The issue of tough roast beef has been faced by the majority of home cooks. Even with careful cooking, this excellent cut of beef can occasionally come out tough.
The good news, however, is that if you have any leftover roast beef, you have a good problem. Why? Because you can use these challenging leftovers from roast beef to create delectable recipes.
What Can I Do with Roast Beef Leftovers?
There are so many things you can make with leftover roast beef, some of my favorites being:
But if you want to soften tough leftover beef, these options aren’t the best.
You might find that your beef doesn’t get a chance to soften and is still too chewy because they cook fairly quickly or fairly dry.
Why Might Roast Beef be Tough?
Your Sunday lunch roast beef might be tougher than you’d like it to be for a few reasons.
These include:
- It’s overcooked. Meat that has been overcooked dries out, losing moisture along the way, making the meat tougher and therefore more difficult to chew.
- It was cooked at too high a temperature. It is always preferable to cook meat slowly as opposed to heating it quickly because the latter causes the meat’s protein to become tough.
- Some cuts of meat are tougher than others. These are typically the less expensive cuts of beef, such as brisket or rump.
- The meat wasn’t very fresh.
The Benefits of Buying Cheap Cuts of Meat
Cheaper cuts of meat are often tougher and chewier because they have more connective tissue.
This is typically because they come from the animal’s more heavily exercised muscles.
They are less expensive because there is less demand for them and the meat isn’t as tender.
But that doesn’t mean that cheaper cuts aren’t tasty.
They might require more time to cook, but they might also be tastier, cost less money, and make a delicious stew!
What to do with Tough Steak Leftovers?
Of course, not all meat can be tough, even leftover roast beef.
While your rib-eye may always be unbelievably tender, poorly prepared rumps may be tough, dry, and chewy.
I strongly suggest making a stew or other dish with any leftover tough steak that has been slow-cooked for a very long time.
If you don’t have much meat, which you might not have from a steak, you can add some diced beef or stewing steak, or just lots of potatoes and vegetables to bulk it out.
How to Salvage Tough Roast Beef
You can usually tell if your roast beef is tough as soon as you begin to slice it
The meat will become relaxed and may even become slightly softer if you let it rest for 30 minutes before serving. However, once it’s prepared for serving and cooked, there isn’t much you can do.
To make your tough beef roast for Sunday lunch easier to cut and chew at the table, I advise slicing it as thinly as you can.
Then, serve it with all of your favorite vegetables and potatoes and top it with gravy.
Then, whatever is left, cover and store in the fridge for another meal, just like you would tender Leftover Roast Beef.
How to Make Tough Cooked Roast Beef Tender?
Adding more liquid is the best way to make tough beef tender.
Even though it might be too late to prepare this on Sunday, the best way to soften leftover roast beef when making another dish is to simmer it slowly in a sauce or gravy.
If you know it’s going to be difficult, it’s also a good idea to cut it into small pieces.
Shred Tough Leftover Roast Beef
When it comes to using up leftover tough beef, shredding the meat, like pulled pork, is an additional choice.
I let leftover beef roast cool completely before using my hands to literally tear the meat apart while going with the grain.
Although you can shred meat with forks, I find it easier to just use my bare hands.
It is ideal to cook leftover roast beef in a sauce for dishes like burritos, chilli, or cottage pies.
Really, I believe that you can use shredded beef in any recipe that calls for minced beef.
Making Soup with Leftover Roast Beef
Soup is a fantastic option for using leftover beef, and adding barley is a great option if you want to bulk it out.
If the meat is tough, beef and barley soup is great. It’s also a great way to cook on a budget.
Just make sure you cut your beef up small.
What is the Best Thing to Cook with a Leftover Roast Dinner?
Leftover roast beef or pot roast can be used for a variety of things. There’s absolutely not a best option.
For me, it depends on the circumstances.
There aren’t many better options than a nice beef sandwich if I don’t have much beef and it’s extremely tender and already thinly sliced.
If your beef is tough, shredding it and preparing burritos, or simmering it in a stew or chilli, are ideal methods.
Although I use fresh beef in my beef goulash recipe, you can easily substitute leftovers.
Simply omit the meat’s browning step and make sure it is piping hot before serving.
If your meat is tough, chop it up small and cook it in this delicious goulash sauce.
This type of mildly spiced stew is ideal for revitalizing tough leftover beef!
Whether it’s beef, pork, or lamb, using tough leftover meat in a stew is a great idea. Your meat should be diced into small pieces and simmer in a stew for at least an hour.
I love a cottage pie with leftover beef. I prefer the chunks of meat to using mince. It’s a much better texture.
If your beef is tough, dice it or cut it into small pieces so that it will soften in this hearty gravy that is served with mashed potatoes. Leftover lamb is also great for a shepherd’s pie.
I would shred the meat or slice it into thin strips for burritos made with tough leftover beef before simmering it in a chili sauce.
This is the best option if there isn’t much meat left because shredding it makes it go further and the burritos’ inclusion of rice and vegetables ensures that you won’t miss any additional meat.
The ideal method for preparing tough leftover roast beef is with curry sauce. It will soften it while adding some extra flavour.
Even better, marinate the meat the night before cooking so that it is already soft.
For cooking with tough leftover beef, I love making both my leftover beef curry and my beef and sweet potato curry.
If you want to cut your meat very thin, a ragu is ideal.
It doesn’t really matter because minced beef is typically used to make it, and simmering it in a thick sauce like this causes it to soften and stop being so dry.
You can also use leftover lamb or turkey to make ragu.
Similar to curry, chili can be cooked for a long time, making it perfect for leftovers. You can always add more liquid and simmer the beef for a little while longer if it’s still too chewy, but be sure to stir it occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pan’s bottom.
If you’re making chili with leftover tough beef, dice the meat rather than shred it.
Tough meat works well in hotpots, but you can also use leftover vegetables and potatoes.
The best use for chewy leftover beef is in a beef and red wine casserole.
For a delicious dinner, simmer your meat in this hearty red wine gravy until it is tender. Then, serve it with mashed potatoes or bread.
Pie is another dish where the meat can be cut into small pieces and cooked in the gravy.
The only distinction is that you cannot taste it while it is cooking to determine how soft it is.
You can substitute beef for the lamb in my pie, but omit the mint sauce.
You can give tough beef new life as part of another satisfying family meal by using it in these leftover roast beef recipes, which are just a few of the options.
Typically, your beef will become more tender the second time you eat it as a result of cooking in a sauce or gravy.
What can I do with tough roast beef leftovers?
FAQ
What can be done with a tough roast beef?
Adding more liquid is the best way to make tough beef tender. Even though it might be too late to prepare this on Sunday, the best way to soften leftover roast beef when making another dish is to simmer it slowly in a sauce or gravy.
How do you soften a tough roast beef?
Tenderizing can be accomplished by simmering in a small amount of liquid or broth. Acidity can also be your friend here. You can help the meat become more tender by adding a little vinegar and lemon juice to the liquid. It adds moisture, but it also cooks the meat.
Does roast beef get softer the longer you cook it?
Yes, there are scientific justifications for why slow-cooked meat is superior. The connective tissue protein collagen, which is present in meat, melts to give it tenderness. Gelatin, a rich liquid that gives meat a ton of flavor and a silky texture, is created when collagen melts.
Does roast get more tender the longer you cook it?
The key to a fantastic beef chuck roast recipe is to allow it to cook for a sufficient amount of time, as chuck roast does become more tender as it cooks. I cook my chuck roast in the same pot for 4 hours and 20 minutes, and when it’s finished, it’s fall-apart tender with soft carrots and potatoes.