How To Soften Beef Without Pressure Cooker?

Beef is enjoyed by many for its hearty flavor, but sometimes it can be a little tough. Luckily, there are ways to soften beef without using a pressure cooker. In this article, we will discuss a few tips on how to soften beef without a pressure cooker.

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How To Soften Beef Without Pressure Cooker?

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, don’t worry! There are still ways to soften your beef. A little note that you can use a sharp knife to make cuts on the beef piece so the mixture seeps deep into the meat.

This will help it cook faster and evenly. If you’re looking to soften beef without a pressure cooker, there are a few tips you can follow;

1. Sea Salt

Salt has been used on food for millennia as a preservative and flavoring agent. In recent years, it has also been touted for its ability to tenderize meat.

To use salt to tenderize beef, you’ll need to add it directly to the meat. The amount of time that you’ll need to let the salt work will depend on how thick the piece of beef is, but it’s generally a good idea to let it sit for at least an hour.

When you put salt on the outside of a piece of meat, it dissolves the protein structures on the surface as it starts absorbing water in the meat. This causes them to break down, which in turn makes the meat more tender. Here are proper steps to tender your beef with salt;

  • Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of salt on all sides of the meat.
  • Let it be for 12 hours for best results but as a minimum, you need to leave it for an hour.
  • After applying salt, place the meat on a wired tray and place it in the fridge uncovered.
  • Bring it to room temperature before cooking and rinse it before following your recipe.

2. Acidic Marinades

Acidic marinades are another way to tenderize beef without a pressure cooker. The acids in the marinade will break down the muscle fibers in the beef, making it more tender. There are a lot of different types of acidic ingredients that you can use in a marinade, but vinegar is a good place to start. You can also use citrus juices like lemon juice or lime juice.

To make a marinade, you’ll need to combine the acidic ingredient with some oil, herbs, and spices. Once you’ve mixed everything, you’ll need to let the beef marinate for at least an hour. If you’re short on time, you can marinate the beef for a shorter period, but it won’t be as tender.

How To Soften Beef Without Pressure Cooker Acidic Marinades

Also, as a rule of thumb is never to marinate your meat for longer than 12 hours before cooking. If it takes longer than this your meat is going to get mushy. You can use this marinade recipe for your barbeque steak;

  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3. Enzymatic Marinades

Enzymatic marinades work in a similar way too acidic marinades, but they use enzymes instead of acids to break down the muscle fibers in the beef.

The most common enzyme used in meat tenderizing is papain, which is found in papaya. You can also find it in fresh pineapple or kiwi fruit. As well as breaking down the muscle fibers, enzymes also help to break down connective tissue, which further tenderizes the beef.

To make an enzymatic marinade, you’ll need to combine the enzyme with some oil, herbs, and spices. Once you’ve mixed everything, you’ll need to let the beef marinate for at least an hour. If you’re short on time, you can marinate the beef for a shorter time, but it won’t be as tender. Here is a recipe you can use on beef, pork, or even chicken;

  • ½ cup crushed fresh pineapple
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons runny honey
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger root
  • Pinch of dried cloves

4. Pound The Beef

If you don’t have any time to spare and need to soften beef quickly, you can always pound it. This is a good option if you’re making steak or a thin cut of beef. To pound the beef, you’ll need to place it between two pieces of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and then use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to pound it until it’s about 1 inch thick.

This is a quick and easy way to tenderize the beef, but it won’t work as well on thicker cuts of meat.

How To Soften Beef Without Pressure Cooker Pound The Beef

5. Slow Cook In Liquid

If you don’t have a pressure cooker or a marinade, you can still tenderize your beef by cooking it slowly in liquid. Another related guide on jar tomatoes without a pressure cooker. This is the slow and low method of cooking and it will take a little longer, but it’s a good way to make sure your beef is cooked through.

You can use any type of liquid, but beef broth or red wine are good options. You’ll need to add enough liquid to cover the beef completely and then cook it on low heat for 3-4 hours. Once the beef is cooked, you can use the liquid to make a gravy or sauce. This method is good for tougher cuts of meat like chuck steak or brisket.

How To Cook Beef Without Pressure Cooker?

Look at the following steps to cook delicious beef at home;

1. Choose The Right Cut Of Beef

If you’re cooking beef without a pressure cooker, it’s important to choose the right cut of beef. You’ll want to avoid tougher cuts of meat like chuck steak or brisket. Instead, opt for tender cuts of meat like ribeye or sirloin. These cuts of meat are less tough and will be more tender when cooked without a pressure cooker.

How To Soften Beef Without Pressure Cooker

2. Season The Beef

Once you’ve chosen your cut of beef, it’s time to season it. You’ll want to use a generous amount of salt and pepper to help flavor the beef. You can also add other spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or herbs like rosemary or thyme.

3. Marinate The Beef

If you have time, you can marinate the beef in a mixture of oil, herbs, and spices. This will help to tenderize the meat and add flavor. You can marinate the beef for at least an hour. If you’re short on time, you can marinate it for a shorter period, but it won’t be as tender.

4. Cook The Beef In A Skillet

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can still cook the beef in a skillet. This is a good option if you’re making steak or a thin cut of beef. To cook the beef in a skillet, you’ll need to heat some oil in a pan over medium-high heat. add the beef and cook it for 2-3 minutes per side, or until it’s browned.

5. Slow Cook The Beef

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can also slow cook the beef. This will take a little longer, but it’s a good way to make sure your beef is cooked thoroughly. You can use any type of liquid, but beef broth or red wine are good options. You’ll need to add enough liquid to cover the beef completely and then cook it on low heat for 3-4 hours. Once the beef is cooked, you can use the liquid to make a gravy or sauce.

Benefits Of Eating Beef

Not only it’s a delicious meal packed with flavor but there are many benefits to eating neck bones.

  • Good source of protein.
  • Beef is a good source of iron.
  • Good source of B vitamins.
  • Beef is a good source of zinc.
  • Good source of selenium.
  • Eating beef can help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
  • It can help to reduce the risk of cancer.
  • Good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Beef is a good source of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid).
  • Good source of Haem Iron.

How Long Does It Take To Cook Beef Without Pressure Cooker?

Normally, it takes about an hour to cook beef without a pressure cooker. Here’s another related guide on cooking dal without a pressure cooker. However, if you’re using a slow cooker, it will take 3-4 hours to cook the beef properly.

How To Soften Beef Without Pressure Cooker – Conclusions 

When it comes to tenderizing beef, there are a few different methods you can try. If you have a pressure cooker, this is the best way to get tender beef quickly.

You can also use a marinade, either acidic or enzymatic, to break down the muscle fibers. Another option is to pound the beef thin before cooking. If you don’t have a pressure cooker or a marinade, you can still tenderize your beef by cooking it slowly in liquid.

Reference:

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About the author

Natalie is a food enthusiast who spends all of her time trying out new recipes, testing out new appliances, and making her kitchen as awesome as possible. She is a professional writer and blogs here about her love of food & kitchen.

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