Marinate Steak In This Classic Beverage For A More Tender Cut

Marinating a steak doesn't have to be a complex affair — we've nailed down a simple steak marinade with only three ingredients required, in fact. But what if nature's perfect steak dunk was sitting innocently on your counter in a form that you were about to spill down the drain? We're talking about cold coffee. Thanks to its bold taste and bright acidity, this liquid is actually an effortless, pro-level upgrade to some of the best affordable steak cuts.

Are you looking for ribeye taste on a sirloin budget? Just brew several cups of coffee and let them cool. A simple bath in cold black coffee for between two and 12 hours in the fridge, contained in zip-top bags, will absolutely transform steaks before you even grill them. The tougher the cut, the longer the soak. You'll notice that the steaks take on a brownish hue from the coffee and swell up a bit. Do the resulting steaks actually taste like coffee? Not so much, but you might notice the lingering aroma of a cup of joe on your palate in a pleasant way.

Dark roast coffee that's brewed extra-strong is ideal for your steak marinade, as it will have the most intense flavor. Once your steak has marinated in the coffee, go ahead and pat it dry, then sprinkle it liberally with your favorite seasoning blend. As for cooking, a two-zone approach to grilling will get you the best results, namely low heat to bring it up to temp, then a final sear on a screaming-hot flame. Of course, you can also pan-fry your steaks in a cast iron skillet ... no judgment here!

Steak and coffee have long been a winning combination, hailing back to the cowboy days when cattle wranglers would consume both by the campfire. Coffee grounds make an excellent steak rub, as a matter of fact, meaning that coffee's utility vis-à-vis steak isn't limited to washing it down! If you want to infuse your coffee marinade with even more flavor, social media encourages us to not be stingy with the add-ins. If it sings in a traditional marinade, it will go far towards boosting the taste and tenderness of your steak alongside coffee. Think garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sweetener, and a little olive oil, for instance. It doesn't have to sound attractive as a beverage for it to play well with coffee in a marinade!

Marinating budget cuts of steak in coffee accomplishes two purposes. Not only does it impart magnificent flavor to the meat, which is always something sought in a great marinade medium, but you'll be amazed how far it goes towards tenderizing cheaper cuts, the likes of which may be less marbled and perhaps even crisscrossed with unpleasant gristle. Considering that coffee is present in many pantries in the first place, it's hard to say that there's a more convenient and effective marinade out there. It requires no more effort than any other marinade, unless you count brewing and cooling coffee, and it works well with many classic flavors folks love for bathing steaks. All in all, we're fully perked up — pun intended — by this hack and ready to try it out next time we fire up the grill!