Italian beef

Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:22 pm

How do you guys make your Italian beef? I have been using a slow cooker with dry Italian dressing and a pint or two of ale. It keeps coming out tuff.
larry78cj7
 
Posts: 316
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:20 pm
Location: anywhere

Re: Italian beef

Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:37 pm

Try grinding it with those teeth of yours.
code
User avatar
codewritinfool
 
Posts: 2261
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:54 pm
Location: Macon

Re: Italian beef

Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:49 pm

larry78cj7 wrote:How do you guys make your Italian beef? I have been using a slow cooker with dry Italian dressing and a pint or two of ale. It keeps coming out tuff.


I'll bet you're over-cooking it and drying it out in a crock-pot. I think the roast should be pretty rare when you slice it. Then when you reheat it in the gravy, it cooks perfectly.

The other secret is to slice the meat VERY thin. Use a deli-style slicer if you can. Here are some great recipes for Italian Beef.

Oh, and don't forget the giardiniera!
"If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs."
User avatar
Elbone
 
Posts: 587
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:07 pm
Location: Birmingham, AL

Re: Italian beef

Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:19 pm

codewritinfool wrote:Try grinding it with those teeth of yours.


:lol:
larry78cj7
 
Posts: 316
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:20 pm
Location: anywhere

Re: Italian beef

Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:25 pm

Elbone wrote:
larry78cj7 wrote:How do you guys make your Italian beef? I have been using a slow cooker with dry Italian dressing and a pint or two of ale. It keeps coming out tuff.


I'll bet you're over-cooking it and drying it out in a crock-pot. I think the roast should be pretty rare when you slice it. Then when you reheat it in the gravy, it cooks perfectly.

The other secret is to slice the meat VERY thin. Use a deli-style slicer if you can. Here are some great recipes for Italian Beef.

Oh, and don't forget the giardiniera!


That might be the problem. I am cooking it for 8 to 12 hours in the slow cooker, I then pull it out and slice it. I don't have a deli slicer, I was thinking about getting an electric knife, I could use it to filet crappie too.
Should I cook it at a low temp for a long time, or just get the outside brown at 350 in the oven, slice and put it in the gravy? Thanks
larry78cj7
 
Posts: 316
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:20 pm
Location: anywhere

Re: Italian beef

Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:31 am

larry78cj7 wrote:
Elbone wrote:
larry78cj7 wrote:How do you guys make your Italian beef? I have been using a slow cooker with dry Italian dressing and a pint or two of ale. It keeps coming out tuff.


I'll bet you're over-cooking it and drying it out in a crock-pot. I think the roast should be pretty rare when you slice it. Then when you reheat it in the gravy, it cooks perfectly.

The other secret is to slice the meat VERY thin. Use a deli-style slicer if you can. Here are some great recipes for Italian Beef.

Oh, and don't forget the giardiniera!


That might be the problem. I am cooking it for 8 to 12 hours in the slow cooker, I then pull it out and slice it. I don't have a deli slicer, I was thinking about getting an electric knife, I could use it to filet crappie too.
Should I cook it at a low temp for a long time, or just get the outside brown at 350 in the oven, slice and put it in the gravy? Thanks


I brown it good on all sides in a hot skillet or Dutch oven on the stovetop, then season it, and put it in the oven 'till it's medium-rare at most. The site I linked above has the technique laid out on it. There are as many ways to do Italian Beef as there are Chicagoans! The cut you choose is important, too. I like a bottom round roast. Here's another decent looking recipe. Do brown the roast before putiing it in the oven, though. It adds a lot of flavor.
"If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs."
User avatar
Elbone
 
Posts: 587
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:07 pm
Location: Birmingham, AL

Re: Italian beef

Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:41 pm

Dammit - I miss Chicago. I'm going to have to make one of these this weekend you bastards.
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas."
User avatar
mookie1010
 
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:30 am
Location: dallas

Return to Great Food VigArously

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

A BIT ABOUT US

The Brewing Network is a multimedia resource for brewers and beer lovers. Since 2005, we have been the leader in craft beer entertainment and information with live beer radio, podcasts, video, events and more.