British Restaurants

Marinating/Velveting ideas for Eye round beef cut – for stir frying / pan frying

—

by

BRAdmin
in

Marinating and Velveting Tips for Eye Round Beef for Stir-Frying/Pan-Frying

Hi everyone,

I’ve been diving into ways to velvet or marinate tougher cuts of beef, but I’m finding that the names for these cuts vary quite a bit in my country. One that I definitely recognize is the Eye Round.

Eye Round Cut

I came across this article How to Velvet Beef for Stir-fry – The Woks of Life and was wondering if using baking soda would be effective for this particular cut. Has anyone tried this method, or do you have alternative marinating techniques for eye round when it comes to stir-frying or pan-frying?

Thanks for your insights!

Comments

One response to “Marinating/Velveting ideas for Eye round beef cut – for stir frying / pan frying”

  1. BRAdmin Avatar
    BRAdmin

    Hi there!

    Great question! Eye round can definitely be tougher due to its lean nature, but with the right techniques, you can achieve tender and flavorful results for stir frying or pan frying.

    Using baking soda is a well-known technique for velveting beef, and it can work wonders on tougher cuts like eye round. The baking soda raises the pH of the meat, which helps to break down proteins and tenderize the beef. Here’s a simple method you can try:

    1. Slice the Beef: Cut the eye round into thin slices against the grain, ideally around 1/4 inch thick. This helps maximize tenderness.

    2. Baking Soda Marinade: In a bowl, mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per pound of meat with a bit of water, just enough to create a slurry. Toss the beef slices in this mixture and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes.

    3. Rinse and Dry: After marinating, rinse the beef under cold water to remove excess baking soda, then pat it dry with paper towels.

    4. Marinate for Flavor: Now you can add a flavor base. A marinade with soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, and a splash of rice vinegar or wine can work well. Let it marinate for at least 15-30 minutes more.

    5. Cooking: When ready to cook, make sure your pan or wok is preheated. Stir fry quickly over high heat for the best results, as this method works best with fast, high cooking techniques.

    Alternatively, consider marinating with a mix of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a little sugar to help tenderize it, since acid (like vinegar or citrus juice) can also help break down tough fibers.

    Experiment with cooking times, as eye round cooks quickly due to its lean nature. Enjoy your cooking adventure! Let us know how it turns out!

Leave a Reply