Cube steak can be a delicious and affordable meal, but it's often tough. The fastest way to tenderize cube steak is with a spiked mallet. After hours of being in the crockpot, it really breaks down and is extra tender! When enzyme tenderizers are used too long the steak can get mushy on the outside. Sprinkle coarse salt generously over both sides of the steak. Ive been eating this cut of meat my whole life and have always referred to them as cubed steak. 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. Heat olive oil in large (cast iron works best) skillet on med-med/high heat. STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. The tenderizing process makes them have a rough texture that has little indentions in it. Hopefully, that helps! 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. We always ask them to make two-pound packages of hamburger because it just works for us. First, season the meat with salt and pepper. The meat is generally cut from tough and lean cuts of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts. Slow cooking applications include braising, barbecuing and sous vide (cooking proteins in a vacuum sealed bag immersed in warm water). Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Cube steak may be pre-tenderized, but without the right cooking method your tender cube steak can get tough . Ive been wondering how they will do in the instant pot. Marinate the cube steak in baking soda. Its easy to over salt a steak thats already been tenderized in salt. Selective focus. Rub seasoning mix on each side of the steak, then rub with flour. You might have heard of them referred to as minute steaks which is actually a Canadian term for cubed steaks. This results in a more tender and juicy steak. Have you ever seen a cook pound steak with a mallet and wondered why theyre doing it? Breaking them up makes meat more tender. 2023 Warner Bros. Season the steaks with salt, pepper, and paprika. RLOZUI Heavy Duty Manual Meat Tenderizer Cuber Tool Steak Flatten Cuber Rolling Meat . Anyway thanks for the recipe. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Then, coat it lightly with a flour mixture or bread crumbs. Natural enzymes are another good way to tenderize cube steak while also adding some additional flavor. What are minute steaks? Im 73 years old and have never heard of minute steaks. Ive lived in the north, south, east and west. Follow these steps and youll never dry it out. They are thin cuts of meat that have been run through a mechanical tenderizer before you buy them. Then soak the meat in a marinade or use salt, enzymes or baking soda to further tenderize the meat. You can also place cube steaks in a bowl with a couple of paper towels on top. Raw beef steak served with vegetables and herbs on rustic wooden board background. How to tenderize cube steak without a mallet STEP 1: Lay meat on a cutting board. Im not sure how I made a big deal out of them. Fry one steak at a time, for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, just until golden brown. Beef burgers need nothing more than a sprinkle of salt, preferably kosher salt, to cook up juicy and delicious. Start by browning the meat on all sides over high heat in your Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. The longer a steak spends over the heat, the drier it gets. A meat mallet has two sides, flat and spiky. Liberally salt the steaks up to an hour before cooking, then proceed according to your recipe. Theyre typically made from a round steak or round roast, which is found on the hind end of a cow. This will help to keep the steak tender. What is mutton and how is it different from lamb? Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Tips: For even more tender steaks, place them between two sheets of waxed paper and pound them with a meat mallet before you soak them. Take each batch out of the pot before starting the next batch. STEP 4: Flip the meat over and repeat steps 1-3 on the other side. Serve the steaks topped with a generous helping of gravy. Fruit is actually a really good tenderizer because many contain acids. If you leave my house hungryits your own fault! However, the cooking method you use may turn your tender cube steak into a chewy, tough slab of inedible meat. Thats what leaves those distinctive marks along the surface of the beef. Bless his heart! BULLETSHAKER Commercial Meat Tenderizer Cuber Heavy Duty Steak Flatten Hobart Kitchen Tool. Pour over meat. Seconds before adding a steak, drop 1/2 teaspoon of the butter into the pan and immediately top with the steak. Like braising, stew meat should be seared before stewing to make the beef brown. Cutting meat "across the grain" simply means cutting crosswise through the long muscle fibers in the meat. These dimples allow liquid to penetrate deeper into the meat which makes it more tender. Check the level of your liquid every half hour or so. Dredge cube steak in the flour mixture. Serve your steak with roasted potatoes and carrots. Preheat the air fryer to 400F (205C) and line a baking sheet with foil. In a shallow dish or pie plate, combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt and black pepper. Heat a heavy-bottom pan, like a cast-iron skillet, over medium-high heat. This increases the price of the meat. This can be done in as little as a few minutes. Add just enough water to cover the beef in a narrow bowl or pan, and soak the meat for 15 minutes. Cube Steaks: See notes above for more details. This will help the milk penetrate the meat and tenderize it even more. Once it is hot, place the cube steaks in the pan. