If you want to end up eating a great steak, there is no other way to do it than by starting with one that is already great. Unfortunately, it can be rather difficult to determine whether or not a steak at the market is of high quality. There are plenty to choose from, but if you do not know what you are looking for, finding the best one will be pretty tricky. Here are a few things to look for when you go steak shopping that will help you get a better result.
Step one is paying attention to what grade the meat is. Generally, grading is done by a third party organization, or an agency like the USDA, and is determined by how old the animal is and how well marbled the fat is. The carcass is graded on its own, so there is a certain amount of variation between the cuts when you get them. Major US grades are prime, choice, and select, among consumers, with prime being the highest quality and select the lowest quality.
Other grades exist, but they are sold mostly to commercial users. It can be pretty hard to find prime beef, so most of us will be eating choice steaks. Try some choice and some select steaks and see if you can taste the difference between the two grades.
Marbling is a factor traditionally used to determine the quality of a steak. Leaner meat will have little fat and be more tender, but much less flavorful. Streaks of fat generally produce steaks that have more taste to them. However, many people are discovering that other factors influence taste as much or more than marbling. For instance, raising the cattle on grass instead of grain, and finishing them on grass alone, or a mixture of grass and grain seems to result in a steak with more taste, even though it has less attractive marbling. You may have to try a few different kinds to discover what the best option is.
There are multiple different cuts of meat out there, and some of them make better steaks than others. There are three main sections for steak – the rib, short loin, and tenderloin. They are going to cook up differently, depending on what area of the animal they come from. The rib, for instance, is the least tender, and you will need to cook it longer and with more attention to tenderizing than you would when deciding how to cook a New York strip steak.
The short loin produces familiar high quality steaks, including T-bone, Porterhouse, top loin, and tenderloin. Sirloin is responsible for classic sirloning steaks and the top sirloin. You may also see round, chuck, and flank meat described as steak, but you will probably want to cook them as stew, not as a steak, due to their toughness. Pick the best steak to begin with, then find a method of cooking that suits. In the end, you will be much happier with the results you get. No marinade, no matter how good, will fix a bad steak, but a good one will make a great steak the best one possible.
Looking for quality steak recipes and tips that will improve an already great steak? When you need to know how to cook a New York strip steak, you want to find out all the secrets to produce a great steak. But where do you get this information? These secrets can be found at http://www.EasySteakMarinades.net/ for advice, informative articles, and terrific recipes that you will love.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/so-what-do-you-really-know-about-choosing-the-right-steak-1247087.html
Filed under Source by on Sep 18th, 2009. Comment. 
Copyright (c) 2009 Christine Szalay Kudra
Using steak marinades is how many people add extra taste to their steak and this is also a method of tenderizing them. Perhaps you already have a preferred steak marinade and, if so, this could contain soy sauce, garlic, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce or another combination of the most popular steak marinade ingredients.
How to Make Asian Style Steak Marinades
Asian inspired flavors are always popular and flavors such as chili, honey, citrus and other spicy flavors and herby tastes go nicely with red meat.
Soy sauce and vinegar can be combined with sugar and fruit juice for a sweet and tangy steak marinade recipe. Garlic or chili sauce enhances the Asian flavor and adds another dimension to the taste. You can use orange juice, lemon juice or pineapple juice to add sweetness. Fruit juices also help to break down any tough parts in the meat and make it juicy and tender.
Soy sauce, rice wine, cornstarch and sesame oil can be mixed together to make a Chinese curry flavored steak marinade recipe which will add plenty of mouthwatering flavor to any type of steak.
You can use flavors like soy sauce, pineapple juice, garlic and ginger for a zesty and sweet flavored steak marinade but why not try experimenting with other flavors too and maybe you will discover a new and unique steak marinade recipe by trying out new flavors.
Wasabi is a highly piquant Japanese seasoning, which are great if you like spicy dishes. Wasabi goes equally well with fish and meat so if you fancy a hot Japanese style steak for dinner, a wasabi steak marinade might be just what you are looking for.
If you marinate your steak with Asian flavors, you might like to serve noodles or rice instead of French fries or a baked potato. If you want to make a tasty sauce for your steak, there are plenty of marinades you can boil while the steak is grilling. It is important to boil them, of course, because they will have been in contact with the raw meat while it marinated.
