The shank is on a cow’s leg, just above the knee or hock. Because beef shank is cut in horizontal slices (often in 1-inch slices), it resembles a steak with a circle of the leg bone in each piece. (It is also available boneless.) Inside the bone is a piece of marrow that is also edible.
Most people are unfamiliar with this bone-in-meat cut, which has a reputation for being tough and dry. However, with a few simple tips, you can not only save money but also enjoy a nutritious and flavorful meal.
Pan-searing beef shank is one of the quickest ways to cook it. This entails searing them for 5 minutes per side on high heat in a cast-iron skillet. After that, reduce the heat to medium and add a mixture of vegetables and red wine, cooking until the beef is fork-tender.
This is the shortened version. If you want to learn all the secrets to perfectly spicing a beef shank and discover some more recipes, keep reading!
Pan-searing beef shank is a quick and simple way to prepare the cut of meat. As we said before that, In a cast-iron pan, sauté them for 5 minutes per side on high heat until golden brown. After that, reduce the heat to medium and add a mixture of vegetables and red wine before cooking until the beef is fork-tender.
Let’s check out another cooking methods and details about cooking beef shank.
How do you Quickly Cook Beef Shank?
We’ve shown you one of the quickest ways to cook beef shank – pan-searing for 5 minutes per side and then letting it become fork-tender with a splash of red wine and a mix of fresh herbs and vegetables.
If you’ve already tried this recipe, we’ve prepared a slew of others that will take you from the oven to the stove pot, so be sure to check them out below!
How Long do Beef Shanks Take to Cook?
To be clear, beef shanks are not the type of meat that will come out of the oven after half an hour and taste amazing. On the other hand, if you’re thinking about cooking beef shank, allow 4 to 6 hours, making the meat become flavorful and lose its tough and chewy texture.
If you’re pressed for time, you can use a pressure cooker to cut cooking time. Keep in mind. However, beef shanks are slow-cooking meat, so hastening the process will only reduce their nutritional value.
How Do You Make Tender Beef Shank?
To make beef shank tender, you’ll need some time and a lot of patience.
Because beef shank is a part of the cow’s leg, it will be quite tough at first. It requires a slow cooker to become tender; by slow, we mean anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. Slow cooking on medium heat makes the meat lose its chewy toughness and become mouthwateringly delicious.
Continue reading this article to get some amazing step-by-step beef shank recipes. Believe me. It will be worthwhile (after 4 to 6 hours)!
How do you Cook a Shank?
There are numerous ways to prepare a shank, whether beef or veal. The traditional method is to bake them until they are delicious and tender, and another option is to sear them to perfection in a skillet or pan. We’ve compiled a list of delicious recipes for you to try whatever route you take.
Remember that the key to a perfectly cooked shank is a slow cook on low heat!
What is the Best Way to Cook a Whole Beef Shank?
Cooking a delicious beef shank will require time and a lot of seasoning. But don’t worry, follow our recipe below, and you’ll have a show-stopping piece of the beef shank in no time!
- Before proceeding, trim the excess fat from the meat to keep it looking lean.
- Now comes the real first step: seasoning! Season your beef shanks liberally with salt and pepper.
- Heat a little oil in your Dutch oven over high heat. Sear the shanks in the hot oil until they are lightly browned on all sides. Remove the beef from the Dutch oven and set it aside for a few minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the finely chopped garlic, onions, celery, and carrot. Cook the vegetables until they soften, coating them with oil or drippings as needed.
- After the vegetable mixture has softened, return the meat to the Dutch oven and pour in the red wine – it should not completely cover the meat!
- Bring the mixture to a boil with some finely chopped parsley and thyme. Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 20 minutes once it begins to boil.
- After 20 minutes, cover the Dutch oven and place it in a preheated oven at 300oF for 2 to 3 hours.
- Remove the shanks from the Dutch oven when they are tender to your liking.
- But we’re not finished yet! One more step to this beef shank recipe: blend the vegetables and remaining liquid from the oven into a smooth sauce.
- Serve the beef with potatoes slathered in the delicious sauce, and don’t forget to enjoy!
What is the Best Way to Cook Beef Shanks in a Pan?
We promised you an amazing pan-fried beef shank recipe, and here it is!
- To keep the beef shanks as lean as possible. Remove any excess fat.
- Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper, covering all sides.
Set aside the shanks while combining flour, paprika, and salt. - Sprinkle the seasoned flour over the shanks.
- In a large skillet or pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
- Cook the shanks in the oil for 4 to 5 minutes. To get a little more technical and culinary, leave them in the pan until both sides begin to brown.
- Remove and set aside the shanks. We’ll get back to them, we promise.
- If necessary, add more oil to the skillet and toss in some chopped onions, celery, and carrots.
- Mix in some finely chopped garlic, a bit of dry marsala, and some chopped parsley.
- We should sauté everything until the vegetables start to brown.
- Add a dry Sherry or some red wine to the pot when the vegetables are soft and brown. While pouring, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to allow all of the flavors to combine beautifully.
- Return the beef shanks to the pot and season with lemon zest.
- Continue to cook until the shanks are tender.
- That’s all there is to it – serve the shanks with the vegetable mixture and enjoy!
Can you Cook a Beef Shank Like a Steak?
Because the beef shank is part of the cow’s leg muscles just above the knee, it may fool some inexperienced cooks into thinking it’s a steak. However, because beef shanks are tougher than stakes, We cannot grill them.
But don’t give up. Just because you can’t grill them doesn’t mean you can’t braise them to perfection like any other chuck steak. Please scroll down to see our favorite recipe for braised beef shank!
What is the Best Way to Pan-Sear Beef Shanks?
Have you considered pan-searing a beef shank for the ideal family meal? Yes, we do. That is why we are sharing with you today our special pan-seared beef shank recipe.
Follow the steps below to enjoy a beef shank with as many side dishes as you want!
- Before cooking, remove any remaining bone fragments or fat from the shanks.
- In a skillet, heat some vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
- Place the shank in hot oil and sear on both sides until brown. This usually takes about 5 minutes, give or take.
- Season the shank with salt and pepper while it’s searing. Feel free to add your favorite seasoned vegetables. We recommend including tomatoes, onions, and celery.
- This is where you can get creative – cover the shanks and vegetables with your preferred liquid. We can use anything from low sodium chicken broth to Osso Bucco and red wine.
- Simmer the shanks on medium-low heat until fork-tender.
- Remove them from the skillet and wrap them in aluminum foil when they’re fork-tenders – they’re not done yet!
- Return the cooking juices to the skillet after straining.
- Increase the heat and cook until they are crisp enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Lastly, slice the shanks and pour the thickened sauce over the meat. We recommend pairing it with mashed potatoes!
What are Some Recipes for Beef Broth Made from Beef Shanks?
Beef broth isn’t the only meal made from simmered beef shanks.
Slow-cook the shanks in a saucepan of boiling broth with aromatics like onion and garlic for many hours to make a rich and flavorful soup or stew.
The simmering time for shanks is typically one to two hours.
Combining them with vegetables such as celery, carrots, and potatoes is recommended.
What Should you do with Leftover Beef Shank Bones?
After preparing your beef shank dinner (recipe ideas below), save the bones and use them to make a rich, nutrient-dense bone broth. Here are some of my favorite ways to make beef bone broth.
Can a Beef Shank be Cooked Like a Steak?
The most important thing to remember when cooking beef shanks is that it takes time. To transform your beef shanks from tough and chewy to soft and delicious, plan on cooking them for at least 4 to 6 hours. You might consider using a pressure cooker to save time.
How Long Should you Boil Beef Shank on the Stove?
Place the beef shanks in a large stockpot and cover with cold water to keep the beef shanks from drying out. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard any scum and fat that rises to the surface. Take the beef shanks out of the pan and set them aside.
What is the Best Way to Cook Shank?
The shank is the lowest section of the lamb leg that is almost always sold bone-in. It’s a tough cut that’s best prepared using slow, wet heat methods like stewing and braising, which melt the abundant collagen in the shank to produce a silky sauce and tender meat.
What can you do with Beef Shanks?
In this case, cover the pan with a lid and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 hours until the flesh is soft and falls off the bone. Cover the beef with a lid and cook over low heat for 2-3 hours, inspecting and moving the meat frequently to prevent it from burning on the bottom.
How Much do Beef Shanks Cost?
Because it is extremely lean, it is frequently used to make low-fat ground beef. It is not commonly seen in retail establishments due to a lack of sales. However, if you can find it in a store, it is quite cheap and can be used to make beef stock at a low cost. Soups frequently feature succulent beef shank.
Is Beef Shank Suitable for Grilling?
Its leanness makes it a popular choice for making very low-fat ground beef. Despite its low sales volume, it is not widely available in retail establishments. However, if you can find it in a grocery store, it’s quite cheap and can be used to make beef stock. Beef shanks are frequently used as an ingredient in soups.
Is it True that Cooking Meat for a Longer Period Makes it More Tender?
- Meat presents a challenge to cooks due to its composition.
- The longer you cook muscle, the more the proteins firm up, toughen, and dry out due to the cooking process.
- However, when the connective tissue is cooked for an extended period, it softens and becomes more palatable.
- Muscle, particularly, has the most delicate texture when heated between 120° and 160°F.
What Else do you Call a Beef Shank?
In some circles, the beef shank is referred to as ′′shank cross-cuts′′ because of this method of cutting. This type of beef comes from either a cow or a bull, and it has lower fat content than other popular beef cuts on the market.
Conclusion
You now know how to cook beef shank quickly. Sear it for 5 minutes on each side in hot oil. After that, add some red wine and reduce the heat to medium to allow it to finish cooking.
You’ve learned not only how to make beef shank quickly but also how to bake it and prepare it whole. The next logical step is to call your friends, make a date, and prepare a delicious beef shank dinner for everyone!