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Keep in mind that each of these meat tenderizing methods are done before you start braising or slow cooking the meat. If you plan on braising or cooking cube meat as a stew, always braise it first. By: Amy on March 20, 2020 |Updated: March 5, 2021. This shorten muscle fibers which makes the meat easier to break down and chew. Your email address will not be published. Put the lid on, and cook for about 2 4 hours. This not only tenderizes the meat but also creates small dimples in the beef. You can also substitute the marinade liquid for a dry rub. The minute steaks were thin slices and not cubed! Im gonna go with he does not live in the South. Meat tenderizers contain enzymes which soften the meat while it cooks. This meat comes from the hind end or shoulder of the cow. As pH levels rise toward the outside of the meat, proteins on the inside loosen their bonds. In this Strip Steak with Spiced Salt recipe, a spiced salt mixture has plenty of time to penetrate NY strips while the grill heats up. Cube Steak is cut from tougher areas of the cow like flank, skirt and round roasts. This easy chicken fried cube steak recipe will transform your kitchen into a sweet Southern paradise in no time. Add in your seasonings, veggies, onions, spices, potatoes, etc. Coat the steaks in your flour/cracker mixture and fry them as your recipe directs. Searing beef turns in brown, locks in juices, develops flavor and prevents it from turning grey. If you use a powder, let it sit for just a minute or two before cooking. Whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a bowl. These fruits are good sources of tenderizing enzymes and more natural than a powder. We bought some cube steak at our local Kroger. Pound both sides of the meat until dimples appear. All those holes created by the spiked mallet and mechanical tenderizer allow marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the steak bites are heated through. Sear the meat in a pan, pot, skillet or Dutch oven with a tablespoon of oil on medium-high heat. The choice of a marinades acidic component varies across cuisines and cuts. 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. Beef Bourguignon in a white soup bowl on black stone background, top view. Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. As with other marinades, this method works best with thinner cuts such as hanger or skirt steaks. 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. I have never heard them called minute steak. 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. of flour or 1 tbsp. 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. Be careful to not cut it all the way through. Especially if you slow braise or turn it into a stew. In a large skillet, preferably cast iron, heat over medium-high heat. These holes allow marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it on the inside. 1. 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. In addition to tenderizing the meat, salting also gives it great flavor. Before cooking, let the steak rest and come up to room temperature. Both sides of the steak should be bathed in marinade. While this method is the simplest, it also holds the most significant potential for drying out your steak. 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 Cube steak is sometimes called cubed steak, or swiss steak. 1 day ago thecozycook.com Show details . they could be left wondering why their meals are leaving something to be desired with tough cube steak. Muscle is made up of long strings of connective tissue called fibers. A stew uses enough liquid to completely cover the meat and vegetables in the pot. Place 2 cups of flour in a shallow bowl. It's a great way of cooking bottom round steak and getting tender meat every time! Place the cube steaks in a single layer in the air fryer, working in batches if necessary, and cook until done. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. . Thanks for taking the time to stop and leave an uplifting comment! Cube steak is mechanically tenderized by the butcher which leaves behind lots of small holes. Simply place the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax . Now, I have heard and have cooked cubed steaks. First, you will add olive oil to a skillet. Spray the broiler pan and the rack with nonstick cooking spray. Now it is time to turn your attention to making the gravy. Then you can choose to put it in the refrigerator if you plan to eat it in the next few days, or you can put it in the freezer if you think you might not get to it for a bit longer. of cornstarch to the liquid one-half hour before the cooking time is complete. I am from Indiana and we always called them minute steaks. Use plenty of oil when cooking the cubes of steak. Use coarse kosher or sea salt instead. Allow excess buttermilk to drip off the steak, then dip it in the flour. Alternatively, you can reheat steak bites in the oven. Citrus figures prominently, as with this Chinese-inspired Tangerine Beef with Scallions, which relies on tangerine juice to break down tri-tip steak, and these Tex-Mex leaning Steak Fajitas with Onions and Peppers, where lime juice plays a key role in tenderizing skirt steak. Place your steak in a food-safe container and add your favorite marinade over it. This process leaves behind all those distinctive small holes on the surface. 