Are you tired of cleaning the broiler or an electric indoor grill after making cheap cuts of steak that turn out less than tender and flavorful? Turn off the broiler and put away the grill. Cheap steak can be prepared in a number of different ways that use a single skillet, a crock pot, or an easy-to-wash baking pan. Cheap cuts of steak are often the most flavorful when properly prepared, and it does not have to be tenderized with store-bought meat tenderizer, and it does not have to be over-seasoned to taste delicious.
If you are tired of the same old chuck steak, round steak, or tough tip steak, try something completely new and different. It is very easy to make tender and flavorful steak in a number of different ways that will tempt your family’s taste buds while trimming your grocery budget. Cheap steak can be used to make some of the most flavorful meat dishes, and with minimal clean-up and time.
Make Tender Beef in Gravy Using Tough Cheap Cuts of Meat
Sometimes slow cooking is the only way to fully tenderize cheap cuts of steak, and steak bits in gravy is one of my favorites. When I have tough cuts of cheap steak that I know would not turn out tender when broiled, I cut the steak into bite-size pieces and brown it in a skillet with about one tablespoon of olive oil. Once the steak is brown, I liberally add minced dried or fresh onions, about one-quarter cup of water, and approximately one tablespoon of soy sauce. Next I allow the meat to simmer with a lid in place and tenderize for about one hour, and I add more water as necessary to prevent the meat from becoming dry and sticking to the pan. Lastly, I serve the tender bite-size bits of steak with my favorite gravy over a mounds of mashed potatoes.
Make Italian Beef Sandwiches Using Tough Cheap Meat
Italian beef is one of my favorite sandwich fillings, and cheap cuts of steak that would not turn out tender when broiled are ideal for slow-cooking and using to make seasoned Italian beef sandwiches. Slice cheap cuts of steak into serving size pieces, and cook it in a crock pot along with a sixteen-ounce jar of mild pepper rings (liquid included) on high for about four or five hours or until it becomes fork tender. Add a blend of Italian seasonings to taste, and serve it on crusty Italian rolls along with pepperchinies. The steak will be tender, and along with a jar of mild pepper rings and Italian seasoning it will make excellent Italian beef sandwiches that are as good or better than restaurant varieties.
How to Tenderize Tough Cheap Round Steak
One of the first steak dishes that I learned to prepare at around the age of thirteen was round steak. This is a cheap cut of meat that must be slowly cooked or baked to come out tender, and tomato sauce can help tenderize and add tremendous flavor. Begin by cutting the meat into serving-size pieces, and coat each piece in flour. Brown each side in about one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Once both sides of the steak are brown, drain away the oil, and cover the meat with tomato juice. Top it with slices of Vidalia onions and green peppers. Allow the meat and vegetables to cook until fork tender. The acid in the tomato juice is a natural tenderizer, and it can help turn tough cheap meat into a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy.
Bake Cheap Cuts of Tough Meat with Mushrooms and Onions
The oven provides a great way to set it and forget it, especially when trying to turn a cheap cut of tough meat into a tender and juicy main course dish. Simply spray a baking pan with cooking spray, and add about ½ cup of water along with steak cut into serving-size pieces. Allow it to bake while covered at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until it is fork tender. Approximately thirty minutes before taking the pan out of the oven, top the meat with sliced fresh mushrooms and onion slivers. When the veggies are tender remove the pan from the oven and serve the steak with your favorite beef gravy.
Turn Tough Cheap Meat into Tender Tasty BBQ
Barbeque sandwiches made with ground beef are good, but barbeque sandwiches made with steak are awesome. Place a tough cut of steak into the crock pot, and allow it to cook on high until it falls apart. Shred the meat with a fork, and drain away any liquid. Stir in your favorite barbeque sauce and serve what was once tough meat on buns along with baked sweet potato fries. They are absolutely delicious and will help turn a humdrum mean into a memorable treat.
