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. Apply it liberally by sprinkling it across the entire surface and underside of the cube steak. The enzyme most commonly used is papain, which comes from papayas or bromelain, which comes from pineapples. Spray the broiler pan and the rack with nonstick cooking spray. Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes, and wash the baking soda off before you cook the meat. Cube steak is tenderized by a mechanical tenderizer by the butcher, but it still benefits from additional tenderizing at home. Once youre done pounding, soak the meat in a marinade or use enzymes, salt or baking soda to further tenderize the meat. . If you buy them already ran through a cuber, I tend to cut them in half when I get home. 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. Pour beef broth over all and also add the worcheshire sauce . Without the use of a mallet, here's how to tenderize cube steak. FavoritePinShare Cube Steak is a tenderized beef steak seared in beef broth, onion and garlic powder then made with the BEST Mushroom Gravy. Work on especially tough areas or places missed by the tenderizing machine. Sprinkle both sides of each steak with the mixture. Simply rub the meat with kosher salt or sea salt to break down these cells and enhance the flavor and texture of the steak. 2. When you tenderize steak with salt it will turn a little brown in color. 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. STEP 2: Sprinkle meat with a little bit of all-purpose flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. The minute steaks were thin slices and not cubed! Meat tenderizer contains a naturally derived enzyme powder. This makes it easier to break down and chew. The trick to making perfect cube steak is cooking it low and slow so that it has time to break down. Minute steaks were quickly cooked for sandwiches. Once you have done that, your steak is good to go. 1. Let the cube steak rest according to the directions listed on your container of tenderizer. You can also take the liquid from the pan and make gravy for mashed potatoes if youd like. The eye round were my fave, good portions and no gristle streak. Im glad youre enjoying them! Read more: How to Cook a Tender Steak on the Stove. of cornstarch to the liquid one-half hour before the cooking time is complete. Carefully watch your steak and flip it every minute until it is to your liking. Add 1/2 cup of water or beef broth to the pan along with your other ingredients, vegetables and spices. The chef beats a piece of meat with a metal hammer. The fastest way to tenderize cube steak is with a spiked mallet. Always cut cube steak against the grain. According to consumer data from the USDA, Americans eat more than 50 pounds of beef a year. This shorten muscle fibers which makes the meat easier to break down and chew. As with other marinades, this method works best with thinner cuts such as hanger or skirt steaks. Start by placing the steak on a cutting board and then put a piece of plastic wrap over its top. (Add a splash more olive oil if needed and adjust heat up or down slightly as needed as the steaks cook.) Dredge cube steak in the flour mixture. Cover and place dutch oven in a 250F oven. Dont go over 24 hours or it can become mushy. Allowing the steaks to warm up allows the milk to penetrate the meat more, which further tenderizes your steak. Heat 2 inches of canola oil in a frying pan to 350F and preheat the oven to 200F. Cube steak is sometimes called cubed steak, or swiss steak. Sear until the beef becomes brown on all sides. Heat olive oil in large (cast iron works best) skillet on med-med/high heat. In a shallow bowl, pour buttermilk. The tenderizing process makes them have a rough texture that has little indentions in it. Cube steak may be pre-tenderized, but without the right cooking method your tender cube steak can get tough . 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". Step 4 Melt butter into onions, then sprinkle in onion soup mix and 1 tablespoon of reserved dredge mixture. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the meat. The secret to tenderizing your cube steak is to soak it in a mixture made from milk and eggs. First, sear your steak in a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat for one to two minutes per side. Here, how to bake, boil, pan-sear and grill chicken breast. You dont want to cook the meat if it still has baking soda on it. Along with flank steak, hanger has big flavor at a lower price point than a high-end cut. While this may take a tad longer, the moisture savings may be worth it. STEP 3: Pound each piece of steak with a large knife. Not just any marinade will tenderize a steak, it has to contain some acid like lemon, lime or kiwi. All rights reserved. Crock Pot Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cube Steak & Gravy. Turn budget cuts into steakhouse-worthy mains. Step 9. Allow excess buttermilk to drip off the steak, then dip it in the flour. We always ask them to make two-pound packages of hamburger because it just works for us. A great way to tenderize a tough cube steak is with an acidic marinade. Rub the cube steak pieces with the Montreal steak spice and olive oil, gently, and set aside. These holes allow salt to penetrate deeper into the meat which helps soften it even more. When you publish a cookbook, or raise cattle on a farm, how about then you return to give your opinion? Cook steaks in hot oil until brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Beef burgers need nothing more than a sprinkle of salt, preferably kosher salt, to cook up juicy and delicious. Always cut the meat across the grain. Place the lid on the pan and cook in the oven for 2 to 4 hours. Meat tenderizers contain enzymes which soften the meat while it cooks. This can be done in as little as a few minutes. (For even more flavor, add crushed garlic to the salt.) The meat is generally cut from tough and lean cuts of beef like skirt, flank, chuck or round roasts. As pH levels rise toward the outside of the meat, proteins on the inside loosen their bonds. The longer a steak spends over the heat, the drier it gets. Live in Kentucky for 55 years, always heard these called minute steaks. I would probably not order it in the uppers even if I did see it. a little milk tenderized and floured fry and cooked in gravy. Maybe you could add a little water to the bottom of the pot? Thats a pretty big generalization youre making. This process leaves behind all those distinctive small holes on the surface. 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. Our website is supported by our users. Cube steak can be a delicious and affordable meal, but it's often tough. Next, place your cube steak in an acid based marinade. 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. Required fields are marked *. Instructions. I agree! Next, add about a 1/2 Cup of vegetable oil to a pan and turn on high heat. So only keep them on for a few minutes. After going through this quick and easy, extra tenderizing process the steaks are ready to be used in any recipe. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the mixture. Cube Steak Recipe - The Cozy Cook . If its open steam can release which dries out the meat. 4. Place the steaks in the pan and fry until browned. Next, start rubbing them with your seasoning mix before flouring. How do you tenderize cube steak for frying? Simmer over a low heat while you fry the steaks. Slow cooking in the oven generally works best, but a stovetop can also work as long as you keep the heat low and steady. 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. Work in batches if necessary so you don't crowd the pan. These dimples allow juices to penetrate deeper into the meat which tenderizes even more. Cooking them with gravy helps tenderize them and add flavor. Set them on a plate and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the steaks. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar, beer and soda are all strong tenderizers. 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