• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Platein28
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Crafts
  • Screen Time
  • Blog
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Crafts
  • Screen Time
  • Blog
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Blog

    Reasons Why Your Steak Is Coming Out Tough and Chewy

    Published: Nov 18, 2022 · Modified: Apr 15, 2023 by Julie Park · This post may contain affiliate links

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    A large component of what makes steak tender and juicy is how you cook it! If you’re struggling to determine where your steaks are going wrong, here are a few reasons why your steak may be coming out tough and chewy.

    cut and seasoned steak with rosemary

    Not All Cuts Are the Same

    Any cut of steak can be delicious, but many people go wrong when they assume that all steaks are the same. You’re not going to cook a T-bone steak the same way you’d cook filet mignon. Every cut of beef is different. Depending on the thickness, fat distribution, and what part of the animal it comes from, you’ll need to adjust accordingly.

    For example, a chuck roast is a cut that comes from the cow’s shoulder, and because cows are quadrupeds, that group of muscles sees a lot of action. A more active set of muscles tends to yield a tougher meat. So, it is generally recommended that a chuck roast be tenderized so the meat turns out less tough.

    diagram of cow, it's beef cuts and what to make with them

    You Gotta Tenderize and Marinate

    One of the top ways to tenderize meat is to use an acidic based marinade, using a vinegar or citrus juice, to break down the muscle fibers. The tougher the cut naturally is, the longer it’ll  need to marinate. Because all of our recipes are doable in 28 minutes or less, any marinating we do is quick. But honestly, even 10 minutes of marinating makes a difference!

    Another way to tenderize your meat is with a meat mallet. Tenderizing this way gets your meat thinner and more pliable, thus priming it for a good marinade. And the end result will be a more tender steak.

    To get your meat more tender and juicy, you’ll also want to let your meat rest for about 10 minutes after cooking. This resting period ensures that any juices, whether marinade or melted fat, will stay in the meat and absorb rather than spill out from the cut.

    The Steak is Overcooked

    While some people don’t feel comfortable eating rare or medium-rare steak, sometimes cooking a steak until well-done makes it too tough. Each cut of meat is going to have a different cook time, depending on the thickness. However, once the internal temperature reaches 145°F (the USDA-recommended minimum temperature for cooked beef), you can be sure that it’s safe to eat. Thermoworks is a great resource for learning which beef cuts to cook low and slow and which beef cuts to cook hot and fast.

    So, Get Cooking!

    Now that you know a few reasons why your steak may be coming out tough and chewy, you can inform your cooking process, and start producing delicious steaks every time. You can transform any cut into a delicious meal with the right techniques and care. Start practicing with these beefy recipes!

    • the sloppy joes one white plate
      Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe
    • creamy beef and mushroom pasta in bowl with fork
      Creamy Beef and Mushroom
    • white plate with Carne Asada with Corn Salad and Chimichurri Sauce
      Quick Chimichurri Carne Asada
    • Sandwich with beef, cheese and onion on a long roll
      Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe

    You May Also Like

    • collage of teacher gifts made by kids
      5 DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts
    • sliced chicken on slate serving platter with mustard and utensils
      4 Easy Chicken Marinades to Prep Ahead
    • rinsing greens in sink
      Tips to Wash Fruit and Vegetables Effectively
    • kids with sunglasses saying he's bored
      😎 Portland Summer Events 2023

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Julie & Marcie in kitchen

    We are two sisters with young kids who want to help simplify mealtime for busy families! Platein28 is our family’s unofficial guide to wading through mealtime chaos. Here you will find quality recipes that take 28 minutes or less, with activities to occupy your kids so you can actually cook.

    More about us →

    Fall Favorites

    • honey garlic chicken on white plate
      Skillet Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • butternut squash soup in bowl topped with small crackers
      Vitamix Butternut Squash Soup
    • Potato Leek Soup with spoon and bread
      Potato Leek Soup
    • four pork recipes
      10 Quick Thin Pork Chop Recipes
    • pizza with pepperoni and olives
      Fresh Pizza Dough with Whole Wheat Flour
    • lemon garlic pasta with lemons in bowl
      Lemon Garlic Pasta (One Pot!)

    Popular Recipes

    • the sloppy joes one white plate
      Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe
    • stacked pancakes
      Easy Cinnamon Pancakes with Vanilla
    • chicken, rice and peas in small blue crockpot with lid on side
      Creamy Chicken Pea Skillet with Rice (One Pan!)
    • carrot sticks on a plate
      How to Cut Carrot Sticks
    • turkey burger sliders spread out on large plate
      The Easiest Turkey Burger Sliders
    • Sandwich with beef, cheese and onion on a long roll
      Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe

    Kids Crafts & Activities

    • three colorful pumpkins
      Fun with Melting Crayons on Pumpkins
    • eight melted crayon hearts in rows
      Fun with Melting Crayons in the Oven
    • blue, green and red dyed pasta
      How to Dye Pasta for Crafts
    • two red fish puppets
      Adorable DIY Fish Puppet
    • tissue paper vase with red and yellow flowers
      Cow-Themed Tissue Paper Vase
    • red and white Mushroom Village house
      Adorable Mushroom Craft for Kids

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Platein28
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Graphics courtesy of Fred Chao

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    Have comments or questions?

    Send us an email!


    We earn a commission through purchases made through partner and affiliate sites.

    Copyright © 2020-2022 Platein28 on the Foodie Pro Theme

    We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to use this site, you consent tocookiesbeing used. Visit our Privacy Policy for more information.
    ACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT