Tough Beef

[Caran]

Last night I cooked topside of beef. It was very tough. I had marinated it, followed a recipe, tested it after the stated time, still not done, ended up doing it for an extra hour. Wrapped it in foil and rested it for 30 minutes. It was inedible it was so tough.
This was a beautiful looking joint I got from Lidl. Their meat is usually so good. They have won numerous prizes.
I have half of the joint left. Will it improve if I dice it and do it I the slow cooker?

[Retrochic]

yes if you put it in the slow cooker with some sauteed onions carrots and celery, beef stock and a bit of tomato puree you will get a nice beef stew. I would be inclined to take the meat back if you don't live too far away -or a t least tell the manager the next time you are in.

[atalanta]

Did you put much salt in the marinade ? Too much salt before cooking can make beef tough.

[jennyjoan]

I would not eat meat from Lidl if you paid me.

[carolegif]

This happened to me several weeks ago with beef from Lidl! Their other meat is fine but I would not touch their beef joints again.
I cubed mine a and cooked it re Retrochic and it was fine.

[Prudie]

I find just the same with Tesco topside, it's a joint that's frequently tough IMO.

[mikey4444]

Why Jenny ?

Caran....as a single person living alone, I rarely buy a roasting joint, but when I do, I always pot roast it, very slowly. Try that with the bit you have left.

Incidently, I tend to get Silverside.

[LyndaB]

I always buy my topside from the butcher and it's always lovely. Sounds as if you might have roasted it for too long. But if you cut it up and do it in the slow cooker with a sauce it should be fine

[ummmm]

I 'never' roast it for as long as they recommend.

[Retrochic]

I would only cook topside to at the most medium rare. It hasn't got a great amount of flavour to be done in a casserole and not much fat. I popped into Llidl last week having never been in before and left half a trolley full of shopping and came out. There was a horrendous smell coming out of the storage area like rotting meat and veg.

[ummmm]

I also don't buy meat from Lidl or Aldi.

[Retrochic]

Aldi meat is ok -Their Free Range chickens are better than those I've had a Marks and Spencer and their minced Angus beef steak is good, but actually more expensive than our local farm shop where they breed their own beef. Aldi bacon is the best we've ever had -so I've been told I don't eat bacon or pork.

[ummmm]

I bought a chicken from Aldi and could not believe the amount of liquid that came out of it.

I do like their Italian hams though.

[EDDIE51]

You can get cheap beef and you can get tender beef but the 2 are mutually exclusive . I would only cook topside on 'slow' for several hours.
If you want a good roasting beef joint you have to pay at least £15 a Kilo.

[ummmm]

I disagree EDDIE...it can often be pot luck.

[hc4361]

I buy aitchbone from my butcher and it is always beautifully tender and tasty, roasted at 190, and it is much cheaper than £15 a kilo

[pastafreak]

//
ummmm
I disagree EDDIE...it can often be pot luck. //

I agree and that's the reason I went off beef many years ago. I never liked it enough to take chances on it either.

[trt]

## I also don't buy meat from Lidl or Aldi. ##

You get what you pay for, and take your chance!

[ummmm]

I think peoples taste vary so wildly. Just look at how different people have their steaks.

[mallyh]

jennyjoan i have bought some excellent meat from lidl sometimes the steaks are a bit tough but then again i have had the same problem with asda and morrisons .i cant afford fortnam and masons and harrods x

[EDDIE51]

Ummm, yes I have had cheap beef that was tender but as you say it is luck.
There is no way to be sure beef will be tender unless you pay for it. It must be 'hung' (matured) for at least 28 days and that is expensive.