Chuck Blade Steaks And Gravy In Slow Cooker Recipe

If you are in the mood for a tasty, meaty dish with hearty gravy, look no further. This is a flavorful dish made with simple pantry ingredients. The best part is you can make these steaks in your slow cooker for a hands-off meal. You can even prepare the crockpot ahead of time or the night before, set it up in the morning, and come home to a hot and tasty dinner. This recipe calls for chuck blade steaks. If you can't find them in your grocery store, just ask your butcher for the specific cut. Blade steak is also sometimes called top blade. It is a steak cut from a muscle in the beef chuck primal. It's specifically from the top blade muscle, known as the infraspinatus muscle. The blade steaks are made by the butcher by cutting directly across that top blade muscle. It's a tender muscle, so relatively easy to cut. What makes these steaks distinctive is that every section of steak has a tough strip of gristle running through the middle of it. This comes from a seam of connective tissue that runs through the center of the meat. The blade steak has a lot of beefy flavors, is relatively inexpensive, and is perfect for the slow cooker. It's not a good steak to grill, but also does work well with a braise, which is a similar method to using the slow cooker (often just in the oven). Since these steaks are cooked for so long, you are essentially braising them over low and slow heat. The steaks will become much more tender, but will likely maintain their steak shape (and not just turn into shredded meat). If you (or your guests) hear the word steak and expect medium rare, grilled meats, then you are in for a surprise. These braised meats will be tasty and delicious, but not medium rare. These steaks and gravy will make for a tasty dinner. To soak up the juices, serve these steaks with mashed potatoes or noodles. They would go well with a bright horseradish sauce for a spicy kick. If you have any leftovers, store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Leftover steak and gravy are perfect on top of a soft roll for a meaty and hearty sandwich.