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Pro tips for delicious meat! The best way to cook beef

last update date 2023-09-19 | release date 2020-12-21

THE BEST WAY TO COOK BEEF

Some people may think that cooking delicious meat is as simple as just cutting and grilling. How hard can it be, right? True. It really doesn’t have to be that difficult. However, you may find yourself in certain situations where you have guests over and you want to show off some of your cooking skills. Or… You may just find yourself having a bit of extra time in the kitchen, so you can make something fancier than usual! If you’ve ever had this happen to you, then check out this article to get some tips from the meat pros on how to cook delicious beef recipes!

MAKE BEEF TENDER! IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FANCY WAGYU!

Lean meat sometimes has a bad rap for its tendency to be stiff, tough and hard to chew when overcooked… but you can basically say the same for any other type of meat! Even beef with a good amount of marbling can turn out tough if you cook it too long. So, here are 5 tips to get soft and tender beef no matter what type or cut it is! Check it out!

CUT AGAINST THE GRAIN!

As block meats are usually cut into smaller bite-sized pieces before cooking, one thing to look out for is which way you are cutting the meat!
If you cut the meat so that the knife is perpendicular to the muscle fibers, then it will be softer and easier to chew. When cutting roast beef, this method should also be used.

MAKE VERTICAL CUTS ALONG THE TENDON

The tendon of the meat can be found at the boundary between lean meat and fat. Make incisions with the tip of a knife perpendicular to the boundary between lean meat and fat.

CUTS ALONG THE TENDON

If you do this step before cooking, you will not have to worry about biting through the tendons when eating. This method also prevents the meat from shrinking when cooked! Two birds with one stone!

CUTS ALONG THE TENDON

MARINATE IN FRUITS OR VEGETABLES

This method is effective in softening meat by using the "proteolytic enzymes" contained in fruits and vegetables. Fruits like pineapple and kiwi, and vegetables such as onions and ginger contain a lot of said enzymes. By chopping up these fruits and veggies, and “pickling” the meat, the proteins in the meat are broken down and they become more tender. If you are using this method, make sure to use raw fruits and veggies as the enzymes will not be present in heated fruits and vegetables.
Marinate the meat for about 2 hours to half a day. Be careful not to marinate the meat for too long as this may cause the meat to become too soft.

STEW THE MEAT FOR OVER AN HOUR OR USE A PRESSURE COOKER FOR A MORE HANDS-OFF APPROACH

Meat has a tendency to harden when grilled for too long because the proteins in the meat will harden. However, if you simmer it for a long time, the hardened protein will break down and soften. This is why stewed dishes that have been simmered for a long time yield softer meat. Using a pressure cooker will save you some time and speed up this whole process.

COOK TO MEDIUM, AND EAT WHILE WARM

Overcooked meat becomes almost elastic and tough to chew. Because of this, it is best to cook beef until medium or medium-rare. This is where the outside of the meat is browned, while the inside remains slightly pink. This will make the meat soft and easy to chew. The fat in beef is also something to be mindful of! Beef fat tends to harden once it’s cooled. It’s best to eat beef soon after cooking it so the fat doesn’t lose moisture and dry up. Cook the beef just before eating or serving so you can enjoy it while it’s warm!
Unlike beef, pork and chicken need to be cooked thoroughly. These meats have a tendency to develop more bacteria that can cause food poisoning, so we strongly advise against eating them raw.

DON’T LIKE THE SMELL OF BEEF? NO PROBLEM! HERE IS HOW TO GET RID OF MEAT SMELLS

When we say “smell”, we don’t mean the smell that comes off of meat when they’re rotting. Of course, fowl-smelling meat is a no-no. We’re talking about the natural odor that comes off of meat. Every type of meat has it. Maybe you’ve never really paid attention to it before or you just don’t mind it, but for some people, the natural smell of meat may be off-putting. Beef is rich in B vitamins, iron and zinc, so some people may want to eat it for health purposes. Here are a couple tips for how to get rid of beef odor.

FOR STEWS, BOIL THE MEAT FIRST

Meat smell comes from the blood or the liquid that comes off the beef when thawed. To get rid of the smell, we suggest boiling the meat in advance before using it for stews. Boil some water in a pot, and heat the beef for about 30 seconds. Remove the meat from the water when it turns brown.

BOIL THE MEAT FIRST

This method will remove excess blood and “drip” from the beef, which will greatly reduce the natural smell of the beef.

FOR FRIED BEEF DISHES, WIPE OFF THE EXCESS MOISTURE FIRST!

When cooking fried dishes like steaks or roast beef, it’s best to wipe off the excess moisture or blood from the surface of the meat first before cooking. This will greatly lessen the natural meat odor. Pro tip: sprinkling salt and pepper on the surface of the meat brings out more moisture. Make the meat “sweat” before wiping the moisture off with a paper towel.

COOK WITH RED WINE, HERBS AND SPICES

Change the smell of beef from bad to good! The aroma of red wine, herbs and spices help combat the natural smell that comes from beef. You won’t even notice the smell if you use these ingredients in your dishes!

USE FRUITS OR VEGGIES IN THE SAUCE

This method is used to lighten the natural smell of beef when eating by incorporating fruits or vegetables in the sauce to create a sweet and sour flavor. Fruits such as blueberries, prunes, pineapples and oranges have some acidity and sweetness that make them perfect to use for beef dishes. You can just simply add soy sauce and mirin to chopped fruit and simmer to complete a fruity sauce! Of course, for those who don’t have fresh fruit on-hand, jam is an ok alternative too.

EASY BEEF RECIPES USING THE PRO TIPS!

USE A RICE COOKER! STEWED BEEF IN RED WINE (FOR 2 PEOPLE)

STEWED BEEF IN RED WINE

【INGREDIENTS】
  • 300g beef, cut into 6 equal parts
  • 1 onion, sliced into 1.5cm-thick slices
  • 1/2 carrot, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 clove garlic, cut in half
  • 200g can cut tomatoes
  • 2 cups red wine
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt

【DIRECTIONS】
  1. Sprinkle the beef with half of the salt and leave to rest. After about 5 minutes, wipe off the moisture on the surface of the meat with a paper towel and coat with flour. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan at medium heat and cook the surface of the meat until browned.
    Place the meat, red wine, canned tomatoes, chopped veggies, salt, and sugar in a rice cooker, and mix gently.
  2. How to cook
  3. Cover the rice cooker and cook as usual to complete!
  4. How to cook
  5. Add boiled broccoli and parsley when serving to add color!

TROPICAL PINEAPPLE STEAK (FOR 2 PEOPLE)

TROPICAL PINEAPPLE STEAK

【INGREDIENTS】
  • 200g x 2 pcs. steak-cut beef
  • 100g pineapple, cut into 5mm cubes
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1/3 tsp grated garlic

【DIRECTIONS】
  1. Combine everything in a resealable plastic bag, and leave in the fridge for about 2 hours to half a day to marinate.
  2. DIRECTIONS
  3. Take only the meat out and start frying it in a preheated frying pan. Once done, remove the meat from the heat and cut to your preferred size. Now, start cooking just the sauce in the same pan.
    The enzymes in the fruit soften the meat, and that sweet and sour flavor is simply addictive!

SPICY BEEF SALAD (FOR 2 PEOPLE)

SPICY BEEF SALAD

【INGREDIENTS】
  • 200g Beef
  • 1.5 tbsp Meat Guy Original Spice
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 4 leaves lettuce, torn into bit-sized pieces
  • 1/4 onion, rinsed with water
  • 1/2 large tomato, cut into 1cm cubes
  • 2 tsp whole grain mustard
  • 2 pinches salt
  • A little honey
  • 3-4 tbsp oil for frying

【DIRECTIONS】
  1. Cut beef into 5cm-long and 8mm-wide pieces and sprinkle with The Meat Guy’s original spice and flour. Heat some oil in a frying pan and start frying the beef.
  2. DIRECTIONS
  3. Combine the meat, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes in a bowl. Instead of mustard, use the mustard, salt and honey. If you don’t have The Meat Guy’s original spice on hand, you can use black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, etc. instead.

USE THE TIPS TO GET DELICIOUS BEEF!

Now that you have these tips from the pros, you too can cook delicious beef every time! Beef is rich in protein and other vitamins and minerals, so it’s good to know the best ways to incorporate it in your daily meals.
If you’re not an expert in the kitchen, use these tips, tricks, and easy recipes to impress your guests at your next dinner party! Good luck!

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