The slow cooker is a modern-day kitchen staple. It’s a simple way to cook tough cuts of meat, making them tender and flavorful. But if you try to make a piece of meat that is too tough for the slow cooker, it will end up being tougher than ever. This is where the problem arises: “how to fix tough meat in slow cooker?” But don’t think your meat will be ruined forever!
There are some tricks you can use before adding the meat to the slow cooker to make sure it comes out tender and delicious.
These tips include slicing or cutting the meat into smaller pieces, marinating it in a sauce or liquid for a few hours, and browning it in a skillet before adding it to your dish. Here are some easy ways to fix tough meat in the slow cooker, even if you’ve already started cooking!
The Problem with Tough Meat
When it comes to cooking tough meat, there is a right and wrong way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, your meat will come out tough and inedible.
If you’ve already started cooking your meat rice dish and the meat came out tougher than expected, don’t worry! There are some easy ways to fix it before you finish cooking.
If the meat is too tough, there are a few tricks that can make it easier to eat. For example, try slicing or cutting the meat into smaller pieces before adding it to the mini rice cooker.
You can also marinate it for about two hours or brown it in a skillet first before adding it to your dish. These methods should help make your dish more tender and flavorful!
Also read: The 10 Best Rice Cookers
How to Fix Tough Meat in The Slow Cooker
It’s easy to get frustrated when your meat comes out tough because it tastes so bad. When this happens, your dish may not taste as good as it should, or you may find yourself throwing the entire meal away in frustration. But don’t worry! There are some simple ways to fix tough meat before it ruins your meal.
First, make sure you’re using a tender cut of meat for the slow cooker. The best cuts are usually chicken thighs or beef chuck roast. You can also use pork shoulder or pork loin, but these are tougher cuts that require longer cooking times in the slow cooker.
It’s important to slice or cut the meat into smaller pieces before adding it to the slow cooker if you think it might be too tough for the cooking time required. It’ll cook faster and will be more tender that way. You can also marinate the meat in a sauce, like soy sauce and ginger (or whatever flavors you like) for a few hours before adding it to your dish.
Finally, brown the raw pieces of meat on each side by sauteing them on medium heat first and then adding them to your dish after they’ve been browned and cooked through on both sides. This is especially important with tougher meat.
What to Do Before Adding the Meat to the Slow Cooker
Slicing or cutting the meat into smaller pieces does wonders for tenderness. This method works well with cheaper, tougher cuts of meat like beef chuck roast and brisket. Also, by slicing the meat before adding it to your dish, you’ll help break down tough fibers so they’ll cook more easily.
If possible, marinate the meat in a sauce or liquid before placing it in the slow cooker. The longer you can let the meat soak up flavor, the better it will taste when you’re ready to eat!
Place your sliced or chopped beef in a zip-top bag with half a cup of water and one tablespoon of soy sauce for at least an hour to reap all these benefits. Marinating before cooking is also useful if you’re using leaner cuts of beef like flank steak and skirt steak—these meats tend to turn out dry without some extra help from a flavorful liquid.
The final tip is to brown your meat before adding it to the slow cooker. Browning only takes about five minutes and will add tons of flavor to any dish! You can use this time while the oven preheats and prepare your other ingredients for dinner. After browning, set aside some of that liquid fat and add.
Slice Or Cut The Meat Into Smaller Pieces
If you’re cooking a tough cut of meat, the slow cooker may not do the trick. The slow cooker works best with cuts that are relatively tender and small in size. The larger and tougher the cut, the more time it will need to cook for to become tender.
To combat this, try slicing or cutting your meat into smaller pieces before adding it to the slow cooker. This will help your meat cook evenly while giving it space to be cooked through on all sides.
Marinate It in a Sauce or Liquid for A Few Hours
Adding a sauce, liquid, or other flavorful element to your meat before slow cooking it will help break down the fibers in the meat and make it more tender. Of course, if you’re using a sauce or liquid that’s already packed with flavor, all the better!
Depending on what you’re cooking, you can use things like broth, tomatoes, tomatillos, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, hot sauce—pretty much anything! Of course, the more flavor there is in your marinade or liquid mixture, the easier the process will be.
If you don’t have time to marinate before adding your meat to your slow cooker dish, don’t worry! You can still pre-treat your tough cut of meat by adding some type of flavor—whether that’s salt and pepper or soy sauce—before placing it into the pot. By doing this ahead of time, you’ll ensure that all of those tenderizing flavors are soaked into the meat when you add it to the pot.
Brown the Meat In A Skillet First
If you’ve already started cooking your meat in the slow cooker, don’t worry! There are some easy ways to fix it.
One way is to brown the meat before placing it in the slow cooker. This will give it a nice crust, which leads to more flavor and better texture when cooked. Browning meat usually requires high heat, so be sure to use a pan over medium-high heat.
One of the most important steps when browning your meat is not to move it around too much—this will create tough fibers in the meat that will make it tougher in the slow cooker. Once you’ve browned it, you can add your meat into the slow cooker with all of your other ingredients, like vegetables and sauces.
Conclusion
The best way to cook tough meat in a slow cooker is to slice or cut it into smaller pieces, season with salt and pepper, then brown the meat in a skillet first. This way, you can avoid the mushy texture of overcooked meat.
Marinating the meat in a sauce or liquid for a few hours before adding it to the slow cooker is also another great way to avoid tough meat. The sauce will tenderize the meat as it cooks.
Finally, consider adding some tomato sauce or water to the slow cooker along with the meat. The tomato sauce will enhance the flavor of the meat while also adding moisture to the dish.