Pan Frying or Sauté Cook it Right
Got 7 minutes? You've got dinner!
Definition:
A quick dry-heat cooking method using a pan with a small amount of oil. No lid is used. Use for thinner cuts. Also called sautéing.
Appropriate cuts:
Most appropriate for thin, tender cuts such as cube steak, sirloin steak, ribeye steak, top blade steak, round tip steak, top loin steak, tenderloin and eye of round.
Step by Step:
- Heat small amount of oil in skillet on stovetop over medium to medium-high heat until hot.
- Season, dredge in flour, or bread beef as desired.
- Place beef in pre-heated skillet. Do not overcrowd.
- Do not add water or other liquid. Do not cover.
- Pan fry to desired doneness, turning once.
| Beef Cut | Thickness | Total Cooking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eye Round | ½ in. | 2 to 4 minutes |
| Chuck Top Blade | ½ in. | 3 to 4 minutes |
| Round Tip | ¼ in. | 1 to 2 minutes |
| Cubed | ½ in. | 5 to 7 minutes |
Tips:
- The thinner the meat—the higher the heat.
- When breading steaks, breading will stick better if beef is refrigerated after breading for at least 10 minutes before pan frying.
- Be sure meat is cut to a uniform thickness to ensure even cooking.
- Never add liquid ingredients to hot oil. This will cause popping.
- Do not add too many pieces to the pan at one time. This causes the oil temperature to drop which can result in the grease being absorbed into the food.
- Use a heavy pan that conducts heat well. A thin, poorly-conducting pan can have hot spots and burn foods.
- Do not overcrowd. Overcrowding causes the food to steam instead of fry and it won’t be brown and crispy.
For pan frying recipes, search the Recipe Book.
