12 tricks to get cheap meat to taste expensive

Meat lovers rejoice! Cooking an amazing steak dinner on a budget has never been easier thanks to these tips from pro chefs and food bloggers.

For cheaper cuts of steak, like bottom sirloin, short rib, or flank steak, Heidi Larsen of Foodie Crush recommends grilling the meat until medium rare and then cutting it into thin slices rather than serving the whole slab of steak. “It makes each bite a bit smaller and more succulent,” she explains. Just be sure to cut against the grain – otherwise, you’ll be left with chewy beef. Check out these 6 money hacks that will save you a fortune on your next grocery bill.

“Brining makes everything taste better!” says Cody Hopkins, CEO and founding farmer of Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative, a cooperative of farmers who raise and sell organic, pasture-fed meat. Because when you soak meat in a salty solution, the salt begins to break down some of the proteins, making it easier to chew. Two rules of thumb to remember: Use one cup of salt per four litres of water and let meat brine for about one hour per 500 grams. Steak makes for a perfect high-protein, low-carbohydrate meal. Can you tell your keto from your paleo? Find out the difference here.

Don’t skimp on the sugar if you want a restaurant-quality steak without the hefty price tag. Combine brown sugar with the spices of your choosing (paprika, garlic powder, salt, etc.), then rub it generously all over the outside of the meat before cooking. It will keep some of the juices inside the meat while providing that glistening caramelised crust you love.

Pay attention to the temperature of the meat. Most people don’t realise that they’re overcooking (or undercooking!) meat which makes it chewy and tough to swallow. The ideal temperature, especially for less expensive cuts which need to be cooked perfectly to taste good, is medium or about 60 degrees Celsius. Check the meat frequently with a thermometer while grilling or searing. Fresh meat will always taste better. Here are 13 foods you should never, ever eat past their expiration date.

Meat that’s tasty and tender? Yes, please. To prep the perfect piece, Lacey Baier of A Sweet Pea Chef says that she likes to marinate her meat for at least six hours before cooking. Choose one that has an acidic base (think: vinegar, wine, or lemon juice), which will soften any tough muscular fibres in chicken and steak. Head here to find out how to make a flavour-packed marinade.

Don’t forget the dairy! Marinades with yoghurt, butter, or cream bases can work just as well as acidic ones. That’s because the active bacteria and calcium in dairy products activate enzymes in the meat that naturally softens it.

Meet what Hopkins calls your “secret weapon” when it comes to cooking cheaper cuts: sous vide. The trendy hands-off method involves placing your meat inside a vacuum-sealed bag, then submerging it in hot water for about an hour. The result is a super succulent steak as all of the moisture is trapped inside the bag.

Take your grilling game to the next level by placing an affordable steak in a cast iron skillet before placing it on the barbecue. By doing so, you’ll trap in all of the juices rather than letting them drip through the grill grates so that the steak stays melt-in-your-mouth moist. Here are 5 tips on how to cut down on food waste.

Tenderise cheap ground beef by soaking it in a mixture of baking soda and water for 15 to 20 minutes (use 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 cup of water for every 340 grams of meat). “It helps to lock in moisture and accelerate browning by raising the pH level of the meat,” explains Jennifer Segal of Once Upon A Chef.