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Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? - Food - Nairaland

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Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by freecocoa(f): 11:30am On Jan 10, 2010
Pls 4 sometime now i've noticed that whenever i cook beef it just refuses to get soft,even after cooking 4 close to 30 mins,my folks re really complaining,is there a particular type of beef that's hard to cook?can some pls tell me the best part of beef,is there a way to soften it?i need answers pls cos am about to cook and i don't want them to abandon the meat 4 me again.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Nobody: 11:44am On Jan 10, 2010
Cook it in slow/reduced heat.

You'd have to be patient cos it may take so much of your time.

1 Like

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by freecocoa(f): 12:05pm On Jan 10, 2010
@ omo Is there nothing i can add to it to soften it faster?
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Nobody: 12:46pm On Jan 10, 2010
Unfortunately, cooking in slow heat is all i know and it works perfectly for me.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by madlady(f): 1:19pm On Jan 10, 2010
@Poster Yes slow cooking is the best way to go but, this trick works, FRESH PINEAPPLE OR IT'S JUICE, MUST be FRESH, the enzyme it contains are destroyed if it's been processed in any way.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by freecocoa(f): 1:30pm On Jan 10, 2010
@ omo ibo & madlady,tanx i'll dat right away,tell u how it goes later.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by mamagee3(f): 12:40am On Jan 11, 2010
Cook the meat in a stove. kiss
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Materese: 7:57pm On Jan 11, 2010
^^^ Or use a pressure cooker if you have one. Otherwise, use meat tenderizer, or tenderize by beating and marinate before cooking.
Another good way is to stew the meat slowly in it's own juice. Don't bring to a hard boil, just let it simmer.

What kind of beef cut are you using though?
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by ryom(m): 8:29pm On Jan 11, 2010
Pressure cooker will sure do the trick. Plus it shortens your cooking time significantly.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Nobody: 8:32pm On Jan 11, 2010
from experience, when cooking hard meat. dont add salt and spice early,
boil meat plain after a long while, then spice and add salt very late.

from experience i have noted that when u add salt early in the mix the meat stays hard, no matter how long u boil it

this meat we r talking about are meat with skin(back)

1 Like

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by missreese: 8:36pm On Jan 11, 2010
You can use ginger to soften it, either powdered or blended

My husband recently taught me to blend onions, garlic and ginger and use the mixture to season and tenderize beef, chicken, turkey, it really is very tasty, you should try it and of course cook on medium heat,

1 Like

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by kolemm: 8:46pm On Jan 11, 2010
Toughness in meat is common with spent female animals, you can avoid buying this.
Another thing is for you to try adding potash (kaun) when boiling.

5 Likes

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Materese: 8:51pm On Jan 11, 2010
miss reese:

My husband recently taught me to blend onions, garlic and ginger and use the mixture to season and tenderize beef, chicken, turkey, it really is very tasty, you should try it and of course cook on medium heat,

He is right. Those are some of the ingredients that go into meat tenderizers. Some enzymes are added, too.

kaecy5:

from experience, when cooking hard meat. dont add salt and spice early,
boil meat plain after a long while, then spice and add salt very late.

from experience i have noted that when u add salt early in the mix the meat stays hard, no matter how long u boil it

this meat we r talking about are meat with skin(back)

This works too. Salts toughens proteins during cooking. Same happens with eggs and fish.

1 Like

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by agabaI23(m): 9:04pm On Jan 11, 2010
It depends on the part of meat you bought and the gender.

Female: Very tough because they only kill the old ones after the production years.
male: less fibrous

The leg muscle is likely to be tougher than the tommy muscles. The torso could be good if there is no too much fat(marbling)

If you want to tenderise(soften) your meat before cooking, freeze it for 24 hours. The meat itself contains an enzyme that destroys the protein in the muscle and makes it tender.
Freezing is the shortest cut after 24hrs it will still be fresh and it will have more flavour.
Low heat cooking will add more flavour and juiciness, it does not help much in tenderising your meat. It is sure the best way to cook your meat.
Good luck!
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by pafun(m): 9:05pm On Jan 11, 2010
Beat it with hammer before you cook. It works or any part of the meat , and I am not joking.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Nobody: 9:08pm On Jan 11, 2010
freecocoa:

Pls 4 sometime now i've noticed that whenever i cook beef it just refuses to get soft,even after cooking 4 close to 30 mins,my folks re really complaining,is there a particular type of beef that's hard to cook?can some pls tell me the best part of beef,is there a way to soften it?i need answers pls cos am about to cook and i don't want them to abandon the meat 4 me again.