Herby European Style Easy Steak Marinades
For a mild and aromatic touch, rather than something strong and full flavored, you can use herbs to add taste to your meat. Fragrant herbs like basil, marjoram, cilantro or parsley go nicely with lots of different steak marinade recipes to add a subtle flavor and complement the meaty taste.
You can make an Italian style marinade for steak with oregano, marjoram, and basil, combined with garlic, balsamic vinegar, and oil. A steak marinated in this mixture would be great served with pasta and a fresh green salad. A lot of people would say their favorite marinade for steak is an aromatic and lightly flavored concoction, similar to this one.
You might like to make a Spanish marinade for your meat by combining ingredients like olive oil, red pepper, tomato juice and paprika. Aromatic marinades like these are ideal for hot, sunny days when you fancy your red meat with a light and fresh flavor instead of a rich sauce.
Herbal, light marinades work just as well on steak as full flavored, rich one because steak is so versatile. Also, using a steak marinade recipe is very easy.
Italian steak marinades with fragrant herbs, bold Asian marinades with their combination of sweet and spicy flavors and Mexican steak marinades with a chili kick are just some of the types of steak marinades you can choose from. You will find that cooking perfect steak can be enjoyable and simple if you use some of the tips and tricks at: http://www.EasySteakMarinades.net
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/simple-marinades-for-steak-to-give-an-international-flavor-1243462.html
Filed under Recipe by on Sep 19th, 2009. Comment.
If you love grilling, but your budget is a little tight this year, you may be wondering if you can have steak on the grill this year. The answer is definitely yes. You just need to know your meat. There are all kinds of beef cuts that can be grilled up nicely without breaking the budget. They will take a little more care in preparation than a Porterhouse, but they can be entirely worthwhile. So if steak is a priority, but it does not seem too affordable, do not give up hope.
There are bargains in your meat case, and good steak can be had for five to seven dollars a pound. Hanger and flatiron steaks, tri tip, skirt, flap and flank steaks, and chuck, top sirloin and other types of meat are all inexpensive and delicious, provided you know what to do with them.
There are a few reasons you will pay less for these steaks. It takes some effort to turn them into a really taste meal, but it can be done relatively easily by most people. If you know what you are doing, even an inexpensive steak can taste fantastic.
These steaks are a lot tougher because they come from the muscles that are used on a day-to-day basis. That makes them a lot less tender, but also a lot more flavorful. These steaks are low in gristle and high in flavor. Choose an intense marinade, salt the steak with care, and cook with a close eye on the timing to create a bargain cut that does not taste like it was cheap.
You will also want to take a look at marinades. These liquid mixtures are able to tenderize and add a lot of flavor when you use them right, but they may do the opposite if used in correctly. Most marinades just soak in a little, and really acidic ones actually tighten the meat up, making it tougher, not less tough. That does not mean you need to skip the marinade, of course. Choosing the best steak marinade and using it correctly are important parts of the cooking process.
Even if the effect you get is only skin-deep, your marinade is going to produce an attractive looking, richly colored steak that has a crisp, great tasting crust. Cook budget steaks on a really hot grill for best effect, and make sure they are not cold in the middle when you start cooking. That allows for a more even cooking method.
This means making two zones – one is hotter and allows you to sear the meat, and the other is medium in heat and will cook meat through without burning. On gas grills, just adjust the knobs. For charcoal, bank two thirds of your coals and scatter the rest.
Make sure the grill is clean and you are capable of being patient. You need to cook these cuts of meat undisturbed for two to three minutes if you want them to taste their best. An instant read thermometer will help you know when your meat is ready. Rest the meat when you are finished, to let it keep its juices.
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For a great marinade that will make your affordable steak taste its best, you need to do a little looking around. Every steak lover should be able to cook their steak the right way. Need quality steak recipes and tips that will improve any great steak? When you need to know the best steak marinade all the marinades and grilling tips you need can be found at: http://www.EasySteakMarinades.netArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/getting-the-most-out-of-affordable-steak-cuts-for-grilling-1276969.html
Filed under Techniques by on Sep 26th, 2009. Comment.
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