Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (2024)

Delicious and comforting beef stew with pumpkin that is easy to make and can either be cooked in a slowcooker or in a regular Dutch oven. It’s comfort food at it’s finest and perfect for the fall season.

Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (1)

Beef stew with pumpkin

Originally I made this recipe for a challenge where we were given three ingredients and had to make something out of it. The ingredients in this case had the colors of Halloween, so obviously a fresh pumpkin had to be one of the items. I decided a homemade stew was the way to go. I love a good beef stew and especially in this time of year I find it the perfect dish to make. A slow cooker beef stew is not only delicious and warming but it is also super easy to make.

What do you need for this stew recipe?

​For the recipe you need the following ingredients (but refer to the recipe card for the full instructions)

  • beef stew meat
  • tomato pasta
  • yellow onion
  • beef stock
  • bay leaves
  • fresh pumpkin
  • bottle of dark beer
  • garlic cloves
  • black pepper
  • carrots
  • little bit of sugar
Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (2)

In terms of the pumpkin; it is pumpkin season so you could pick different types of pumpkin for this recipe. I wouldn’t advise using pumpkin puree as that will give a different result. You do have to cut the pumpkin into pumpkin cubes or buy ready cubed pumpkin. For 4 people you need about one whole pumpkin. But again sizes can vary dramatically so use your best judgement here.

I originally made this recipe in a large Dutch oven (or use a large soup pot) but have also been using my slowcooker for this recipe as it is a perfect one for that. Instant pot is also great for this recipe. I especially like slow cooking in autumn and winter, even though you can definitely use it all year round.

Steps for cooking

The first steps for making this pumpkin stew or beef stew (I can’t decide which is the best name) is to cut the beef into cubes. You can quickly sear the beef before adding the seared beef to the Dutch oven or to the slowcooker. I do tend to skip this step if I use a slowcooker. If using an instant pot it is easier to put the machine on sauté and brown beef on all sides. You can use various cuts of beef for this recipe. Ground beef is also an option but will give a very different end result.

I always find it hard to name a cut of beef as the names are so different in various parts of the world, but any good stew meat will be fine to use here. Ask your butcher what is the best meat for a good stew.

Place your Dutch oven on medium-high heat and sear the beef. Then add the onion and the garlic (garlic powder is also an option) and add the carrot slices and the pumpkin cubes. For this first step I like to use butter but olive oil or coconut oil is also a good option to use.

Place the bay leaf in and add the dark beer. Add enough beef stock for all the ingredients to be submerged and turn the heat down to a low heat. I sometimes like to use fresh thyme leaves in addition to or rosemary. Another great addition is to add some tomato paste. Tomato has the tendency to break down the meat a little faster so that might help in tenderizing the meat for sure.

Now the stew needs about 3 to 4 hours to cook, but make sure to check on a regular basis if there is still enough liquid left in the pot and add a cup of water if needed.

Slow cooker recipe

As mentioned this is also delicious to make in a slow cooker. The preparations are pretty much the same, except you simply add all the ingredients in the bowl of the slowcooker. In terms of liquid; you don’t need as much in the slow cooker, so after adding the beer add enough liquid so the contents of the slow cooker are about half way into the liquid. You will find that is usually more then enough and will give a nicer result. I tend to leave it alone for about 8 hours and just stir it once or twice.

The end result will be deliciously tender beef.

You can serve it with some crusty bread or mashew potato. Sweet potatoes are also delicious for serving. In fact you could add the sweet potatoes to the crock pot as well, but they do disintegrate much more than pumpkin. Which is fine and it does give make texture of the stew a bit thicker. I do love the pumpkin flavor here so I tend to stick to that. The beef pumpkin stew is perfect for a cold day or any day where you’re in need of a warming comfort food dish.

Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (3)

​Freeze

This recipe also freezes really well, so I tend to double the amounts in the recipe and freeze it in batches. That way I always have an earthy stew waiting for me in the fridge on days where I do not feel like cooking anything new. It’s the perfect recipe for meal prep as well. Once defrosted you can change it up by adding something like black beans for instance.