i dont cook beef for less than 90 mins. Do this on low heat.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by 0hsisi: 9:10pm On Jan 11, 2010
david,is that your baby picture?
so cute
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Nobody: 9:12pm On Jan 11, 2010
0hsisi:

david,is that your baby picture?
so cute

lol thanks. grin
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by 0hsisi: 9:13pm On Jan 11, 2010
Nigerian beef is tough
You can beat it  all over with a pestle before cooking,that'll help tenderize it
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by geogentle: 9:42pm On Jan 11, 2010
@ topic

Try adding 7Up drink to the beef while boiling it. It sounds crazy but it works.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by whiteroses(f): 9:44pm On Jan 11, 2010
when i saw this on homepage i hanged my head in shamed but then i laughed out loud grin wish kain topic be diis? to answer your question, just marinate it
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by mjay(m): 9:44pm On Jan 11, 2010
freecocoa:

Pls 4 sometime now i've noticed that whenever i cook beef it just refuses to get soft,even after cooking 4 close to 30 mins,my folks re really complaining,is there a particular type of beef that's hard to cook?can some pls tell me the best part of beef,is there a way to soften it?i need answers pls cos am about to cook and i don't want them to abandon the meat 4 me again.

go back home to mummy, they know the local tricks u shld hve learnt dt b4 u left home. ''No offence meant''
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Cotton(m): 9:59pm On Jan 11, 2010
Put some nails in a cloth and tie them up as in a small sack. Boil with the meat. Of course you should use shining new nails!

4 Likes

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Eagleseye1: 10:05pm On Jan 11, 2010
See as men they lecture women on cooking grin grin grin
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by ahamdiheme: 10:21pm On Jan 11, 2010
If u have access to orange leaves, put a few in it while boiling and don't cut the meat before coocking- cut it after it has coocked. With the orage leaves I guarantee soft beef
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by dammit4u(m): 10:22pm On Jan 11, 2010
Seven up, i mean d mineral it's kind of wild but i saw someone using 2 soften meat.

1 Like

Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by koolchicco: 10:27pm On Jan 11, 2010
freecocoa:

Pls 4 sometime now i've noticed that whenever i cook beef it just refuses to get soft,[b]even after cooking 4 close to 30 mins,[/b]my folks re really complaining,is there a particular type of beef that's hard to cook?can some pls tell me the best part of beef,is there a way to soften it?i need answers pls cos am about to cook and i don't want them to abandon the meat 4 me again.
Wait a min. . .

. .But u don't cook a well spiced beef any less nau.   undecided

As a matter of fact before adding any water to the beef u steam it for 15/20mins (depending on the quantity), then add some water to it and continue  till its done (about another 30mins depending on the quantity). So you're looking at a minimum of 45/50mins of beef cooking.


However, if u insist on being lazy a short cut then u could add in 'potash' (which is not very good for your health). Now u decide!!!

PS: Poster I hope u aint an Igbo woman otherwise I go wooze u for asking such question.
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by Moyola(f): 10:29pm On Jan 11, 2010
Add potash {kanhun}. . . 've not tried it tho. Its known to soften ewedu, stobborn beans etc. tongue
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by presido1: 10:38pm On Jan 11, 2010
agabaI23:

It depends on the part of meat you bought and the gender.

Female: Very tough because they only kill the old ones after the production years.
male: less fibrous

The leg muscle is likely to be tougher than the tommy muscles. The torso could be good if there is no too much fat(marbling)

If you want to tenderise(soften) your meat before cooking, freeze it for 24 hours. The meat itself contains an enzyme that destroys the protein in the muscle and makes it tender.
Freezing is the shortest cut after 24hrs it will still be fresh and it will have more flavour.
Low heat cooking will add more flavour and juiciness, it does not help much in tenderising your meat. It is sure the best way to cook your meat.
Good luck!
Nwoke m gaa loo nwanyi, grin grin see as you de simmer dey tenderise.  Happy new dude longest time. But agaba u fit do mama put ooh the way u break thing down na A1+

Those for the addition potash, potash removes the protein content and you are left with chaf(chelsea).
Re: Tough Meat. How Do I Make It Soft? by HellaBella(f): 10:44pm On Jan 11, 2010
You can use milk to tenderize the meat. Also add a few drops of lemon to the milk. It will help to break down the protein of the meat.

2 Likes

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