1. When I was a kid they were minute steaks and now theyre beef cube steaks. 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. How To Make melt-in-your-mouth cubed steaks. Instructions. The spiky points cut up the connective tissue and muscle fibers, so you can cook steak quickly over high heat. You dont want to cook the meat if it still has baking soda on it. To tenderize cube steaks, make sure to roll it in a cast iron skillet or a pan with a non-stick coating. . Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Whisk together 2 eggs and the can of evaporated milk in a bowl. Acids break down proteins and tough connective tissue which tenderizes the meat. You made my day! You could make Chicken fried steak out of them. There should always be liquid in the pot when braising. Vegetable oil: The oil is used for frying the steak and gives it its crispy exterior. The meat needs time for the collagen to melt which produces extremely tender beef. Next, heat some oil in a frying pan over medium heat, and cook the steak for 6-7 minutes per side. Just remember not to add too much additional salt when you season the meat. Be careful not to overheat your cube steak. Once the oil is hot, add the cubes and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Ive been tenderizing cube steak with a big knife for years and it works great. I agree with you, they are a low-budget cut of meat. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Then season and sear the meat and start slow cooking. In a medium sized bowl, stir together flour and seasonings. 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. Baking soda mixed with water creates a solution that can tenderize a tough steak in only 15 minutes. Soak the beef in water and baking soda for a cheap solution. Set them on a plate and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the steaks. Using the same pan, add ranch mix, beef broth, and onions. . Unfortunately, breading and frying add a lot of fat and calories to your dish and may not be the healthiest cooking option. Pro tip: Cuts that run along the back tend to be the most tender and expensive. Check the liquid every 30 minutes or so and add more as needed. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Live in Kentucky for 55 years, always heard these called minute steaks. Here, we break down the process of tenderizing, the cuts of steak that benefit most and all the different ways to tenderize steak, including how to wield a meat mallet. Scoring meat involves cutting shallow slits into its surface. How To Tenderize Cube Steak For Frying? A stew is a little different than braising because it uses more liquid. We went straight to the butcher to find out. Cube steak is typically thin, lean and tough meat thats been tenderized by the butcher. Prepare a baking sheet for the uncooked breaded steak, and a wire rack lined baking sheet for the cooked steak. Make sure not to overcook the steak since it will become tough. 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. Place the cube steaks in the milk and turn them to coat them in the mixture. Get all the latest recipes straight to your inbox! Then, place the cubes in a saute pan with a little bit of water. Usually the meat just has to sit with the powder on for a minute or two before cooking. Using the mallets flattening side helps to create a uniform thickness, so the steak cooks more evenly. Use multiple tenderizing methods together. Gravy. Of course, if you have a meat mallet it will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks. Im glad you enjoyed them! Giving your tender cube steak plenty of room in the pan and not overcooking the meat is essential for preventing a chewy steak. Let it cook on low for six to eight hours to end up with perfectly tender cube steak. In addition to pounding the beef with a spiked mallet and cutting it into cubes against the grain, you can also try salt, enzymes, marinades and baking soda. But its not a perfect process which is why some additional tenderizing at home is recommended. Since cube steak was already mechanically tenderized by the butcher, you don;t have to pound the entire steak. Over medium heat, sear your cube steaks in a pan with olive oil for around three minutes on each side. Use less salt on your steak if your enzyme-based tenderizer comes with salt in it. Your email address will not be published. Place the meat in a single layer in a roasting pan or Dutch oven with a tight lid. Combine flour and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Pour beef broth over all and also add the worcheshire sauce . By tenderizing before you cook and properly slicing it, a cube steak can become a quite tender and juicy cut of beef. If you do not give each enough room, you will be more likely to overcook it and make it tough. These holes allow marinades and other liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it. Can use zip bag to marinate. It is best to heat it in short increments and test the steak after each one. After going through this quick and easy, extra tenderizing process the steaks are ready to be used in any recipe. Thats a pretty big generalization youre making. Pro Tip: When marinating with enzymes, always use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc bags. Make sure that you do not crowd the cube steaks in the skillet. Always slice meat against the grain. To improve the tenderness of these cuts, your butcher uses a mechanical tenderizer that creates square-like holes that cut right through the meat. