How to Cook Beef Tendon to Perfection in the Instant Pot

Beef tendon is a unique ingredient that adds incredible texture and depth of flavor to many Asian dishes However, cooking beef tendon can be very time consuming using traditional methods. This protein-rich ingredient requires hours of boiling to become tender enough to consume With the Instant Pot, you can cook beef tendon to the perfect texture in a fraction of the time.

In this detailed guide I’ll provide tips and step-by-step instructions for cooking beef tendon in the Instant Pot. With just 30 minutes under pressure, you can transform tough chewy tendon into rich, gelatinous perfection. Let’s get started!

Benefits of Cooking Beef Tendon in the Instant Pot

Using the Instant Pot provides several advantages for cooking beef tendon:

• Reduces cook time from hours to less than an hour
• More consistent results compared to stovetop boiling
• Minimal hands-on time – just set and forget!
• Extracts maximum gelatin and collagen for health benefits
• Easy clean-up compared to dealing with a large pot of boiling water

The Instant Pot’s pressurized environment gently breaks down the tough connective tissues in beef tendon, resulting in fork-tender texture perfect for soups, stews and more.

Purchasing and Prepping Beef Tendon

When buying beef tendon, look for pieces labeled specifically for stewing or soup. The tendon should look glossy and firm, not dried out. Plan on about 1 pound of tendon for 4 servings.

Before cooking, the tendon must be thoroughly cleaned:

• Rinse under cold water and rub with salt. This helps remove any odors.
• Soak in distilled white vinegar 10+ minutes to deodorize further.
• Pluck out any small black hairs using tweezers. Rinse again if needed.

Proper prep is essential since the tendon and any debris will be eaten after cooking. Now the tendon is ready for the Instant Pot!

Step-by-Step Instant Pot Beef Tendon

Follow these simple steps:

1. Add Tendon and Liquid

Place prepped tendon in the Instant Pot inner pot. Add enough water or broth to cover the tendon completely.

2. Pressure Cook

Secure the lid and set the steam valve to “Sealing” position. Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” function and set time for 30 minutes on high pressure.

3. Natural Release

Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes until the float valve drops. Caution – contents will be very hot!

4. Remove and Chill Tendon

Carefully remove the lid. Using tongs, transfer the cooked tendon to an ice bath for 1 minute. This stops the cooking.

5. Slice and Use

Drain and pat dry the tendon. Slice or cut into pieces. Use in your favorite dishes and soups.

It’s that easy to go from tough, rubbery tendon to succulent perfection with the Instant Pot!

Handy Tips for Perfect Results

• For food safety, refrigerate unused portions within 2 hours.
• Chilling firms up the tendon making it easier to slice.
• Slice very thinly across the grain for the most tender pieces.
• Add more liquid if needed to keep tendon submerged during cooking.
• Use natural release to allow time for collagen to break down.
• Add spices or aromatics to the cooking liquid for extra flavor.

Testing Doneness of Beef Tendon

After pressure cooking, there are a couple ways to test if the beef tendon is fully tender:

• Use a fork or chopstick to poke the tendon. It should slide through smoothly without much resistance.

• Take a piece of tendon and squeeze it between your fingers. It should easily fall apart instead of remaining in one solid piece.

If the tendon seems too firm, simply pressure cook for another 10-15 minutes and test again. Perfectly cooked tendon should be wiggly, jiggly, and soft enough to cut through cleanly.

Delicious Ways to Use Instant Pot Beef Tendon

Beef tendon has a unique mouthfeel and packs collagen, gelatin and protein into dishes. Here are some tasty ways to use it:

• Vietnamese Beef Pho – Add thin slices of tendon to the popular noodle soup.

• Wonton Soup – Dice tendon and add to broth along with wontons.

• Congee – Mix diced tendon into this comforting rice porridge.

• Stews – Incorporate tendon chunks into hearty beef stews.

• Ma Po Tofu – Try tossing tendon pieces into this spicy Sichuan tofu.

• Spring Rolls – Thinly slice and include in Vietnamese fresh spring rolls.

Mix up the textures and flavors in your dishes with rich, protein-packed beef tendon! It’s a highly versatile ingredient perfect for many recipes.

Let’s Get Cooking!

Now you’re ready to elevate dishes with velvety beef tendon cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot. The pressurized environment cuts down drastically on the traditionally long prep time for this ingredient. For the best results, be diligent when cleaning the raw tendon and allow for a full natural release after pressure cooking. Soon you’ll be enjoying bowls of pho and stews loaded with tender bites of beef tendon.