Soaking cheaper cuts of beef in cold coffee for several hours can make them as tender as fillet steak, according to a popular YouTube chef. The acid in coffee helps break down the meat, resulting in a more tender texture without leaving a coffee flavor.
The Trick
Cowboy Kent Rollins, who has over three million YouTube subscribers, shared the unusual marination method in a recent video. He described it as something “no one has ever heard of.” The process involves submerging the steak in cold coffee for at least four hours, ideally eight.
Rollins explained: “There is acid in coffee that’s going to help break down this meat to make it even more tender.” He assured viewers that the steak would not taste like coffee, despite the lengthy soak.
How to Do It
Start by placing the meat in a sandwich bag and pouring about four cups of cold coffee over it, ensuring it is fully submerged. Refrigerate for at least four hours, but eight is better. After removing the meat, pat it dry with paper towels.
Rollins noted: “Pat them really dry with a paper towel. I wan’t you to notice the colour has changed… that coffee has penetrated in there, it’s going to make things more tender.” Season with salt, pepper, or other spices, then let the meat rest for 30 to 45 minutes.
Results
The steak can be cooked on the hob or on a BBQ for a charred flavor. After tasting, Rollins said: “I am shocked. I have cooked hundreds of sirloins that were never this tender. The flavour that you get from the coffee is not like a cup of coffee, but you can sort of taste the aroma of coffee.”
