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Diced beef is a great addition to many delicious dishes. From stews and soups to pizzas and empanadas, it can add a dose of protein and flavor to various cultural staples. When it comes to cooking your beef, searing and sautéing are the most common practices. The former involves quickly cooking the outside of the meat, while the latter is similarly fast but with the goal of cooking the meat all the way through. The method you use depends on the way you like your beef and how you want your dish to turn out.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound boneless sirloin steak or pre-cut beef tips
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) salt
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pepper
- 4 teaspoons (20 ml) olive oil, divided
- 1 to 1 ⁄ 2 tablespoon (14.8 to 7.4 ml) chopped rosemary
- 2 ⁄ 3 cup (160 ml) dry white wine
- 1 pound sirloin steak (minimal grizzle) or pre-cut beef tips
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Oil
Steps
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Trim the fat and cut the meat into small cubes. Using a kitchen knife, cut excess pieces of fat from your beef then cube it. After cutting, your beef should be in pieces less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Now you can cut them up even smaller into bite-sized diced beef pieces. If you bought pre-cut beef tips, move on to the next step.- Remove any pieces of fat, gristle, or silvery membrane remaining.
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Season your beef with salt and pepper. Sprinkle kosher salt and ground pepper generously over your meat. In order to coat the pieces thoroughly, toss the meat around until they're completely covered. Add in spices or seasoning for more flavor. [1] X Research source
- To marinate your cubes, combine your beef and ingredients in a shallow dish. Cover it and let it sit for at least 2 hours or overnight. Popular marinating ingredients include oil, vinegar, ginger, onion, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.
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Mix heated oil with butter. Pour oil into a frying pan. Always make sure that the oil coat is spread over the pan evenly. Afterwards, place the pan on medium-heat for approximately 3 minutes. As it heats, add 2 tablespoons of butter and wait until it melts and turns brown.
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Drop your meat into the oil and butter mix. Place your diced meat into the pan in one layer. You should hear loud sizzling as each piece hits the pan (if not, the pan isn't hot enough).
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Sear your beef cubes. Let them sizzle for 30 to 45 seconds. Once the pieces are brown on one side, flip them over with your spatula. After flipping, let them sit for another 30 to 45 seconds until the outside is seared (but not cooked on the inside). [2] X Research source
- Use your food thermometer to check the temperature. At least 145 degrees F (63 C is ideal).
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Transfer your diced meat and add your butter. Place your diced beef onto a clean plate and repeat steps 3 and 4 until you get through the remaining pieces. When all of them are browned and plated, pour the remaining butter onto them.
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Finished.
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Trim the fat and cut the meat into diced cubes. Using a kitchen knife, cut excess pieces of fat from your beef then cube it. Cut your steak into strips that are less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. [3] X Research source From here, you can begin cutting these into bite-sized diced beef strips. You can skip this step if you bought pre-cut beef tips.
- Remove any large chunks of fat, gristle, or silvery membrane that you missed.
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Mix your diced beef with flour, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add your diced steak bites in and toss the meat until they're covered on all sides.
- If your taste buds prefer marinated beef, add your choice ingredients into a shallow dish and put your meat in. Cover it and let them sit for at least 2 hours or overnight. Common ingredients include oil, vinegar, ginger, onion, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.
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Heat oil on the skillet and cook your beef in batches. Heat 1 and 1/2 tablespoons (22.5 grams) of oil in your skillet on medium-high heat. Cook your bites in the oil in 2 or 3 batches for about 2 minutes per batch. [4] X Research source Be careful to not splash any oil on yourself and don't overcrowd the pan.
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Check to see that your meat is properly cooked. Use your spatula or food thermometer to ensure your beef bites are properly cooked through. Add 1 and 1/2 tablespoons (22.5 grams) of oil as needed until they are no longer pink on the outside and cooked inside. Transfer them to a plate when finished.
- Your bites should be 125 degrees F (52 C) for the rarest and 160 degrees F (71 C) for medium-well. Medium-rare can be removed at 130 degrees F (54 C) and medium at 140 degrees F (60 C). [5] X Trustworthy Source FoodSafety.gov Online portal combining food safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Go to source
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Create your seasoning. Cook your garlic and rosemary in the remaining oil over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden. Add wine and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons (22.5 grams) each of salt and pepper. Scrape up the brown bits until your mix is reduced by half.
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Warm your diced beef. Add your diced beef bits into the skillet with your new seasoning. Move them around gently until they're warmed through. If you're unsure, insert your thermometer and ensure they're at least 135 degrees F (57 C).
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Pair your beef with your favorite sides. Fresh steamed vegetables, salads, and baked potatoes are common choices. You can also use your bites as the protein of other primary dishes such as stew, pasta, or pizza. [6] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow to make diced beef soft and tender?Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience.Cook it slowly! You can do this by cooking it on the stovetop over medium heat, or by braising it in liquid in the oven.
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QuestionHow long does it take to cook diced beef?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerBeef that's been cut into small, bite-sized cubes needs to be cooked for at least 2 minutes to be fully cooked through. Move them around in the pan so all of the sides are browned and the meat cooks evenly. To be sure, use a meat thermometer to check the meat's internal temperature. It should be 125 degrees F (52 C) for the rarest and 160 degrees F (71 C) for medium-well. Medium-rare can be removed at 130 degrees F (54 C) and medium at 140 degrees F (60 C).
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QuestionIs diced beef the same as stewing beef?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerNo, the 2 terms refer to different cuts of meat. Diced beef refers to small, bite-sized pieces that are usually seared or sauteed. Stewing beef refers to larger chunks of tougher cuts that need to be stewed for a long time in order to be tender.
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Tips
- Cut your beef bits into roughly the same size to ensure they cook through evenly.Thanks
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Warnings
- Keep the frying pan handle facing the stove to prevent it from getting knocked to the floor.Thanks
- Never throw water onto a grease fire or into hot oil.Thanks
- For safety, always make sure that the internal temperature of your beef is at least 135 degrees F (57 C) prior to eating.Thanks
- When using hot oil, keep pets and children out of the way. Handle pans with oven mitts and always keep an eye on the cooking process.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
Sautéing Diced Beef
- 1 kitchen knife
- 1 medium-sized mixing bowl
- 12-inch heavy skillet
- 1 spatula
- 1 tablespoon set
- 1 food thermometer
Searing Diced Beef
- 1 kitchen knife
- 12-inch heavy skillet
- 1 medium-sized mixing bowl
- 1 spatula
- 1 tablespoon set
- 1 food thermometer
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about cooking diced beef, check out our in-depth interview with Marrow Private Chefs .
References
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-sear-meat-47333
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-sear-meat-47333
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/steak-bites-recipe-2119910
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sauteed-beef-with-white-wine-and-rosemary-357470
- ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-internal-temperatures
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/easy-side-dishes
About This Article
Article Summary
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Diced beef is easy to cook and makes a great addition to dishes like stews, soups, and pizzas. Start by trimming the excess fat from your beef. Then, slice the leftover beef into 1-inch cubes. To sauté your beef, toss the pieces in flour, salt, and pepper. Then, fry it in oil over medium heat for 2 minutes. Once your beef is cooked through, fry it for another 2 minutes with more oil and a little garlic, and rosemary. You can also add a little red wine for more flavor. If you have a meat thermometer, make sure your beef is at least 125 degrees Fahrenheit if it's rare or 160 degrees for medium-well. For more tips, including how to marinate your diced beef, read on!
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