89% of Americans eat meat, so it’s probably a very big part of your diet. From chicken and fish to pork and beef, there’s a wide variety you can use in your dishes.
However, you’ll sometimes run across meat that’s so tough, you don’t even want to consider it. But we’re here to tell you to give it a chance!
If you want to learn how to make tough meat tender, then read on. Here are 5 proven strategies to get soft, delicious meat!
1. Use a Meat Mallet
Meat mallets are very effective for tenderizing meat, but make sure you don’t overdo it. If you do, it’ll turn the cut into ground meat, so you have to do it perfectly.
With a few whacks of a meat mallet, you can end up with a deliciously soft piece of meat.
Don’t have a meat mallet? While waiting for your order to arrive, you can score the meat or poke small holes in it as good alternatives.
2. Marinate the Meat
Marinades do more than just flavor meat. They can also break down proteins, which are what makes the meat so tough in the first place.
More specifically, you’ll want to use acidic ingredients. Good examples include vinegar, lemon juice, and buttermilk. Make sure you don’t marinate your meat for over 2 hours, as it’ll become mushy instead of soft and tender.
3. Slow Cook the Meat
If you’ve got the time, slow cooking is the way to go, especially for making beef tender. Cooking methods like stewing, braising, and grill roasting will break down tough connective tissue.
The result? Meat that melts in your mouth! Check out Texas Recipe Workbook if you’re looking for tender beef recipes.
4. Nail the Cooking Time
Meat is like Goldilocks in that you need to cook it for just the right amount of time to be mouthwateringly delicious. Undercook it, and it’ll be tough and chewy. Overcook it, and you’ll get the same results, but a block of charcoal instead.
Before you cook a piece of meat, do some research into what the cook time for it is. Having a meat thermometer is helpful as well, as you can check the internal temperature and know when to serve it.
5. Rest the Meat
We know your dish might smell amazing once it’s done cooking. But don’t dig in just yet!
You need to rest the meat to ensure it doesn’t end up dry and tough. Generally, you’ll want to give it 5 minutes per inch of thickness (steaks) or 10 minutes per pound (roasts).
Know How to Make Tough Meat Tender
Now that you know how to make tough meat tender, you’re on your way to whipping up dishes that everyone will be drooling over. When they taste how great you make your meat, they’ll be begging for your recipes and secrets!
For more culinary tips like these on cooking tender meat, take a look at our other blog posts now.