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The secret to melt in your mouth steaks… (Make cheap-o cuts taste like prime.)

January 8, 2013 58 Comments

Melt in your mouth, tender steak – every time!

Love a good steak?  Me too!  A few years ago, Hubs just came home with a hankering for steak after reading this article on how to get fabulously tender steak, no matter what the cut, choice, prime, whatever.  We thought we’d give it a try.  It. Was. Awesome.

Now with some of this Shelter-at-Home weirdness, we find ourselves finally assessing exactly what we have in the freezer, and looking for ways to not only eat what we have on hand, but to make it delish!

The secret to tender melt in your mouth steaks
This post contains affiliate links.
The key?  Salt.  Lots of salt.

You can absolutely take ANY cut and this will work.  We’ve used expensive cuts like porterhouse and rib eye (because who wants to screw up an expensive cut!?) and we’ve used cheaper cuts like chuck, flank and sirloin (because who wants cheap but chewy…?)

Whichever cut you choose, liberally sprinkle them with kosher salt.

Let the salt sit an hour for every inch of thickness.

Can you see how the salt draws water out of the steak…?  It then sends it back into the steak and the salt tenderizes the protein…  there’s some science-y process going on.  Please refer to the original article for the scientific facts on how this works.  All I can tell you is that it’s magically delicious.

It’s the same concept as brining a chicken or a turkey.  (Click here for my fool proof brined chicken recipe.)

Make sure you rinse off all of the salt and pat the steaks very, very, very dry with paper towels before cooking your steak.  (HH forgot to do this step the first time.  The steak melted in our mouths, yes, but it was so salty it was almost inedible…)

We use a cast iron skillet to ensure that our cooking surface is very, very hot.  You need a nice sear on steak, and we can’t seem to really get a good one on our grill.

Cook it up, serve with some Baked Smashed Potatoes, a nice salad, and a nice Cabernet (Justin is a nice one.)and you have a great meal!

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Bargain, beef, kitchen stuff, Let me help you, Main Dish, recipes, steak, Tip of the Day

Comments

  1. Unknown says

    January 8, 2013 at 6:59 PM

    I can’t get to the “melt-in-your-mouth steaks” post. Has it been removed? It popped up on my FB page and I still can’t get to it!

    Reply
    • unknown says

      February 22, 2016 at 1:43 AM

      I also cannot get to themelt in your mouth steakspost

    • Sue says

      August 31, 2022 at 8:50 AM

      Does this make the steak salty? My hubby is very sensitive to salt,, i.e., high blood pressure

  2. Xazmin says

    January 8, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    Well, now I want steak.

    It looks divine, and I am definitely going to have to try this out!

    I hope your new year is going fabulously well!

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    January 8, 2013 at 8:14 PM

    Thanks so much for this post. I’m definitely going to give this a try.
    We started leaning toward a more Paelo type way of eating this year so grilled steak has been a big part of our diet. Since winter has set in and standing in 2 ft of snow trying to grill is not something I enjoy doing, I’ve been desperate for a way to cook steak inside and have it actually taste good.
    Thanks again 🙂

    Reply
  4. Kelli says

    January 8, 2013 at 8:19 PM

    Now I want a steak! I am going to have to try this 🙂

    Reply
  5. Mary Beth says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:02 PM

    This looks fabulous… I think I will make a special trip to the grocery store just to make this….oy!

    Reply
  6. PJ @ Planned in Pencil says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:17 PM

    I’ve been cooking my steaks like this for about 6 months since I read the same article, found it on pinterest…. it’s so good! Even my husband agrees that it’s the best steak he’s ever had.

    Reply
  7. MiMi says

    January 9, 2013 at 1:22 AM

    I’m not a real meat eater…as in steak and potatoes type things but it sounds good!

    Reply
  8. SueAnn Lommler says

    January 9, 2013 at 10:40 AM

    Looks and sounds delish…I will have to give this a try. Thanks
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    Reply
  9. Katie says

    January 9, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    I had no idea about this steak secret and yet I cook all the time. I will definitely have to give this a try the next time we are cooking steak!

    Reply
  10. Katie says

    January 9, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    I had no idea about this steak secret and yet I cook all the time. I will definitely have to give this a try the next time we are cooking steak!

