How to Turn a Chuck Roast Into Steak
A roast is a cylindrical or oblong piece of muscle meat in which the grain runs in the same direction as the long side of the meat. A steak is that same piece of meat cut into slices 1 to 3 inches thick. Chuck comes from the shoulder of the beef cattle.
A roast is a cylindrical or oblong piece of muscle meat in which the grain runs in the same direction as the long side of the meat. A steak is that same piece of meat cut into slices 1 to 3 inches thick. Chuck comes from the shoulder of the beef cattle. The difference between a chuck roast and a chuck steak is simply the cut. Save on chuck by buying a roast, slicing it into steaks and freezing them. The easiest, most surefire preparation for a chuck steak, which is tough, but tasty, is as skillet pot roast.
Step 1
Place a 5- to 7-lb. chuck roast on a cutting board. Measure its length to determine how many steaks of approximately equal thickness you can cut it into; a chuck steak should be 2 to 3 inches thick.
Step 2
Slice the roast into steaks using a sharp 8-inch chef's knife or other long-bladed knife. The length of the blade makes it easy to make a smooth-surfaced cut; a short blade will make a ragged cut.
Step 3
Mark 1-gal. zip-top bags with the date and the word "Chuck." Except for one steak, place each steak into a bag, squeeze out the extra air, seal and freeze for up to six months.
Step 4
Put the remaining steak into a heated cast-iron skillet or other oven-safe skillet that has a fitting lid and brown well on both sides for about five minutes a side.
Step 5
Sprinkle 1 tsp. salt over the chuck steak. Add black pepper, garlic, bay leaf, parsley, thyme, rosemary or other herbs as desired.
Step 6
Cover the skillet and place it in a 300-degree-Fahrenheit oven for 2 hours.
Step 7
Remove the skillet from the oven, uncover it and add sliced carrots, onions, potatoes, turnips or other vegetables as desired.
Step 8
Cover and return to the oven for an additional hour, or until the meat and vegetables are tender.
Tip
You may cook the chuck steak in a covered casserole dish. Skip the browning step, or brown in a separate pan.