Throwing This Cheap Steak Cut On The Grill Can Actually Ruin It

If you can believe it, not all cuts of steak are fit for the grill. Though it seems like almost any slab of red meat could benefit from that char, this cooking method isn't friendly to all types, such as cubed steak. It's an affordable version of steak, usually taken from the rump of the cow and mechanically tenderized with a mallet or a special tool. We spoke to Dagan Lynn, executive chef for Beef. It's What's For Dinner., about how to approach this cheap cut of beef without turning it into a chewy mess.

Lynn says, "I recommend skillet cooking cubed steak, since this cut is pre-tenderized and is a thinner cut that cooks quickly." The high heat of any grill can potentially overcook it quickly, which will leave you with a disappointing result. Part of why cubed steak will get chewy on a grill is because the rump is a very lean part of the cow, with minimal intramuscular fat. So you're dealing with pure muscle, which has good flavor but not a whole lot of inherent tenderness. There's one dish where cubed steak really shines, though, and it's an American classic.

While cubed steak might not be ideal for the open flame, there is one dish it's perfectly suited for: country-fried steak. Chef Dagan Lynn says, "Cubed steak brings great value for everyday meals and is commonly used to make country-fried steak." His suggested preparation is a classic country-fried steak, pairing it with a creamy milk gravy (you can get the recipe here at Beef. It's What's For Dinner.).

The cubed steak is perfect in this case because it can withstand a bath in hot oil. Afterwards, it'll come out with a hearty, satisfying crust, and the meat will be cooked well-done, but it'll remain tender thanks to the tenderizing process. Lynn says that a meat-and-potatoes approach to the rest of your dinner is best, explaining, "If you're cooking cubed steak to make country fried steak, you can pair with mashed potatoes and green beans to make a meal the whole family will love." So next time you get your hands on a cheap cubed steak, just be sure to keep it away from the grill — as tempting as that easy cooking method may be.