How to marinate beef for hot pot
Hot pot is one of the favorite delicacies of Chinese people, and beef is an indispensable ingredient. How to marinate beef to make it more tender and flavorful? This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to introduce the techniques and methods of beef marinating in detail.
1. Why marinate beef?

The purpose of marinating beef is to make the meat more tender and to add flavor. By marinating, the fiber structure of the beef can be destroyed and the moisture can be locked in, making it less likely to age when cooked in a hot pot.
2. Key steps for marinating beef
The following are the detailed steps and precautions for marinating beef:
| steps | How to operate | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Selection of materials | Choose fresh, well-textured beef, such as tenderloin or shank | Avoid choosing beef that has been frozen for too long |
| 2. Cut the meat | Cut into thin slices against the grain, about 2-3 mm thick | Cutting too thick will affect the pickling effect |
| 3. Seasoning | Add light soy sauce, cooking wine, starch, egg white and other seasonings | Adjust saltiness to personal taste |
| 4. Massage | Gently rub the beef with your hands to allow the seasoning to fully penetrate | Be gentle with your movements to avoid damaging the meat. |
| 5. Let stand | Marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour | If the time is too long, the meat will become woody. |
3. Recommended pickling recipes that are popular on the Internet
According to the beef marinating methods that have been hotly discussed on the Internet recently, we have compiled the following three most popular recipes:
| Recipe name | Ingredients | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Sichuan flavor | 2 spoons of light soy sauce, 1 spoon of cooking wine, 1 spoon of starch, a little pepper powder | Spicy and delicious, suitable for heavy flavors |
| Cantonese style tender and smooth | 1 spoon of oyster sauce, 1 egg white, half a spoon of sugar, a little baking soda | The meat is particularly tender and smooth |
| innovative fruit | 2 spoons of pineapple juice, 1 spoon of honey, 1 spoon of light soy sauce | Sweet and sour, appetizing, soft meat |
4. Frequently Asked Questions about Marinated Beef
Based on recent popular questions from netizens, we have compiled the following frequently asked questions:
Q: Why is my marinated beef still very old?
A: It may be that the meat is cut incorrectly and must be cut against the grain; it may also be that the marinating time is too long or the amount of starch is insufficient.
Q: Can beef be marinated in yogurt?
A: Yes, the lactic acid in yogurt can soften the meat, but the marinating time should not exceed 2 hours, otherwise it will affect the taste.
Q: How long can marinated beef be kept?
A: It is recommended to refrigerate for no more than 24 hours. If it needs to be stored for a long time, it is recommended to freeze it, but it will affect the taste.
5. Tips
1. You can freeze the beef for half an hour before marinating to make it easier to cut into thin slices.
2. Add a small amount of cooking oil and mix well to prevent the meat slices from sticking.
3. If you are pressed for time, you can pat the beef with the back of a knife to speed up the marinating process.
4. The marinating time of different parts of beef is slightly different, and the marinating time of lean meat can be slightly shorter.
6. Conclusion
Marinating beef is a key step in making hot pot delicious. Mastering the skills can improve the taste of beef by several levels. I hope the introduction in this article can help everyone make tender and smooth beef at home that is comparable to hot pot restaurants. Remember to adjust the recipe according to your personal taste. Try it a few times to find the pickling method that suits you best.
Final reminder: The "fruit pickling method" that has been hotly discussed on the Internet recently can indeed make beef more tender, but attention should be paid to controlling the pickling time to avoid over-acidity affecting the taste. Happy hotpot everyone!
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