Inexpensive Cuts of Steaks Made Tasty and Tender
Can Youi Afford Steak These Days?
If you are feeding a family, and still trying to stretch a grocery budget, it may be hard to justify buying steaks. However, I find that my grocery store runs frequent specials on less expensive types of steaks (cheap cuts), making them no more expensive than chicken or turkey. Once in awhile, our family enjoys a feast of red meat, and you can use some simple marinades to make cheap steak tasty and tender.
A simple marinade for a cheap steak can make it look like you spent a lot of money and are an expert chef!
According to experts, a marinade needs 2 things:
- Acid – This breaks down the tough connective tissue so the steak will be tender.
- Emulsifier – This soaks into the meat, so the marinade will affect the taste and texture all the way into the meat.
Some common acids that are used in marinades are citrus juice, wine, beer, coca cola, and vinegar. The emulsifiers are usually oils like olive oil, sesame oil, or canola oil.
In order to really let your own mixture do its thing, you really should cover your meat, and then put it back into the fridge for about 6 hours. If you are really pressed for time, I would advise you to let your meat soak for a minimum of 2 hours.
Use Your Creativity!
A simple concoction I like is simply made by mixing a can of coca cola (amazing powers of tenderizing) with a half cup of oil. I like to add in a little garlic, ginger, and onion powder. Then I let the meat marinade for 6 hours in the fridge. If I’m pressed for time, I use very thinly cut steak, and I just fry it in a pan with a little more oil, some sliced onions and mushrooms. I can be a one dish meal, or a salad and some rice makes a very filling feast!
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