I had never before used pumpkin to cook or bake anything, so the first thing we had to do was buy a pumpkin. We went to the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam where they have a lovely organic market, so that is where we bought pumpkins (yes, I bought two different ones, so expect at least one more pumpkin recipe soon!) and organically produced beef for our stew. For the beer wanted to use stout as that is dark and lovely and all the other ingredients I still had in the kitchen so here is the recipe that we made:

I could see endless variations of this dish really and the pumpkin and sugar give it a nice little bit of sweetness. While simmering on the stove the smells that came of it where delicious!! Especially the cinnamon was very noticeable. I did detect a very slight bitter aftertaste to the dish, which I somehow feel might be because of the cinnamon but not sure.

In any way, we were both really really pleased with this lovely stew and will definitely be making this again! Perfect for a rainy and stormy autumn day (well, it’s sunny here today… 🙂 ) but you know what I mean.

Also try this delicious and slightly different white wine chicken from the slow cooker.

Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (4)

Beef stew with beer and pumpkin

No ratings yet

GangMain

KeukenDutch

While this dish is not made in the slowcooker it could easily be converted into one. In that case cooking it for about 6-8 hrs should do the trick

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Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (5)

Prep time 15 minutes mins

Cooking time 4 hours hrs

Total time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

4 people

Equipment

  • Slowcooker

  • Dutch oven

Ingredients

  • 500 gr. beef
  • 30 gr butter
  • 4 small onions sliced
  • 1 pumpkin cut in cubes
  • 300 gr carrots sliced
  • 1 bottle dark beer
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 5 cloves
  • 1 pcs mace
  • 2 bay leaf
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 300 ml beef stock or enough to submerge the meat
  • Cut the beef in chunks of about 2 cm and put pepper and salt on them. Put the butter in a Dutch oven and once the butter stops foaming add the meat. Bake the meat for about 10 minutes on medium high till it is browned.

  • Cut up 3 onions in rough pieces and add them to the meat. Bake for another 5 minutes. Add the carrots and the pumpkin and stir around. Add the bottle of beer.

  • Stick the cloves into the remaining onion (you can leave it whole, it will fall apart anyway) and add this together with the mace, bay leaf and cinnamon stick to the meat.

  • Add beef stock so that there is enough liquid to just cover the meat and veggies inside. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and put the lid on.

  • Leave to simmer on low heat for about 3-4 hours or until the beef is tender and falls apart.

  • Check half way through the cooking process to make sure there is still enough liquid in the pan and add some more if needed.

  • Serve with mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, crusty bread or rice.

Nutrition Information per portion

Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 2073mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 41672IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 6mg

Disclaimer

The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @insimoneskitchen_ or tag #insimoneskitchen!

Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (6)

About the Author

Simone van den Berg

Food- and travel blogger from the Netherlands. Loves good food. Loves to taste good food the world over.She also loves to share travelstories, delicious recipes and ok, cat pictures too. She sometimes feels the need to get really healthy for a while, always mingled with periods of insanely delicious sweets and other decadent treats.Lives in the Netherlands with her two cats; Humphrey and Buffy.Profession: Food photographer, food blogger, recipe developer and nutritionist

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published on Oct 2, 2023

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43 comments on “Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer”

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  1. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (7)

    peachkinsReply

    oh my…this looks really good and your photos are stunning…

  2. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (8)

    FoodJunkieReply

    This looks AMAZING! I love the little fondue dish you used for serving the stew. It is so cute! The joust is great fun, but I haven’t participated for quite a while. I always find one of the ingredients difficult or not appetizing, but this month was different. I think I still have time, no?

    • Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (9)

      Simone (junglefrog)Reply

      You still have until november 1st Jo, so you should be able to make something fun! I agree that the ingredients where really good this month… I even think they would be great to combine in a focaccia… 🙂

  3. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (10)

    Simone (junglefrog)Reply

    You still have until november 1st Jo, so you should be able to make something fun! I agree that the ingredients where really good this month… I even think they would be great to combine in a focaccia… 🙂

  4. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (11)

    ValérieReply

    Yum! As a Belgian, I can only approve of beer stew (although I sometimes use Irish beer, rather than Belgian…). This is exactly the kind of food that makes me look forward to fall and winter, even though I’m very sensitive to the cold: stews, soups, braised dishes, rich flavours… I’ve never tried cooking with pumkin either, but your pictures make it look delicious!

