The science of Cooking Marbled Beef

1 CUT AND MARBLING SCORE

Marbling is monounsaturated fat that is finely interspersed within the muscle of the beef. When cooked, the marbling is absorbed into the muscle giving the meat melt-in-the-mouth tenderness and flavour.
Marbling will improve the texture, tenderness and flavour of any cut of beef, so you can be sure that Rangers Valley beef will deliver a great eating experience, every time.

2 BRING TO TEMPERATURE

Always remove meat from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes prior to cooking. If meat is too cold, cooking time and importantly, flavor and tenderness will be negatively affected.

3 SEASON

Season meat with salt flakes, either directly before cooking or for optimal results, 40 minutes prior to cooking. Salting ahead of cooking draws out the moisture from the meat, dissolves the salt flakes and with sufficient time (i.e. 40 minutes), reabsorbs back into the meat, leading to well seasoned, tender and moist meat when cooked.
Be sure to allow enough time for the reabsorption to happen, otherwise the moisture sitting at the surface will evaporate off once the meat hits the pan, resulting in tough meat.

4 PAN, NOT BBQ

Barbecues and char grills are too hot and will cause the marbled fat to flame and melt away, resulting in a dry steak. Instead, cook in a non-stick pan over medium heat, without any added fats. The marbled fat will baste the meat from inside as it slowly melts, resulting in a great flavour. To finish, briefly increase the heat and sear to achieve a golden, caramel crust.

5 COOK TO MEDIUM

When cooking marbled beef, aim to soften the marbled fat, but not so much that it melts away. A doneness of medium will achieve a delicious melt-in-the-mouth texture.

6 LET IT REST

Resting is important for redistribution of moisture in the final steak. Cutting too soon after cooking will cause moisture to end up on the plate or chopping board. Allow steak to rest up to one third of the time it takes to cook so that the moisture stays in the steak – essential for eating quality.