Marianne Martinez
Cooking shoulder steak in a crock pot is a great way to achieve tender meat with minimal cleanup. The low and slow cooking method is perfect for tougher cuts of meat, such as shoulder steak, as it helps to break down the fibres and produces a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. This cooking method is also versatile, allowing you to experiment with various seasonings and ingredients to create a flavourful meal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of meat | Beef or pork shoulder |
| Cut of meat | Steak or roast |
| Cooking method | Slow cooker/crock pot |
| Temperature | Low heat for best texture, but high heat speeds up cooking time |
| Cooking time | 6-10 hours |
| Ingredients | Meat, vegetables, liquid/broth, seasoning |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, herbs, sugar, etc. |
| Liquid/broth | Wine, vinegar, soy sauce, beef/chicken broth, etc. |
| Vegetables | Onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, celery, mushrooms, etc. |
| Additional steps | Browning meat, thickening sauce, shredding meat, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Sear the steak
To sear the steak, start by removing the shoulder steak from its packaging. Trim any excess fat from the steak. Season the steak generously on all sides with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder and onion powder to enhance the flavor.
Next, heat a large skillet or pan over medium to medium-high heat. Add oil to the pan and let it heat up for about a minute. Place the steak in the pan and sear for 2-3 minutes or 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned. This process will add a delicious crust to your steak and enhance its overall flavor.
Once the steak is seared, set it aside on a clean plate or pan. You can now use the same pan to deglaze and make a sauce or gravy to accompany your steak. Alternatively, you can add vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots to the bottom of your slow cooker, creating a bed for the steak to rest on.
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Prepare the sauce
For a simple sauce, you can whisk together broth, wine, vinegar, and herbs. For a beef shoulder roast, you can add Worcestershire sauce and red wine. Alternatively, you can substitute liquid aminos, apple cider vinegar, and miso for Worcestershire sauce, and balsamic vinegar and white wine vinegar for red wine. For a pork shoulder, you can add soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder to the mix.
If you are using a tough cut of steak, adding acidic ingredients like red wine or vinegar can help to break down the fibers and make the meat more tender. You can also add spicy ingredients like red pepper flakes or jalapenos, or mild ingredients like garlic or thyme, depending on your preference.
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Cook on low heat
Cooking steak in a crock pot is a great way to make a delicious, tender meal with minimal effort. This method is especially good for tougher cuts of steak, such as shoulder steak, as the long, slow cooking process helps to break down the fibres and make the meat more tender.
To cook shoulder steak in a crock pot on low heat, start by seasoning your steak generously with salt and pepper on both sides. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder and onion powder to enhance the flavour. If you're using a bone-in shoulder steak, you might want to sear the steak in a pan before placing it in the crock pot to get a nice crust and seal in the juices.
Once your steak is seasoned, prepare your crock pot by lining it with a slow cooker bag or liner, or by lightly spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. This will make cleanup easier later.
Next, layer your ingredients in the crock pot. You can add vegetables like onions, potatoes, and carrots to cook alongside your steak. Place the vegetables at the bottom of the crock pot and put the steak on top. If you seared your steak, be sure to deglaze the pan with some broth or water and add that to your crock pot for extra flavour.
Pour your desired liquid over the steak and vegetables. This can be broth, wine, or a combination of liquids. You can also add ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and herbs to create a flavourful sauce.
Finally, put the lid on your crock pot and cook on low heat for 6 to 10 hours. The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your steak, but you're aiming for an internal temperature of around 195-200°F. When it's ready, the meat should be tender and easily fall apart.
Let the steak rest for a few minutes before serving, and enjoy your delicious crock pot shoulder steak!
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Thicken the sauce
To thicken the sauce, first, let the roast rest while you strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan. Next, whisk in a cornstarch slurry. You can make a cornstarch slurry by mixing equal parts cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Then, cook the sauce on medium heat, skimming off the fat as you go, until it has thickened to your desired consistency. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add more cornstarch slurry, and for a thinner sauce, simply add more liquid.
You can also thicken the sauce by adding a creamy ingredient like cream, sour cream, or yogurt. Alternatively, you can make a roux by mixing equal parts flour and fat, such as butter or oil, in a separate pan and cooking it until it thickens. Then, slowly whisk the roux into your sauce until you reach your desired consistency.
Another option is to add a thickening agent like arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, or potato starch. Simply sprinkle your chosen ingredient into the sauce and whisk until it thickens.
Finally, if you're looking for a richer sauce, you can mount it with butter. To do this, simply whisk in cold, cubed butter at the end of cooking, a few cubes at a time, until you reach your desired consistency and flavour.
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Pick the right crock pot size
Picking the right crock pot size is essential for cooking shoulder steak. If you're cooking for a large group or prefer to batch cook, a larger crock pot is ideal. A 6-quart crock pot is a good size for a large group or if you want leftovers. A 4.5-quart crock pot is suitable for a smaller group or if you're cooking a smaller cut of meat.
The size of the crock pot can impact the cooking time and temperature. A larger crock pot may require a longer cooking time, while a smaller crock pot may cook the steak faster. It's important to ensure that the crock pot is not overcrowded, as this can affect cooking times and temperature regulation.
If you plan to cook vegetables or other side dishes with your shoulder steak, opt for a larger crock pot. This will give you more space to fit everything comfortably and ensure even cooking.
Additionally, consider the shape of the crock pot. Oval or round crock pots are common, and the choice depends on your preferences and the shape of your meat cut. An oval crock pot might be better for larger cuts of meat, while a round crock pot can work well for smaller or more rounded cuts.
Finally, if you have limited storage space, keep that in mind when choosing a crock pot size. A larger crock pot might be cumbersome to store, so consider your storage constraints before purchasing.
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Frequently asked questions
For the best texture, cook your shoulder steak on low heat. This will allow the collagen to break down into gelatin without forcing out moisture too quickly.
For beef shoulder steak, cook for 6-6.5 hours on low heat. For pork shoulder steak, cook on low heat for 9-10 hours or 6-7 hours on a high heat setting.
For beef shoulder steak, serve with a red wine sauce. For pork shoulder steak, serve with sliced potatoes and mushroom gravy.
