What to Do With Tough Leftover Roast Beef? | Livestrong.com (2024)

What to Do With Tough Leftover Roast Beef? | Livestrong.com (1)

Leftover beef doesn't need to go to waste.

Image Credit: AnnaPustynnikova/iStock/GettyImages

Inexpensive cuts of beef roast are easy on the budget and are often rich and flavorful. Because the roasts come from lean, muscled areas of the animal, the meat can be tough and stringy. You can make several recipes using leftover tough roast beef.

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Shred tough leftover roast or cut it into pieces, and then incorporate the meat into tasty and healthful dishes.

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To reduce risk of foodborne illness, promptly refrigerate leftover roast beef. Discard any meat that has been at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as advised by the USDA. Consume roast beef within 3 to 4 days, or freeze for several months at 0 degree Fahrenheit.

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Reheat meat to at least 165 degrees F to reduce risk of harmful bacterial growth.

Tip

Leftover beef doesn't need to go to waste. Cut it up or shred it to use in a variety of recipes.

Try Beef Stroganoff

Put leftover roast beef to good use and make slow cooker beef stroganoff, as cooking tough meat slowly in liquid tenderizes the tough fibers. To make beef stroganoff, place the tough roast beef in a slow cooker.

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Add beef broth to help produce the steam needed for cooking your dish, as advised by the University of Minnesota Extension. Add mushroom soup, instant onion soup mix, sour cream, chopped onions and canned or fresh mushrooms.

Canned soup and broth have a high salt content, so for healthier stroganoff, look for low-sodium varieties. According to the American Heart Association, healthy adults should eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.

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Turn the slow cooker on high until the meat is hot, and then turn the heat to low and allow the meat to cook until it's tender and pulls apart easily with a fork — about two hours.

Build Some Burritos

Build some burritos for leftover roast beef recipes with rice. Shred the beef and heat it in a small amount of heart-healthy canola or olive oil for about 10 minutes, or until the meat is thoroughly hot.

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Stir in savory extras, let the mixture heat for five to 10 minutes, and then roll the mixture in warm tortillas.

Add precooked brown rice and black beans for protein- and fiber-rich burritos. Other flavorful burrito ingredients include onions, garlic, lettuce, olives, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes and flavorings such as cilantro, oregano, cumin, chili powder or cayenne. To keep fat in check, use low-fat cheese.

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Add to Ramen Noodles

Ramen noodles are just the thing for a meal ready in minutes, and they provide an option for different things to do with roast beef. Shred the roast beef, then add it to hot ramen noodles.

Mix in vegetables such as snow peas, corn, shredded carrots to add flavor and nutrition. For a crispier texture, saute the vegetables in olive oil, then add precooked ramen noodles and the contents of the seasoning packet.

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Leftover Roast Beef Stew

A basic leftover roast beef stew is a satisfying one-dish meal loaded with protein and vitamin-rich vegetables. To make stew, cut the leftover beef into 1-inch cubes, and then dredge the beef cubes lightly in flour seasoned with salt and pepper.

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Brown the beef in hot olive or canola oil. Add chopped onions and minced garlic to the skillet and continue to cook until the onions and garlic are soft. Put the mixture in a large pot or Dutch oven, and then cover the meat with beef broth.

Cover the pot and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes, or until the beef is tender. Add vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, celery, turnips, parsnips and tomatoes during the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time.

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What to Do With Tough Leftover Roast Beef? | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

What to Do With Tough Leftover Roast Beef? | Livestrong.com? ›

Try Beef Stroganoff

How to soften up tough roast beef? ›

Simmering in a little bit of liquid or broth is a great way to tenderize. Acidity can also be your friend here. A little bit of vinegar and lemon juice in the liquid can help you tenderize the meat. It adds moisture, but it also cooks the meat.

What can I do with leftover overcooked roast beef? ›

A simple fix for overcooked meat is to dump it in your food processor with some olive oil, purée it, and use it as a stuffing for everything from hand pies and empanadas to dumplings and ravioli.