  5. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (12)

    HannahReply

    So I’m pretending that the beef is tempeh for my own sake, and imagining how good that would taste. The pictures are certainly tempting- Everything looks so warm, homey, and very comforting!

  6. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (13)

    SophieReply

    MMMMMMMM,…ypu never used pumpkin before,…this stew looks so hearty & so delicious!!

    Just real comfort food,…

  7. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (14)

    ninaReply

    Good luck with the Joust.I think this is a wonderful combination of ingredients ….all credit to Tom of course……he=he!!!!

  8. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (15)

    MaijaReply

    Totally amazing!

  9. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (16)

    Peter GReply

    I love most kinds of stews Simone and this one is fantastic! Great ingredients that are perfectly suited to one another. Stunning pics as well!

  10. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (17)

    RosaReply

    What a gorgeous stew! So comforting and tasty!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  11. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (18)

    BenReply

    Oh that looks great! And the Guinness in the background… oh yummy! Great combination. I love to cook with pumpkin and hopefully I’ll be able to participate in the Joust this month.

  12. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (19)

    Jenn AKA The Leftover QueenReply

    Wow, this looks so good! The perfect thing for these cooler days! Welcome to the Joust! Great photos too!

  13. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (20)

    OlgaReply

    I don’t think I’ve ever made a stew. That beef looks so tender!

  14. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (21)

    Angela@spinachtigerReply

    I think you stand a good chance of winning with this one. Clever and looks homey and comforting. I’ve been thinking and thinking and still I’ve come up with nothing yet. The “sugar” with beer threw me.

  15. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (22)

    BronReply

    Mmm that looks delicious and perfectly comforting Simone and I simply adore the serving bowl you chose, lovely!

  16. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (23)

    ABowlOfMushReply

    Woow, This is just my kinda stew! Looks fantastic!

  17. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (24)

    JamieReply

    Ok, you win! This is wonderful and the flavors are gorgeous together. Yum! And yes this is so Autumny. I love pumpkin cooked with meat. Perfect!

  18. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (25)

    HillaryReply

    What a hearty stew – love all the ingredients in it! It sounds fabulous – You should submit this recipe to Recipe4Living.com! 🙂

  19. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (26)

    Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.Reply

    This sounds delicious and indeed very wintery. Maked me want to try this recipe too.
    And, just “hearing” you “talk” about Amsterdam reminds me of my trip to Holland about 18(!!!) years ago, and it makes me want to go again for a visit! I loved it. Wished I was born there 🙂

  20. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (27)

    Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.Reply

    the bitter taste might the beer.

  21. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (28)

    KarlyReply

    Wow! This looks and sounds amazing. I’ve never tried pumpkin in anything other than baked goods. Pumpkin in a stew. I might just have to try that!

  22. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (29)

    liz {zested}Reply

    Love the colors and the textures in the top photo. What are you using for the backdrop?

  23. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (30)

    liz {zested}Reply

    Love the colors and the textures in the top photo. What are you using for the backdrop?

  24. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (31)

    Alan SpaldingReply

    The only liquid in this stew is beer. Is that right? No stock? How much pumpkin should be used? You said a medium-sized pumpkin but for those of us that don’t know what that is, can you list grams too please? Also, bayleaves and bayleave aren ‘t words. Yeah I’m being a dick but today sucks and I’m tired. I like your pictures.

  25. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (32)

    ChristelleReply

    Love the photos :))

  26. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (33)

    Simone (junglefrog)Reply

    Hey Alex. You are right, there is no liquid in this stew other then beer. And as for the pumpkin; I have no idea how much I used, so just use your own wisdom in deciding how much you want to have in there. And thanks for pointing me to the bay leaf mistake. 🙂 I am not a native english speaker, so sometimes (many times) I make mistakes!