    Reply
  11. Sheila DelCharco says

    January 9, 2013 at 7:18 PM

    I never make steak because I don’t know how to make it well. I may just have to try now! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Sandra says

    January 9, 2013 at 7:28 PM

    HAHAHA Cheap O steak!(any ole’ cut (we used ribeye and porterhouse)!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      February 1, 2016 at 3:48 AM

      I had to chuckle too! Ribeye and porterhouse are not my idea of cheap!

    • Justin says

      January 29, 2017 at 11:09 AM

      You both read it completely wrong.

  13. Laura / The Shed, Pet Scribbles, Socks for Sandy says

    January 12, 2013 at 2:25 PM

    I love steak, and your tip for making any cut of beef taste fantastic is so handy! Definitely sharing w/ my husband…as he’s the cook in our home! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Linda Dice says

    January 9, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    After doing this step, do you marinate it afterwards or just use dry seasoning?

    Reply
    • Vivienne says

      January 23, 2015 at 2:56 PM

      We did not marinate the steaks after doing this.

  15. Dwight Norman says

    July 25, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    Do you salt both sides of the meat???????

    Reply
    • Simone says

      September 4, 2015 at 12:05 AM

      I had the same question, and Yes, the original article said to salt both sides of the steak.

  16. mari says

    August 28, 2015 at 8:43 AM

    News flash: RibEye and Porterhouse are not inexpensive cuts!

    Reply
    • Cindy Cowles says

      December 25, 2015 at 12:11 PM

      They are if you buy them from Walmart or kroger! Freaking shoe leather.

    • Olivia says

      March 24, 2018 at 5:34 PM

      …Nobody said they were?..

  17. Ann depinto says

    October 10, 2015 at 6:01 PM

    Do you just give the steak a quick rinse or do you soak the salT ogg?

    Reply
    • Vivienne says

      October 14, 2015 at 12:17 PM

      Quick rinse and pat dry.

  18. Cindy Cowles says

    December 25, 2015 at 12:15 PM

    i’m trying this trick for christmas steak dinner today. wish me luck. they’re from kroger and were tough as leather, cooked right out of the package, last time. a major disappointment. Fingers crossed.

    Reply
    • Claire says

      December 31, 2015 at 3:15 PM

      Well Cindy how did the steaks turn out

    • Lashonte says

      November 7, 2016 at 3:02 PM

      Yes How did it go?

  19. roxanne says

    May 31, 2016 at 10:08 AM

    Tried this on some kroger sirloin steaks. I only salted one side (heavily). Let it sit about 2 hrs & 15 min. Rinsed per the instructions, then on to the grill. They came off the grill looking wonderful. But they were as tough as shoe leather. you know the kind, the ones that as you chew, the wad of meat in your mouth seems to get bigger & bigger. i saw another pinterest article to tenderize using baking soda. That was even worse. Even after rinsing, i can still taste the baking soda. Yuck!

    i wish it would’ve worked.

    Reply
    • DEBBIE says

      June 30, 2016 at 12:50 PM

      I tried the baking soda too, almost puked lol, all went into the garbage. Now afraid to try the salt. Ugh

    • roger says

      July 3, 2020 at 10:23 AM

      Guess you should do both sides of the steak. One side the salt only penetrates around half way through the steak. I have been using the Texas Roadhouse copy cat rub and the sirloin steak has been nice and tender. usually sirloin is on the tough side. only thing i did not like about the copy cat rub is the onion salt, yuk, hate that flavor. so next time i will leave out the onion salt. maybe even the garlic powder.. good luck if you try the kosher salt again. i am going to give it a try.

    • Jen says

      November 12, 2020 at 2:36 PM

      I really want to try this but we DON’T have any kosher salt but I do have sea salt, do you know if you can substitute kosher for sea salt?

    • Vivienne says

      November 17, 2020 at 10:46 AM

      I don’t know if you can substitute. I recommend that you stick with kosher.

  20. Jenny says

    March 23, 2017 at 1:30 PM

    Does it work with sea salt or does it have to be kosher salt?

    Reply
    • Vivienne says

      March 28, 2017 at 5:36 PM

      I think sea salt would be too salty…

  21. Yolonda says

    October 14, 2017 at 4:09 PM

    II’m not a good cook to put it bluntLy, but i Followed the instructions and my family was blown away!

    Reply
    • Vivienne says

      November 2, 2017 at 3:11 PM

      That is awesome!!!