How do I make my roast beef juicy again? ›

Reheat with a liquid: One way to add moisture back into the beef is to reheat it in a liquid such as broth or gravy. You can do this by placing the beef in a pot or slow cooker with the liquid and heating it until it's heated through and tender.

Can you tenderize beef after it is cooked? ›

Using a slow-cooker appliance or simmering the beef in a skillet with a lid that fits also works for tenderizing cooked beef. Thinly slicing or shredding the beef helps the meat break down faster. Braise or simmer it for at least two hours.

How to tenderize leftover roast beef? ›

Thick-slice the roast (1/4 in thick or so), then cut the slices into bite-sized cubes. Put these in a deep pan and add a can of beef broth (about a cup), a cup of water, and a half-cup of red wine. Heat this to a simmer over low heat and cover the pan, stirring occasionally.

Why is my roast still tough after 6 hours? ›

If your pot roast is still tough after cooking for 6 hours in a crock pot, it's possible that it simply needs more time to cook. Tough cuts of meat, such as chuck roast or brisket, have a lot of connective tissue and require a longer cooking time to break down and become tender.

How to fix tough meat in a slow cooker? ›

Cook Low and Slow

Add your other ingredients and liquids, then set your cooker to “low.” Plan for 6-9 hours of cooking time for your warming slow cooker meal. This long, slow braise breaks down the connective tissue and fat, creating deliciously soft and juicy meat.

How do you reheat overcooked beef? ›

About this method: Men's Health insists there is only one way to reheat steak: steaming it in a covered pan on the stove. The pan needs to be large and heavy, and placed indirectly over the heat and you need to add just enough water to steam the meat without allowing it to pool underneath.

Why is my roast beef tough and chewy? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

How do you reheat roast beef without making it tough? ›

Again, aluminum foil is the key to reheating your roast without drying it out. Wrap your roast in foil with a 1/4 cup of beef stock added to help retain the prime rib's juicy flavor, and place it in the oven once it has been preheated to 300°F.

Why did my roast come out tough? ›

With lots of connective tissue (also known as collagen), these cuts can be tough if undercooked or hurried along in the cooking process. However, with slow-cooker pot roast, pressure cooker pot roast, or low-and-slow braised pot roast, the collagen breaks up for tender, succulent meat.

What to do with leftover tough meat? ›

Overcooked steak can be repurposed and transformed into something delicious.
  1. Slice it for cheesesteak. ...
  2. Make a stir-fry. ...
  3. Get a sharp knife for thin slices:
  4. Chop it for a terrine. ...
  5. Thin slice for a cold sandwich. ...
  6. Chip steak for gravy and biscuits. ...
  7. Make dumplings, empanadas, pasties, or pierogies. ...
  8. Board Sauce.
Aug 1, 2023

How to tenderize meat that's already been cooked? ›

In order to tenderize a cooked steak, you just need to leave the meat to stand for 5 minutes after cooking, until the juices flow back towards the outside. Then you'll be able to serve perfectly juicy meat. For a roast beef you'll need to wait longer — about 20 minutes .

Can you reheat meat to make it tender? ›

Option 1: Oven

If you have time to spare, this is the best way to reheat steak to keep it tender and flavorful. Set your oven to 250°F (120°C). Place the steak on a wire rack inside a baking tray. This allows the meat to cook thoroughly on both sides.

How long does leftover roast beef last in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

How to fix tough meat in stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

How to reheat roast beef in gravy? ›

How do I reheat Roast Beef and Gravy? From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot. From frozen: Allow to defrost and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 5-7 minutes until piping hot.

What to do with beef fat after cooking? ›

Besides cooking with beef tallow, you can also use it in a few other places in your kitchen. For example, beef tallow is a great ingredient to use to season a cast iron skillet. You can also apply beef tallow as a conditioner to smooth wooden cutting boards, wooden utensils and even leather.

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