How and how much to cook beef

We will tell you how to cook meat to make it soft and juicy.

How to choose beef

High quality chilled meat should be red in color, without dark or greenish spots. Fat is white, yellowish in color - a sign of toughness, as it happens with the meat of old animals. The piece should be free of mucus and blood clots.

Fresh beef is elastic to the touch, and if you press on a piece, the trace is quickly smoothed. The smell of quality meat is pleasant, there are no extraneous aromas in it.

The package of quality frozen meat is intact, without any damage and with clear indication of the product data. There is practically no ice in it, and if there is a lot of it, the beef was probably frozen more than once and stored incorrectly.

How to prepare beef

It is better to thaw frozen meat first so that it cooks evenly and turns out to be more juicy.

To defrost the beef, leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours. If you want to speed up the process, put the meat in a bag, tie it up, and then put it in a container with cool water at room temperature.

Rinse defrosted or chilled beef under running water at room temperature.

Cook meat on the bone if you need broth or plan to cook soup. If beef is required for salads or other dishes, use the pulp.

How much to cook beef

The meat is cooked for about 2–2.5 hours, if it is not defrosted, the time increases. To cook faster, cut the beef into small, even sized pieces.

To make sure the beef is cooked, remove it from the broth and pierce it with a fork or knife. The tip should fit easily, and the juice will be almost transparent, without a pink tint.

How to cook beef on the stove

Place the meat in a saucepan and cover with cool water. Bring to a boil over low heat and skim off any foam that forms on the surface.

For a delicious broth that makes a great base for soup, add salt, pepper, lavrushka, and other seasonings at the start of boiling. If you just prefer boiled meat, you can salt it after cooking.

Cook a large piece for 2 hours or longer. Small ones will cook in 1-1.5 hours. Make sure that the water does not boil away, and add it if necessary.

Leave the cooked beef in the broth for 20-30 minutes before removing it.

How to cook beef in a slow cooker

Cut the meat into small pieces. Place in a multicooker bowl and cover with cool water. Turn on the "Extinguishing" mode. After boiling, remove the foam. Add salt, pepper, bay leaf, and other spices to your liking.

Close the lid and let simmer for an hour and a half. When the timer goes off, check the tenderness of the meat. If it's not done, continue cooking for another 20-30 minutes.

How to cook beef in a double boiler

Cut the meat into small pieces and place in a double boiler. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about an hour. Make sure the beef is cooked before you take it out. Use a knife or fork to do this.

How to cook beef in a pressure cooker

Place the meat in a pressure cooker and cover with cool water. Add salt, pepper and spices. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for about an hour and a half, depending on the size of the piece.