So youre ready for summer grilling. Youve purchased the perfect grill, and youve procured the latest, greatest cuts of steak.
Cut to you throwing that glorious piece of meat onto a blazing hot grill, all of your loved ones looking on in anticipation. A few minutes later, the steak is pulled off the grill. You slice into the meats thick crust to reveal perfectly medium-rare flesh.
It may seem counterintuitive to make like Mary Poppins and add a spoonful of the sweet stuff to your meat. But you dont add sugar for its flavor — you add it for its effect on texture. Some of the most popular cuts of beef (skirt steak, flank steak) are tough and chewy unless exposed to sugar, which is a natural tenderizer. So how do you get the sugar onto the steak? Two ways.Advertisement
THROW TOGETHER A QUICK RUBMake a large batch of this easy-to-remember rub to use on beef, poultry, or vegetables: Combine 4 parts salt, 3 parts brown sugar, 2 parts sweet paprika, and 1 part cayenne pepper. It sounds like a lot of sugar, but its not there just to tenderize–it also assists in giving your steak a caramelized crust. Get the recipe.
WHIP UP A SIMPLE MARINADEIf youve got extra time on your hands, tenderize whatever youre cooking with an easy marinade. Combine brown sugar with other flavorful ingredients such as cilantro, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, even a few jalapeños, if youve got some. The marinade found in this recipe for Korean steak tacos is a good place to start; let the meat marinate for at least 20 minutes, and up to 24 hours. Get the recipe.
More from Epicurious:20 Must-Try Ways to Pair Items You Already Have In Your Pantry
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by Matt Duckor, Epicurious
PHOTO BY TARA DONNE
So youre ready for summer grilling. Youve purchased the perfect grill, and youve procured the latest, greatest cuts of steak.
Cut to you throwing that glorious piece of meat onto a blazing hot grill, all of your loved ones looking on in anticipation. A few minutes later, the steak is pulled off the grill. You slice into the meats thick crust to reveal perfectly medium-rare flesh.
The only problem? When you actually eat the steak you realize its, well, chewy.
And why? Because you forgot the sugar.
It may seem counterintuitive to make like Mary Poppins and add a spoonful of the sweet stuff to your meat. But you dont add sugar for its flavor — you add it for its effect on texture. Some of the most popular cuts of beef (skirt steak, flank steak) are tough and chewy unless exposed to sugar, which is a natural tenderizer. So how do you get the sugar onto the steak? Two ways.Advertisement
THROW TOGETHER A QUICK RUBMake a large batch of this easy-to-remember rub to use on beef, poultry, or vegetables: Combine 4 parts salt, 3 parts brown sugar, 2 parts sweet paprika, and 1 part cayenne pepper. It sounds like a lot of sugar, but its not there just to tenderize–it also assists in giving your steak a caramelized crust. Get the recipe.
WHIP UP A SIMPLE MARINADEIf youve got extra time on your hands, tenderize whatever youre cooking with an easy marinade. Combine brown sugar with other flavorful ingredients such as cilantro, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, even a few jalapeños, if youve got some. The marinade found in this recipe for Korean steak tacos is a good place to start; let the meat marinate for at least 20 minutes, and up to 24 hours. Get the recipe.
More from Epicurious:20 Must-Try Ways to Pair Items You Already Have In Your Pantry
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The Quickest Way to Tenderize Steak – How to Tenderize Steak with a Meat Mallet
FAQ
Is paprika good for steak?
What seasoning tenderizes steak?
What is tenderizing a steak?
Tenderizing is a preparation technique for meat that can enhance the flavor of a tough cut. Learn how to tenderize steak to maximize the flavor and eatability of any cut in your freezer. Tenderizing is a preparation technique for meat that can enhance the flavor of a tough cut.
How do you tenderize steak?
Tenderizing is the process of making meat more tender by breaking down the connective tissue. You can tenderize meat in several different ways, including pounding, marinating and slow cooking, among others (more details on these processes in a moment). Should You Tenderize Steak?
How do you tenderize a steak using a mallet?
About this method: This is likely one of the most commonly recommended methods for tenderizing a piece of meat or poultry. To tenderize meat using a mallet, it’s recommended to lay the meat (or, in this case, flank steak) on a stable work surface, such as a cutting board, and cover it with a sheet of plastic wrap.
Which cuts of steak benefit from tenderizing?
There are several cuts of steak with lots of connective tissue that benefit from tenderizing. Cuts of meat that come from the shoulder or leg of the cow tend to be the toughest because they are worked the most, but they also tend to be more flavorful. Steaks that benefit from tenderizing include: London Broil. 1. Pounding