Crock pot Cube Steak and Gravy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook cube steak so it's tender? ›

I browned the cube steaks with less oil, used beef stock instead of water, and simmered covered for nearly an hour. They were so tender that you easily could cut them with a fork, a nice sauce developed, no need to make milk gravy.

Add a slurry at the end.

A slurry is a mixture of flour and water, whisked together until smooth and added towards the end of cooking; it's a super-simple way to thicken any soup. For slow cooker soups, add your slurry with at least 30 minutes of cook time left so that the raw flour can cook and thicken the soup.

No need to rinse it before cooking if you're not adding any batter or breading to the surface. Keep the temperature relatively low and cook the meat slowly, setting aside 1.5 to 2 hours for the entire process. Rushing the cube steak with higher heat will only toughen it.

But the acid in milk is so mild that you can soak beef in it long enough to tenderize it effectively, without damaging the proteins on the surface. The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins.

The key to tender beef cubes is letting them cook and simmer on the stove for over an hour. On the other hand, if you want to take it one step further, you can always let it cook inside the slow cooker. So, if you choose this method, you must leave the beef for six to eight hours.

Add the cornflour mix to the gravy and stir until it's combined. Cook on HIGH for about 15 minutes or until thickened.

This moist environment allows you to leave food to cook for hours without risking it drying out. But because there is no evaporation, the liquid isn't able to reduce and thicken naturally in a slow cooker, often resulting in watery sauces and loose gravies. The common solution? Using a thickener.

Take the lid off

Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you've accidentally added too much liquid.)

It comes from the round area of the animal, so it's highly exercised and, therefore, can be tough. It's important to cook cube steak quickly over direct heat or slowly over indirect heat to prevent it from overcooking and becoming chewy.

Should I soak my cube steak in milk? ›

Like a marinade, however, you will get best results by soaking the steaks for four hours or overnight. Take the steaks out of the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature in the milk mixture. Allowing the steaks to warm up allows the milk to penetrate the meat more, which further tenderizes your steak.

This darkening is due to oxidation, the chemical changes in myoglobin due to the oxygen content. This is a normal change during refrigerator storage. Beef that has turned brown during extended storage may be spoiled, have an off-odor, and be tacky to the touch and should not be used.

Cover and place the meat and milk marinade in the refrigerator between 4 to 12 hours—whatever you deem as the perfect wait—before rinsing and patting the meat dry. And if you're adventurous, the marinade doesn't only work for meet but grilling classics like corn on the cob.

Acids can help break down tough meat. Soaking meat in a marinade made with lemon or lime juice, vinegar, buttermilk or even yogurt can help tenderize tough proteins.

Cube steak is a budget-friendly cut of meat and has the added plus of already being tenderized. This ingredient can be a time saver on a busy night — country-fried steaks, ground beef patties, slow-cooker recipes and burgers.

It comes from the round area of the animal, so it's highly exercised and, therefore, can be tough. It's important to cook cube steak quickly over direct heat or slowly over indirect heat to prevent it from overcooking and becoming chewy.

You can velvet meat and make it melt-in-your-mouth tender by quickly tossing chunks of beef or chicken in about ¾ tsp of baking soda for about 15 minutes before your next stir fry, then rinse and pat the meat dry before putting in the pan.

The main tip for cooking cube steak is DO NOT OVERCOOK this meat. Some countries may refer to these steaks as “minute steaks” because they require very little cooking time.