How to Cook Silverside Beef to Perfection in a Pressure Cooker

Silverside beef is an economical flavorful cut that benefits greatly from moist, slow cooking methods. A pressure cooker is the perfect way to transform this budget-friendly cut into fork-tender deliciousness in a fraction of the normal cooking time.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook silverside beef to juicy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection in your pressure cooker With just a few simple steps and ingredients, you can enjoy pot roast worthy results without spending all day in the kitchen

What is Silverside Beef?

Silverside beef comes from the hindquarter of cattle between the rump and the leg. It’s a large boneless cut with a thin silver membrane covering one side that must be removed before cooking.

Silverside is lean yet wonderfully flavorful. It has a fine grain and wide texture, making it great for roasts, braises, steaks, or stew meat. Due to its leanness, silverside beef benefits from moist cooking methods to become tender.

This budget-friendly cut is often sold pre-brined as corned beef, but it’s equally delicious fresh. When cooked properly, silverside makes a tasty, nutrient-rich addition to any meal. The pressure cooker is the perfect appliance for delivering melt-in-your-mouth results.

Benefits of Pressure Cooking Silverside Beef

Pressure cooking offers many advantages when cooking tougher cuts like silverside:

• Reduced cooking time – Pressure cooking can reduce cook times by 70% or more compared to conventional braising. Silverside can be fall-apart tender in under an hour.
• Intensified flavor – The pressurized environment concentrates flavors and aromatics beautifully. Spices and seasonings permeate the meat fully.
• Retained nutrients – Shorter cook times help retain more vitamins and minerals compared to slow cooking methods.
• Tender and juicy results – The moist heat tenderizes connective tissues, giving delicious, juicy results every time.
• Energy efficiency – Pressure cookers use less energy than stovetop cooking, saving you money.
• Versatile cooking – Pressure cooking works equally well at any altitude for consistent results.

Tips for Preparing Silverside for the Pressure Cooker

Proper preparation is key to maximizing flavor and tenderness. Follow these tips:

• Select a well-marbled 2-3 lb roast for best results. Avoid pre-cut stew meat.
• Trim excess fat, sinew, and the silver membrane thoroughly.
• Rinse to remove any excess salt or brine residue from corned beef. Pat very dry.
• Season generously with salt, pepper, herbs, and spices. Rub it in well.
• Marinate for added flavor. Coat with oil, vinegar, and aromatics for 1-12 hours.
• Elevate on a rack or vegetables to prevent overcooking.
• Add liquid – broth, wine, or water to 1/2 way up the meat.

Following these steps will set you up for optimum flavor and tenderness. Now let’s get to the good stuff – the cooking!

Step-by-Step Guide to Pressure Cooking Silverside Beef

Follow these simple steps for foolproof results:

1. Prepare the Pressure Cooker

Place a trivet or steamer rack in the bottom of the pressure cooker. This elevates the meat above the liquid.

Add your cooking liquid of choice – broth, wine, vinegar, or water. Use 1-2 cups, covering about 1/3 to 1/2 of the meat.

2. Add Seasoned Meat

Place your seasoned silverside roast on top of the rack. Add any aromatics like onions, carrots, celery, garlic, or herbs.

3. Lock the Lid

Secure the pressure cooker lid and set the pressure valve to the “sealing” position.

4. Cook Under Pressure

For a 2-3 lb roast, cook for 55-65 minutes on high pressure. For pre-brined corned beef, cook for 45-55 minutes.

5. Allow Natural Release

Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to come down naturally for 10-15 minutes before doing a quick release.

6. Check for Doneness

Use a meat thermometer to confirm the beef has reached 205°F and can be easily shredded with a fork. If not, re-pressurize and cook longer.

7. Let Meat Rest

Remove meat and let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute evenly.

8. Make Gravy from Cooking Liquid

Spoon off excess fat from the cooking liquid. Turn to the “saute” setting to reduce and thicken into a rich gravy.

And that’s it – deliciously tender and juicy silverside beef ready to enjoy. The pressure cooker delivers amazing results in a fraction of the time!

Flavorful Spice Blends for Silverside

One of the joys of cooking silverside beef is experimenting with different spice blends and aromatics. Here are some tasty options:

• Everyday – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme
• Italian – Oregano, basil, rosemary, fennel seed, garlic, parsley
• Greek – Lemon, oregano, garlic, parsley, mint
• Moroccan – Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne
• Jamaican – Allspice, thyme, cloves, habanero, scallions
• Indian – Coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom

Mix up your own signature blends to make each roast unique. Bringing out silverside’s rich, beefy flavor is truly rewarding.

Quick and Easy Silverside Pressure Cooker Recipes

Here are two simple yet delicious pressure cooker silverside recipes to try:

~ Basic Brined Silverside ~

Ingredients:

• 2 lb corned beef
• 1 cup water or broth
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Rinse corned beef and pat dry. Place on rack in cooker. Add remaining ingredients.
2. Cook 45-55 minutes on high pressure. Allow natural release 10 minutes.
3. Remove meat, rest 10 minutes.
4. Make gravy from cooking liquid.

~ Wine-Braised Silverside with Herbs ~

Ingredients:

• 2 lb silverside roast
• 2 cups red wine
• 1 cup broth
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 2 sprigs thyme
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in cooker pot on saute setting. Brown roast 2 minutes per side.
2. Add remaining ingredients and place roast on rack.
3. Cook 55-65 minutes on high. Natural release 10 minutes.
4. Remove meat, rest 10 minutes before slicing.
5. Make gravy from braising liquid.

The pressure cooker makes quick work of silverside beef for impressive, fuss-free meals. With the right preparation and cooking method, you can enjoy budget-friendly yet delicious roast beef any night of the week!