Des

Hey! I'm Des!

Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

Read more »

FOOD HACK: Tenderize Steak with Salt

Ever wonder how to tenderize steak? All you need to make an inexpensive cut of steak as tender, buttery and juicy as an expensive one is salt. Read on to learn more about this simple kitchen hack! 

When it comes to steak it is usually understood that the more expensive the better tasting, the more tender. A rib eye is going to be much more expensive than a petite sirloin or a London broil.

But today, I am going to show you how to take an inexpensive cut of meat and make it just as tender as a more expensive cut by using just one easy kitchen hack.

Salt.

Why salt?

Basically, salting a steak is a form of “dry brining”. Salt will draw the water out of the meat. The water dissolves the salt and then some gets reabsorbed back into the meat, ala osmosis.

Sprinkling salt on steak

When the salt is absorbed into the meat, it breaks down the protein cells and helps tenderize the meat.

To learn a little bit more about how dry brining works check out this article from Real Simple. It’s focused on turkey but the it applies to other meats too!

What kind of steak should you use?

For this recipe, skip the higher end cuts like top sirloin, NY steak, Rib Eye etc. Instead, try this technique with a petite sirloin, tri tip or, my personal favorite, London Broil.

You’ll want to use a cut that is at least 1 – 1 1/2 inches thick.

How to tenderize your steak with salt:

Step #1: Take a clove of garlic and rub all sides. This adds just a hint of garlic flavor.

Step #2: Sprinkle kosher salt all over the steak. You will want to use about 1 teaspoon per side. Let set for 1 to 2 hours.

DES’ TIP: Do not use table (iodized) salt. Because of its fine grain it will dissolve too much into the steak and make it too salty. 

STEP #3: Rinse steak and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with your favorite steak seasoning.

STEP #4: Depending on the thickness of the steak, grill 3 – 5 minutes per side for medium rare. Then allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Tips for making the perfect steak:

Using the salting technique will go a long way in making your steak perfect. But a couple other tips will also help!

Tip #1: After you rinse the steak, do not skip the “pat it dry” step. If you try to cook the steak wet, it will steam instead of sear.

Tip #2: As true with any steak, you have to got to let it rest. If you cut the meat right away, the juices will seep out. While resting the meat allows the juices to redistribute resulting in a juicer steak.

If you’re looking for something to serve along side, here are some of my favorite side dish recipes to serve with steak:

Garlic Rice

Roasted Red Potatoes

And while this steak is great on it’s own, if you like to dip yours in something give these a try:

Horseradish Cream Sauce 

Peppercorn Steak Sauce 

Habanero Hot Sauce

Other Beef Recipes you’ve got to try!

Flat Iron Steak Recipe

Sous Vide Steak 

Shredded Beef Taquitos 

Beef Stew with Red Wine

FOOD HACK: Tenderize Steak with Salt

All you need to make an inexpensive cut of steak as tender, buttery and juicy as an expensive one is salt. Learn how here!
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 pounds london broil 1 - 2 inches thick
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons your favorite steak seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Rub the outside of the steak with garlic clove.
  • Liberally season both sides of the steak with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per side.
  • Let set for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
  • Carefully rinse and pat dry the meat.
  • Grill 4 - 5 minutes per side for medium rare.
  • Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!
Keywords: food hack, steak

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Robert West
    February 1, 2023 at 1:24 pm

    5 stars
    This is the most awesome food hack! I did this to a normally tough chuck roast and it came out tasting like T bone.

    • Reply
      Deseree
      February 1, 2023 at 9:45 pm

      Yay!! I love to hear that! I am going to have to try that with a chuck roast!

  • Reply
    Doris
    September 25, 2021 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    Is this supposed to be done at room temperature or is it ok to put in the refrigerator?

    • Reply
      Deseree
      September 26, 2021 at 7:55 am

      You can put it in the refrigerator! I just recommend taking it out at least 30 min before cooking so that it has a chance to come to room temperature :)

  • Reply
    Toni
    March 18, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    5 stars
    This is perfection!! I can’t wait to give it a try!

  • Reply
    Sara Welch
    March 18, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! Such an easy way to provide delicious flavor, and easy too! This was delicious!

  • Reply
    Catalina
    March 18, 2020 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    These are great tips! I will definitely use it next time!

  • Reply
    Dorothy Reinhold
    March 17, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    I have never tried this method. It makes so much sense! Looks like I need to buy some salt. :)

  • Reply
    Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
    March 17, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    5 stars
    This is such an exciting idea! Looks really fabulous!

  • Reply
    Amanda
    March 17, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    5 stars
    This steak looks so tender and juicy!

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

    Sharing is Caring

    Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!