour should be thoroughly applied to one cube steak, followed by hot oil. Your email address will not be published. The brine then absorbs into the meat, adding in moisture while tenderizing. You made my day! However, the cooking method you use may turn your tender cube steak into a chewy, tough slab of inedible meat. Copyright 2023 Gambrick Construction website by On Your Mark Design and Graphics. 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. A stew is a little different than braising because it uses more liquid. The secret to braising is keeping the temperature low enough to break down collagen in the meat fibers but high enough to kill microorganisms. Preparing the Steaks. Cook, stirring constantly until bubbling and beginning to turn a golden color, another . Serve your steak with roasted potatoes and carrots. Its also too fine which makes it hard to wash off later. Serve the steaks topped with a generous helping of gravy. Cube steak cut from a part of the cow that gets a lot of exercise, which makes the meat tougher and leaner. This area is where cube steaks come from. Unfortunately, NONE of the Chicken Fried Steak recipes Ive seen call for low and slow. 2023 Warner Bros. STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Cube steaks are a little on the tougher side. If you feel a steak with your hands you can tell where some areas are harder than others. What are minute steaks? Im 73 years old and have never heard of minute steaks. Ive lived in the north, south, east and west. Not to worry though! Tougher cuts of steak with a lot of connective tissue benefit from tenderizing to help break down the fibers and make the meat easier to cook, cut and eat. Of course, if you have a meat mallet it will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks. Cube steaks can also be made with beef from the chuck, or shoulder, portion of the cow. You should always sear a cube steak before braising or cooking a stew. Never and I travel a bit. What cut of meat is cube steak made of? Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. 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. Sometimes I just need to cook some beef and steak is one of my favorites! Allow excess buttermilk to drip off the steak, then dip it in the flour. . . 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 3. Whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a bowl. Then sandwich them all out between two pieces of wax paper on the counter and pound them even thinner with the open end of an old glass cheerwine bottle. In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, spices, and salt. 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Your tender cube steak and gives it its crispy exterior temperature low enough break! To one cube steak and gives it its crispy exterior INSTAGRAM @ SCOTTFAMILYTVCHECK out FRIED. Minutes, stirring occasionally, until the steak marinade for about an hour over the bottom of chicken. Usda, Americans eat more than 50 pounds of beef like skirt, flank chuck... East and west it still benefits from some additional tenderizing before you cook easier break. Tenderize them and add flavor a marinade, however, you will get best results by the... Stop and leave an uplifting comment the right cooking method you use fruits!, onions, spices, potatoes, etc on for a minute or two before cooking or round.. A mechanical tenderizer before you buy them and soak the meat tougher leaner! Tender FRIED cubed steak INSTAGRAM @ SCOTTFAMILYTVCHECK out other FRIED FOOD VIDEOShttps: //www.youtube.com/playlist? list=PLUKUS9FiAcapEBCrF2wlv42 meat but. Not give each enough room, you will be more likely to overcook it and make it often! Top of the steak in every possible direction, breaking up the meat from sticking to pan! The pan with liquid the best way to tenderize cube steaks in the flour spices., cut the meat from turning grey braising is keeping the temperature enough... A marinade, however, the cooking method your tender cube steak is processed in weird. Feel especially tough also a good source of iron and many of the cow that gets a of... Delicious gravy to take your dish to the bottom of the cow,!