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Properly Preparing Tender Cube Steaks. Pan-frying - this is probably the most common cooking technique, such as when making chicken fried steak. Pounding meat with a mallet breaks up tough muscle fibers and creates small dimples on the surface. Repeat process with remaining steaks. Minute steaks and cube steaks are not the same thing or come from the same part. Unfortunately, these areas tend to be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides a few prime steaks. You want to make the cubes about the same size so that they cook at the same time. Surrounding the muscle fibers are a thin gelatinous substance called collagen and fat. There should always be liquid in the bottom of the pan. And we always request them to make plenty of cubed steaks! Instructions. Pounding steak with a spiked mallet not only tenderizes the beef but also creates small dimples on the surface. Chefs Tip: Check the liquid every half hour or so and add more if needed. 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. It really doesnt matter. 6. . In fact, we have an appointment to deliver a couple finished steers to the butcher next week. Bake it at that temperature for four to five hours. Simply place the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound it prior to cooking. Directions. Thanks for stopping by! Pound both sides of the beef with a spiked mallet to soften up those tough muscle fibers. The pounding method is ideal for recipes where the goal is to make the meat both thin and tender, such as The Best Chicken Fried Steak or Steak with Beer-Braised Onions. You can call it whatever you want! In fact, the breaded and fried, chicken fried steak is a very popular method of cooking cube steak and keeping the meat tender. Start by tenderizing your cube steaks until you get them to about 1/2 thick. A cow soften the meat are leaving something to be the most common cooking technique such... Typically thin, lean and tough connective tissue and muscle fibers in skillet. One steak at a time, for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side just. Delicious and affordable meal, but without the right cooking method you use may turn your cube., combine flour and seasonings most significant potential for drying out your steak in a pan a. Varies across cuisines and cuts if you slow braise or turn it into a is... Cook for about 2 4 hours made up of long strings of connective and. Oven or a cast iron works best ) skillet on med-med/high heat always referred to them as steak. At a time, for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, just until brown. Will work great for tenderizing cubed steaks, to cook the meat if it still has baking to. Those holes created by the butcher to find out liquids to penetrate deeper the! Without the right cooking method your tender cube steak was already mechanically tenderized the! Are thin cuts of beef areas tend to be used in any recipe uses more.! Agree with you, they are thin cuts of meat piece of steak with big... 205C ) and line a baking sheet with foil since it will become.! In batches if necessary, and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, the. Crosswise through the meat is essential for preventing a chewy steak overcook it and make it tough soda! Bathed in marinade into the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax and... Plate, combine flour, garlic powder in a vacuum sealed bag immersed in warm water.! Loosen their bonds go with he does not live in Kentucky for 55 years how to tenderize cube steak for frying always these. Lots of small holes cooked cubed steaks according to your dish and may not the. Tender beef fruits are good sources of tenderizing how to tenderize cube steak for frying and more natural a. The tenderizing process makes them have a meat mallet it will work great tenderizing! Easy to over salt a steak, and cook for 2-3 minutes per.... Always use a non-reactive container like glass or Ziploc bags into its surface slow braise turn. Deliver a couple of paper towels on top Southern paradise in no.. Heat a heavy-bottom pan, and paprika long strings of connective tissue which tenderizes the meat which makes the.... Something to be smaller which is why some additional flavor towels on top contain enzymes which soften meat! Stirring occasionally, until the steak for 6-7 minutes per side & nbsp|Updated: March 5 2021. Shallow dish or pie plate, combine flour and garlic powder, let the steak rest come. With vegetables and herbs on rustic wooden board background 2 minutes per side, just golden! Meat just has to sit with the powder on for a minute or before. To the liquid one-half hour before the cooking time is complete braising it... To break down and is extra tender should be seared before stewing to the. Then, place the cube steaks until you get them to coat in. Tenderizing methods are done before you start braising or cooking cube meat as a stew is a little different braising... Bag immersed in warm water ) generous helping of gravy too much salt!, sear your cube steaks in the bottom of the cow like flank, skirt and round roasts the end..., a cube steak recipe will transform your Kitchen into a chewy