How to Cook Beef Cube Steak in the Oven – A Step-by-Step Guide

Cube steak is an affordable and tasty beef cut that can be prepared easily at home With its telltale cube-like pattern and thin profile, cube steak has a unique texture that takes well to braising and high-heat cooking methods While many recipes call for pan-frying cube steak, the oven can produce delicious results too when you follow a few simple rules.

In this comprehensive guide I’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook cube steak in the oven. You’ll learn what cube steak is, how to choose quality cube steaks tips for seasoning and cooking cube steak in the oven, recommended internal temperatures, and a simple oven-baked cube steak recipe to try at home. After reading, you’ll be fully prepared to add this inexpensive steak to your dinner rotation.

What Is Cube Steak?

Cube steak might not be a steak cut you’re familiar with. It comes from the round or butt portion of the cow, so it’s affordable but also tougher than premium steak cuts like ribeye or tenderloin. To make the meat more tender, cube steak is put through a tenderizing machine that punctures the surface, breaking down some of the tough muscle fibers. This process gives cube steak a signature cube-like pattern.

Since cube steak is thin and tenderized, it can overcook and become chewy or dry out faster than fattier steaks. But when handled with care and not overcooked, cube steak has good flavor and tenderness. It’s a smart choice when you want steak on a budget.

Choosing Quality Cube Steaks

When shopping for cube steak, select steaks that are evenly colored without large dark spots from bruising. The surface should have visible cube-like indentations without large tears or a shredded texture. High-quality cube steaks will be lightly marbled with white fat streaks distributed throughout.

For thickness, 0.5-1 inch is ideal. Thinner cube steaks risk overcooking too fast while thicker cuts may be overly tough since tenderizing can only penetrate so far into the meat. Look for steaks with trim and even edges. Irregular, ragged edges are a sign of lower quality or improper processing.

Seasoning Cube Steak for Oven Cooking

Cube steak benefits from added seasoning since it doesn’t have the rich flavor of premium steak cuts. You can season oven-cooked cube steaks simply with just salt and pepper. But I recommend taking it a step further by using a marinade or dry rub to boost flavor.

Dry rubs with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and chili powder work very well. For wet marinades, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and herbs make a tasty combo. Let the seasoned steaks sit out for 15-30 minutes before cooking so the flavors are absorbed.

Key Tips for Oven-Baked Cube Steak

Cooking cube steak in the oven takes a little finesse. Follow these tips and tricks to ensure moist, flavorful results every time:

• Don’t overcook – Cube steak gets tough and chewy when cooked beyond medium rare. Use an oven thermometer and target temperatures carefully.

• Use a meat thermometer – It’s the only way to precisely gauge doneness for cube steaks. Oven temp and cook times vary.

• Add liquid – Braise or bake the steaks with a small amount of broth, wine, or water to prevent drying out.

• Sear first – Browning the steaks in a hot pan before oven baking adds great flavor.

• Let rest 5-10 minutes – This allows juices to redistribute evenly throughout the steak before cutting.

Recommended Internal Temperatures

For optimal texture and moisture, cube steak should be cooked to no more than medium rare doneness. Use these target temperatures for different levels of doneness when cooking cube steaks in the oven:

• Rare – 115°F
• Medium Rare – 125°F
• Medium – 135°F
• Medium Well – 145°F
• Well Done – 155°F+ (not recommended for cube steak)

Always allow the steaks to rest 5-10 minutes before checking temperature and slicing into them. The temperature will rise 5-10°F during resting time.

Oven-Baked Cube Steak Recipe

This simple recipe produces flavorful oven-baked cube steaks ready to serve in under an hour.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 lbs cube steak
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place cube steaks on a baking sheet and coat thoroughly with olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let marinate 15-30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Working in batches if needed, sear steaks 1-2 minutes per side until well browned.

4. Arrange seared steaks in a baking dish and add 1/4 cup water or broth to the dish.

5. Bake at 400°F for 8-12 minutes until steaks reach desired internal temperature.

6. Remove steaks from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

The searing step helps form a flavorful crust while the hot oven cooking evenly cooks the steaks through without drying them out. Adding a small amount of liquid to the baking dish steams and tenderizes the meat.

Serve these oven-baked cube steaks with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta for an easy and satisfying meal. Leftovers reheat well and also work nicely for steak sandwiches the next day.

Cube steak is an underrated choice that’s worth keeping on hand for affordable steak dinners. While not as premium as top loin or ribeye cuts, cube steak has good beefy flavor and can be quite tender when not overcooked. With minimal prep and a baking time of less than 15 minutes, oven-baked cube steaks make an easy weeknight dinner. Just be mindful of proper cooking temperatures and add moisture to prevent drying out. Follow this guide for foolproof results with cube steaks cooked in the oven.