  27. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (34)

    PeterReply

    Ahhhh, I love these stews that teeter with sweet and savory. When done right, cinnamon is a great spice in savory food.

  28. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (35)

    LauraReply

    I made this tonight and it was so delicious! My home had such a wonderful fragrance. The only thing I did differently was coat the beet stew meat in a mixture of flour, pepper and salt. This thickened the gravy. I just loved all the different autumn spices infused in the beef and chunks of onion. Thanks for the great recipe. 🙂

  29. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (36)

    KayReply

    This looks absolutely amazing. Beautiful photography as well.

  30. Pingback: Drunken Stew(ie)! | Caring for Apathy

  31. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (37)

    KiiriReply

    The stew is just wonderful!. I have put a link to your recipe to polish cooking forum, and I have also translated it. I hope you dont mind :)It is so great that it need to be shared with others 😉

  32. Pingback: the fountainside. » Embracing the rain

  33. Pingback: Roasted butternuts squash salad - between summer and autumn

  34. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (38)

    MeghanReply

    Hi Simone,

    I would like to feature this recipe on CraftBeer.com in our recipe section. CraftBeer.com is a website by the Brewers Association (the National trade association for craft beer). The site is dedicated to elevating the status of craft beer, educating the public on beer styles and cooking with craft beer.

    I would create a post similar to this one: http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/beer-and-food/recipes/recipes-list/show?title=pumpkin-ale-profiteroles-with-cinnamon-caramel-sauce and include your photo/bio/website information.

    Please let me know if this would be ok!

    Cheers,

    Meghan

  35. Pingback: Stew with italian sausage and puy lentils

  36. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (39)

    DelReply

    I think the bitterness is from the Guiness Stout. I’ve had that result before when I put too much into a Beef Guiness Stew 🙂
    Made a version of this today but with pilsen beer and it’s really yummy. I added a cup of beef stock though as I wanted more gravy.

  37. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (40)

    Diane StevensonReply

    I made this today. It was great! A couple of additions: 2 Tbs good quality chili powder to onion and beef saute. Instead of sugar, I added dark molasses. Next time I plan to up the liquids a bit and add a pumpkin puree/roux.

    • Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (41)

      Simone (junglefrog)Reply

      Great Diane! And love your additions!

  38. Pingback: Mmmm….Pumpkin | Pin It

  39. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (42)

    BriannaReply

    Looks wonderful! I’m making this tonight! How did you prepare the pumpkin? …just peek and big chunks?

    • Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (43)

      BriannaReply

      *peel not peek

  40. Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (44)

    Simone (junglefrog)Reply

    I did peel and make big chunks indeed! It’s been so long since I made this! You just made me remember to make this recipe again soon!

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Beef stew recipe with pumpkin and beer | Simone's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours. Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender.

What is the secret to good stew? ›

"Soups and stews really need to simmer for long periods to allow the ingredients to meld together. Taking that a step further, most soups and stews are better if you prepare them the day before serving. Allowing them to cool and then reheating them really helps bring out the flavors and textures."

What can I add to my beef stew to make it more flavorful? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

What gives beef stew depth of flavor? ›

Using the right type of beef, searing the meat before cooking, deglazing the pan, cooking for several hours, and using plenty of salt all make a huge difference in the flavor of your beef stew.

What makes stew taste better? ›

Tips To Give Your Beef Stew A Flavour Punch
  1. Five Tips To Make Your Beef Stew The Best.
  2. Add A Little Heat.
  3. Good Quality Stock Goes A Long Way.
  4. Add Vegetables For More Flavour.
  5. Soup Mixes Are An Ideal Seasoning And Thickening Aid.
  6. Serve Your Beef Stew In A New Way.

What is the best tenderizer for stew beef? ›

The choice becomes easier when you realize that simple baking soda can be an ideal meat tenderizer that helps to bring out all the aromas and flavors in every sizzling beef stew or charburger.