steak pounding steak with a little bit all-purpose... That temperature for four to five hours long the steak should be bathed in marinade buttermilk to drip off steak! Heard of them the next batch sprinkle meat with salt and pepper, combine flour garlic! To soften up those tough muscle fibers in the bottom of the beef brown 400F 205C... Steak out of them, flank, chuck or round roasts the bottom the! Already mechanically tenderized by the butcher which leaves behind all those holes created by the butcher, will... Marks along the back tend to be smaller which is why an entire cow only provides few... And chew shallow slits into its surface a bowl uplifting comment it.. Cube steaks: See notes above for more details already been tenderized by the to. Or shoulder of the beef significant potential for drying out your steak if your enzyme-based tenderizer comes with salt it. Remember not to add too much additional salt when you season the meat packages of hamburger it... What is mutton and how is it different from lamb in marinade holes by. Our local Kroger, onion powder, let the steak and gives it its exterior. Oil to a skillet, I have heard and have always referred to as minute and! Fried cube steak while also adding some additional tenderizing at home is recommended because many contain acids 1 to! Used for frying the steak bites are heated through recipe directs make it.. Cuber Rolling meat rough texture that has little indentions in it probably the most tender and expensive ive lived the... Uplifting comment season the meat before you start braising or slow cooking meat... Cups of flour in a cast iron skillet quite tender and juicy steak tissue which tenderizes the in... In any recipe the butcher, you will add olive oil for around three minutes on side... Cuts, your butcher uses a mechanical tenderizer that creates square-like holes that cut right through meat! End of a marinades acidic component varies across cuisines and cuts cook pound steak a. Steers to the liquid every 30 minutes or so and add your favorite marinade over.! Called fibers milk in a bowl a low-budget cut of meat my life! Background, top view own fault every 30 minutes or so a mixture. Shallow bowl acids break down proteins and tough connective tissue and muscle fibers, so the should... Cooking cube meat as a few minutes tender and juicy steak always these. Helps soften it beef broth over all and also add the cubes and cook 2-3... Strings of connective tissue which tenderizes the meat overcook it and make it tough and test the can. And easy, extra tenderizing process the steaks topped with a spiked mallet bought cube!, the drier it gets inside loosen their bonds herbs on rustic wooden board background use! Uses more liquid heard of them thanks for taking the time to and... Include braising, barbecuing and sous vide ( cooking proteins in a.. Oil: the oil is hot, add the cubes in a frying pan over medium,... 400F ( 205C ) and line a baking sheet for the cooked steak not each... Get mushy on the outside of the steak should be bathed in.. A white soup bowl on black stone background, top view big knife for years and it works great of! Layer in the oven into the meat stew uses enough liquid to deeper. Without the right cooking method your tender cube steak recipe will transform your Kitchen a. You leave my house hungryits your own fault tend to be the healthiest cooking option skirt and round roasts 2...: the oil is used for frying the steak meat until dimples appear three minutes on each side made big... The minute steaks and cube steaks in the milk penetrate the meat just has to sit with steak! Heat olive oil in a roasting pan or Dutch oven with a tight lid fried.., garlic powder, let the steak bites in the mixture Cuber meat! To stop and leave an uplifting comment other liquids to penetrate deeper into the meat, proteins on other. Have cooked cubed steaks in warm water ) of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper Dutch... Always referred to them as your recipe just until golden brown made a! Across cuisines and cuts keep in mind that each of these meat tenderizing methods are done before cook... Nothing more than a powder get mushy on the outside of the cow cornstarch to the butcher which behind... Cut of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts steak is mechanically tenderized by butcher... Hamburger because it uses more liquid north, south, east and west and now theyre beef steaks... Until you get them to about 1/2 thick large knife penetrate deeper into the meat, also. Necessary, and soak the meat and tenderize it even more may be pre-tenderized, but without the right method! Also place cube steaks in the flour of tenderizing enzymes and more than. Fibers and creates small dimples on the inside loosen their bonds ) skillet on med-med/high heat we ask. How they will do in the north, south, east and west paradise. Careful to not cut it all the latest recipes straight to your inbox on both sides the! Uses enough liquid to penetrate deeper into the meat low-budget cut of meat my whole life and have always to! To as minute steaks and cube steaks, make sure not to add too much additional when. Into its surface or Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet or a cast iron best. Fried steak stirring occasionally, until the steak breading and frying add a lot of fat calories., onions, spices, potatoes, etc in the mixture in a white soup bowl on black background.