Chicken fried steak is a beloved comfort food with a delightfully crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior. But despite its popularity across the Southern United States, the exact cut of meat used for this dish remains somewhat mysterious. In this article, we’ll unravel the secrets behind chicken fried steak and reveal what type of meat gives this hearty meal its distinctive texture and flavor.
A Brief History of Chicken Fried Steak
While its origins are debated, chicken fried steak likely has roots in European immigrants bringing wiener schnitzel recipes from Germany and Austria to Texas in the 19th century. Unable to find veal, they adapted the dish using the more readily available beef. It became known as “chicken fried steak” for its similar cooking method to fried chicken.
The earliest printed recipe appeared in 1839 in The Virginia Housewife cookbook. It grew in popularity across the South throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today it’s considered one of the quintessential comfort foods of Southern cooking.
The Most Common Cuts Used
So what is chicken fried steak actually made from? The most common cuts used are cube steak or round steak, typically from the round or sirloin section of the cow.
Cube steak is a top choice as it’s already tenderized by being run through a mechanical tenderizer. This creates the signature divots and cubes the steak is named after. It’s affordable easy to find and tenderizes well when battered and fried.
Round steak is also lean and budget-friendly. While not as naturally tender as cube steak, round steak can be easily tenderized by pounding, cubing, or forking before breading and frying.
Why These Cuts Work Best
There are a few reasons why cube steak and round steak make the ideal choice
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Affordability – These are relatively inexpensive cuts, which suits the humble, thrifty origins of chicken fried steak.
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Tenderness – While not extremely tender on their own, they tenderize well with mechanical tenderizing or pounding. This gives the soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture when fried.
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Texture – When tenderized, the meat’s surface texture helps the batter adhere.
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Flavor – While somewhat mild in flavor, they absorb spices and seasonings well for a flavor boost.
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Ability to hold up when fried – Cube and round steak have the right balance of tenderness and structure to hold their shape when fried.
So by selecting affordable but mildly flavored cuts that tenderize easily, cooks created a budget-friendly dish with down-home flavors and a crispy crust enveloping a fork-tender interior.
Other Cuts Sometimes Used
While cube and round steak may be the most common, you may see chicken fried steak made from other cuts on occasion:
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Chuck steak – A tougher but flavorful cut that can work if properly tenderized.
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Flank steak – Relatively tender and lean, though it can become tough if overcooked.
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Sirloin steak – Tender yet affordable, though may not hold up as well when fried.
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Top round steak – A lean and moderately tender cut. Needs adequate pounding or cubing.
The key is properly tenderizing the meat before breading and frying. Cooks can get creative with cuts, keeping tenderness and cost in mind.
Tips for Selecting Your Cut of Meat
When making chicken fried steak at home, follow these tips for choosing your cut:
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Opt for affordability – Stick to budget-friendly round, chuck, or flank steak for an authentic meal.
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Get it tenderized – Buy cube steak, or use a mallet or fork to tenderize the meat yourself.
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Keep it thin – Pound or slice the meat thin so it cooks quickly and tenderly.
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Consider flavor – Mildly flavored cuts absorb spices best, but go bold if you want.
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Watch the fat – Leaner cuts like flank and round steak work well. Avoid fatty cuts.
With the right cut cooked properly, you’ll achieve the crispy coating and fork-tender interior that makes chicken fried steak an enduring comfort food favorite.
Preparing and Cooking for Best Results
Once you’ve selected your cut of meat, proper preparation and cooking techniques are key:
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Tenderize – Use a mallet, fork, or commercial tenderizer to break down tough fibers.
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Season – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, paprika, and thyme all add flavor.
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Bread – Dip in flour, egg wash, then seasoned flour or breadcrumbs.
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Pan fry – Cook in a heavy skillet with 1/4 inch oil on medium heat.
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Don’t overcook – Cook 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and 160°F internally.
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Drain and rest – Let steak drain on a wire rack before serving for optimum crispness.
When shopping for and cooking chicken fried steak, remember that the preparation of an affordable, tenderized beef cut is what really gives this dish its comforting flavors and texture. Follow these tips for your best homemade version yet.
Satisfy Your Cravings with This Southern Classic
How to Make // The Steps
Step 1: Begin with the preparation of the steak: Beat the milk with the eggs in a small bowl and set aside. Mix the flour with a pinch of paprika and season with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Work with one piece of meat at a time. Season both sides with salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Coat with the flour then place into the egg-milk mixture. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat. Place the coated meat on a clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.
Step 3: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat then fry the meat in batches, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the meat to a paper towel and repeat until all the meat is cooked.
Step 4: Heat another skillet and melt the butter. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the melted butter and mix the flour with the butter, creating a golden-brown paste.
Step 5: Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Simmer the gravy on low heat for 5-10 minutes until thickened.
Step 6: Serve the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and pour over the gravy sauce. Enjoy!
Chicken Fried Steak Ingredients
- 1 lb cube steak tenderized round steak
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Pinch of salt and black pepper
- Pinch of paprika
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 cups whole milk
- Pinch of salt and black pepper
What Kind Of Meat Is In Chicken Fried Steak? – Southern Culture Collective
FAQ
What cut of steak is a chicken-fried steak?
Chicken fried steak is made from cube steak, which is sliced top round or sliced top sirloin that is cut very thinly and then pounded to tenderize. It’s super affordable and delicious.
What animal is the meat of a chicken-fried steak?
But this home-style favorite has nothing to do with chicken except in the way it’s cooked. Chicken Fried Steak (CFS for short) is thinly pounded out beef.
What is the tender meat for chicken-fried steak?
Thinly pounded sirloin tips make the most flavorful and tender chicken-fried steak. Coating the steak with cornstarch creates an extra thin and delicate crust that won’t overwhelm the thinly pounded meat.
Why is chicken-fried steak unhealthy?
High in Unhealthy Fats: Fried meats are often cooked in oils that are high in saturated and trans fats, which can increase levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. This can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
What cut is chicken fried steak?
Chicken fried steak is made most often with cube steak, or steak that has already been tenderized, or a cheap cut like round steak. It was originally created to make a cheap cut of meat taste better. No matter which cut you use, you have to pound it thin with a meat mallet. What type of cut is country fried steak?
What kind of steak is used for chicken fried steak?
Cubed steak has long been the traditional cut of choice for classic chicken fried steak recipes. Cubed steak is made from top round or top sirloin beef that has been run through a mechanical tenderizer. This process pounds the meat to help break down tough muscle fibers
Can you make chicken fried steak with a cubed steak?
While cubed steak may be the tried and true cut you can also use other cuts of beef to make chicken fried steak. The keys are selecting relatively affordable lean cuts and tenderizing the meat thoroughly before breading. Some other good options include: These cuts come from the hindquarters and chuck of the cow.
What is chicken fried steak?
Chicken-fried steak is a classic Southern comfort food dish consisting of a tenderized steak coated in seasoned flour, fried until golden brown, and typically served with creamy gravy. Despite the name, chicken-fried steak does not actually contain chicken; the dish gets its name from the cooking method similar to that of fried chicken.
What is chicken fried steak made of?
Chicken-fried steak is coated in a seasoned breading before being fried to crispy perfection. The breading typically consists of a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and other seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
What makes a good chicken fried steak?
With the right cut of beef, proper tenderizing, and good frying technique, you can enjoy the ultimate chicken fried steak that is crispy on the outside and fork-tender inside. The flavorful, beefy filling will have you going back for seconds!