  22. Jo says

    January 3, 2018 at 6:49 PM

    What kind of steak is in the skillet in your photo aNd how long do you cook it on each side?

    Reply
  23. jane smith says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:14 AM

    WOW! I am anxious to try this! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  24. Mark says

    April 23, 2018 at 11:08 AM

    Not sure i will try it again. Followed the directi to a t and it was so salty, you could hardl eat the steaks.

    Reply
    • Vivienne says

      April 23, 2018 at 11:49 AM

      I’m sorry to hear this this did not work for you, as it is generally a pretty fool-proof method. You used Kosher salt and rinsed them well?

    • roger says

      July 3, 2020 at 10:28 AM

      If you do not rinse really well it will be too salty. You need to use the Kosher Salt. Seems like I read someplace where the Kosher Salt has half the saltiness as regular salt.

  25. Mary hevelow says

    May 19, 2019 at 12:31 PM

    I have not cooked steaks for the past 35 years since they always turned out tough! But i decided to try your recipe and you were right! As long as you use the kosher salt and rinse well, it turned out great. I could eat the steak and I don’t have any teeth. Thanks so much for this recipe.

    Reply
  26. Jakeberto says

    June 30, 2019 at 7:47 AM

    The secret was to liberally cover them with salt and then let sit an hour per inch of thickness then wash the salt off dry the meet and sear at high heat good luck

    Reply
  27. Elaine says

    January 7, 2020 at 1:21 PM

    I tried this mrthod with. Ny strip and it was still chewy. Please tell me what might have have happened.

    Reply
    • Vivienne says

      January 11, 2020 at 10:33 AM

      Hi Elaine, Sorry this didn’t work for you. It’s possible you didn’t leave the salt on long enough? I have no way of knowing though. Good luck!

  28. Melissa Allen says

    July 5, 2020 at 10:46 PM

    Stupid QUESTION…
    Do you seaR in a dry pan? A couple min each side right?!
    Also, do not season as ususl I assume??

    Reply
  29. Kathy says

    September 9, 2020 at 4:08 PM

    Most of these comments are not telling HOWy the steak turned out???

    Reply
    • Terri Lee Bayless says

      September 23, 2020 at 7:05 PM

      Do you let the meat sit with the salt in the fridge? I am clueless when it comes to steaks. Sorry for the all caps, I couldn’t turn it off.

  30. Goldie says

    June 7, 2021 at 5:26 PM

    Ok i TRIED it, cover in kosher sal,t, PUT in fridge one hour. Washed wEll. Let sit 15 min and put on HOT GRILL.
    It was tough EXCEPT very middle.. Ribeye

    Reply
    • Angie says

      September 3, 2021 at 5:12 PM

      I never ate steak before I met MT husband. My parents couldn’t afford that. Well my father n law was a chef for over 30years.. He uses Italian DRESSING. As a marinade. I’ve tried alot of different ways. To cook our steak. My husband wanted me to go back to using the Italian dressing. They way I’ve done it. Is leave them out I do put kosher salt on both sides. I’ve never rinsed mine off. I season it the way I want then put alot of butter all over them. Sear them in my cast iron for about six Minutes on each side. On high. He like his medium rare. So his is done quick. I like mine well done. I just cook mine on low until its done

  31. BeV Ondera says

    May 22, 2022 at 5:29 PM

    Thank you!!! we did it just as you described And it was the best Steak we’ve had in a whIle.
    .

    Reply
  32. Beth says

    June 28, 2022 at 1:47 PM

    Using baking soda is called “velveting the meat”. What i do is cUt the meat in to the appropriaTe size, then sprinkle it with a tabLespoon of baking soda. Put a couple of tablespoons of soy sauce, and a couple tablespoons of wine in with the meat. Mix it up and let it sit for a 1/2 hr. Then rinse it rEally well, and plungw it in to a pot of boiling wAter. Remove it quicKly and drain it. Then cooK it per your recIpe. It works pretty well.

    Reply
  33. Yvette says

    September 5, 2022 at 8:46 PM

    Tried this. Steak was too salty and was not tender as i had EXPECTED. ☹️ I used kosher salt and rinsed heavily.

    Reply
  34. Chris says

    January 10, 2023 at 7:39 PM

    Nope. Solid rinse but just ended up super salty and still tough. I tried on a super lean stear ny strip. Gave it some extra time because Recipes always seem to short change.

    Reply

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