Learn how to make cheap steaks tender using an enzyme marinade.
Even cheaper cuts of steak can be turned into tender and flavorful steak with the help of a great marinade. This steak recipe uses soy sauce and pineapple juice and just needs to marinate for an hour.
Learn more about how this marinade works below or click here to head straight to the recipe.
What Is An Enzyme Marinade?
The key to making a cheap steak taste great is to use a marinade. We told you about the different kinds of marinades over here. We wanted to therefore show you one of them in action.
We’re using an enzyme marinade here. Some fruits and vegetables have an enzyme called protease that can break down meat proteins to make them more tender. Pineapple is one of the fruits that has this enzyme. We went with pineapple juice for the enzyme action here and then some soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger for added flavor.
How Long To Marinate?
The thing to remember about an enzyme marinade is that it can turn meat to mush pretty quickly. Don’t marinate it for too long. We went with 1 hour on this one. It turned out pretty great.
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Cheap Steaks in Pineapple Soy Marinade
Learn how to make cheap steaks tender using an enzyme marinade.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. ginger
- 3 eye round steaks (about 1 and 1/3 pound total)
- 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
Instructions
- Mix together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic cloves and ginger. Put in a zip-top bag and add steaks. Seal and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat cast-iron skillet on high heat. Add oil. Cook steaks two minutes per side for a rare steak, longer to achieve desired doneness.
This post originally appeared in July 2016 and was revised and republished in March 2023.
I’m trying this today. I read meat. Candi as meatcandy the first time. 🤣 Thanks for the advice.
Awesome. I’ll try this tomorrow night. What do you think would go well with this (as a side)?
I think a basic fried rice would be a nice accompaniment for this meal, Candi. Or even this Cauliflower Fried Rice (https://thecookful.com/cauliflower-fried-rice/). Happy eating!