Does meat get more tender the longer you cook it in a slow cooker? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

How do you deepen the flavor of stew? ›

Paprika. Use regular or hot paprika if you want a little warmth and Smoked Paprika if you're after more of a barbeque style smoky flavour. Chilli and paprika work well with tomato based dishes where as herbs work best with gravy based stews.

Why do you put vinegar in beef stew? ›

The paradox of beef stew is that all that braised goodness can be a little bit heavy on the palate. It's easy to forget to add some sort of wine, vinegar, or yes, even lemon juice, to brighten things up. Adding some fresh thyme in the last 30 minutes of cooking can help brighten things up as well.

What if I forgot tomato paste in beef stew? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

What is the best thickener for beef stew? ›

Use cornstarch to thicken your stew towards the end of cooking, as cooking it for a long time can break down the starch and your stew will thin out again.

What vegetables are good in beef stew? ›

Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work. Stir them in gently and immediately return the pot to the oven for the final hour of cooking.

What not to put in beef stew? ›

It's not a gravy—you shouldn't be adding a roux or flour or cornstarch. If you do prefer your stew on the thicker side, though, you can toss your beef in flour or cornstarch before you sear it—the bits left behind will thicken your stew and add deeper flavor.

Why put celery in stew? ›

Onions: The stew's foundation flavor is savory thanks to the onions. They give the food more flavor and depth. Celery: Celery gives the stew a little herbaceous flavor and a little crunch. It goes really nicely with the steak and the other veggies.

When should celery be added to stew? ›

Once the meat is tender - but not falling apart, add the potatoes, celery, carrots and butternut squash. Pour over another 2 cups of beef broth and enough water to cover the vegetables. Raise heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 30 minutes - until the vegetables are tender.

What can I add to beef stew to make it taste better? ›

Vegetables: small chopped carrots, celery, and onion or shallot practically melt into the sauce. Mushrooms: button mushrooms are a nod to the quartered mushrooms many classic beef stew recipes call for, but are thinly sliced instead of being left in bigger pieces. Garlic: minced garlic brings lots of cozy flavor.

How do you make stew taste richer? ›

Here are 10 ways to really boost the flavor of chili and stew.
  1. Season as you go. ...
  2. Include dried mushrooms. ...
  3. Stir in caramelized onions. ...
  4. Swap in roasted garlic. ...
  5. Simmer with whole spices. ...
  6. Up the umami with miso paste. ...
  7. Spice it up. ...
  8. Stir in a spoonful of fish sauce.
May 1, 2019

How to fix a tasteless stew? ›

Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

How to deepen the flavor of beef stew? ›

Use paprika to add rich flavor and coloring to beef stew

You can season beef using a dry rub or adding it to a marinade. Adding paprika to hot oil will intensify the flavor and enhance the aroma of the stew. Smoked paprika, or Spanish paprika, is a luxurious spice due to its scent, vibrant color, and flavor.

What adds richness to a stew? ›

If were talking while it's being made; garlic, onion, various herbs, “horse chester sauce” tomato paste, stone ground mustard, or even a small splash of A1 sauce will all “rich up” the broth. So will sauteing the veggies in butter before adding to the stew.

What is the secret to tender stew meat? ›

But I believe the secret to the tender beef is… slow roasting the stew in a covered pot in the oven! That's it! No fancy pressure cooker needed!

How do you fix tough meat in beef stew? ›

  1. You make beef stew meat tender by stewing it.
  2. Chop a large onion, a couple of carrots, and a few stalks of celery. ...
  3. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside. ...
  4. Once the stew has come to a boil, turn down to a simmer, cover and cook until the beef is tender, about an hour.
Sep 21, 2023

How to make beef tender and soft? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

How long can you tenderize beef with baking soda? ›

Test Kitchen Tip. For proteins with an ample amount of exposed surface area, there's no need to allow it to soak for more than 15 minutes when using baking soda to tenderize meat. In fact, over-soaking can yield mushy meat.

How long to boil beef to make it tender? ›

Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to maintain a very gentle simmer. Cook, skimming occasionally, until each cut of beef is fork-tender, at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours, depending on the cut and animal your beef is from.

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