R&R Highlands
Established 2006
Members of the American Highland Cattle Association
R&R HIGHLANDS
18425 100TH Ave
Milaca, MN 56353
ph: 320-291-6712
fax: 320-983-5239
rrhighla
Our meat is lean, so the heat is conducted quickly through the meat and can toughen the protein. Be careful not to overcook the meat. For those of you who cook buffalo or game meat, it is very similar.
We also dry age our beef, and recommend you trim any of the ‘rind’ from your meat prior to cooking it.
Bring your grass-fed meat to room temperature before cooking .
When grilling, sear the meat quickly over high heat on each side to seal in natural juices, then reduce the heat to medium or low to finish the cooking process. Also, baste to add moisture throughout the grilling process.
When preparing hamburgers, sear, then reduce the temperature and cover – they cook quickly. Our burger is very lean ( 90%+ lean) so overcooking/high temperatures will dry out your burger very quickly.
When roasting, sear the beef first to lock in the juices and then place in a preheated oven. Reduce the temperature of your grass fed beef recipes by 50 degrees for roasting or to the lowest heat setting in a crock-pot. Use moisture from sauces to add to the tenderness and keep your roast from drying. Baste often.
Marinades are great and those that are based on lemon, lime or fruit juices yield amazingly tasty results. Olive oil is a great addition and helps keep moisture locked into your meat.
Let your beef sit after cooking, covered and in a warm place, for 8 to 10 minutes to let the juices redistribute.
Grass-fed beef cooks differently and has a more robust, beefy flavor, so you will find that simple recipes showcase the tastiness of our beef. Try different methods to see what works best for you, and feel free to contact us with any questions.
General Grass Fed Beef Cooking Tips | ||
Do | Don’t | Chef’s Tip |
Enjoy your naturally tender, wonderfully flavorful grass-fed Highland beef with family and friends – and a bottle of CabernetSauvignon. Remember grass-fed beef is meant for Rare to Medium Rare cooking.
Choose recipes that show off the natural, rich and delicate flavors of grass-fed beef. | Don’t overcook!The primary culprit for tough grass-fed beef is overcooking. | Treat it like game (think “venison” or “ahi tuna”).Rare is King! Grass-fed beef is as low in fat as chicken breast.
If you insist on Well Done, then cook your grass-fed beef at very low temperatures in a sauce to add moisture (because the fat content is so low). |
Bring your grass-fed beef to room temperature before cooking . | Do not cook your grass-fed beef cold straight from a refrigerator.Never use a microwave to thaw your grass-fed beef. | Thaw your beef in the refrigerator.For quick thawing, place your vacuum sealed package in cold water for a few minutes. |
Always use tongs. | Never use a fork to turn your beef or precious juices will be lost | Prevent sticking by basting your meat with extra virgin olive oil before it goes on any grill or pan. |
STEAKS | ||
Do | Don’t | Chef’s Tip |
Marinate your steaks before cooking (for up to 24 hours) – especially lean cuts like New York and Top Sirloin Steak.Baste to add moisture throughout the grilling process. | Never go straight from the package to the grill. | Choose a marinade recipe that does not mask the delicate flavor of grass-fed beef but enhances the moisture content.A great choice is any marinade using lemon, vinegar, wine, beer, or bourbon.
Always marinate in the refrigerator for safety. |
Pound your steak a few times if you do not have time to marinate.Place on a solid surface and cover with a towel or waxed paper. Use a meat mallet, rolling pin, or whatever you feel is safe and convenient, and pound two or three times. | Don’t go overboard and flatten your beef unless your recipe calls for it. | Coat your thawed steak with your favorite rub.Your favorite rub will be pushed into your grass fed beef as an added benefit of pounding. |
Use a very hot fire.When grilling, sear the steak quickly (20-30 seconds) over high heat on each side to seal in its natural juices andAfter searing, reduce the heat to medium or low and then try 3-4 minutes for the first side and 2-3 minutes for the second.
Remember you can always go back to the grill if your steak is too Rare, but not vice versa! | Don’t forget grass-fed beef requires 30 percent less cooking time – frequently use the touch test.Don’t cook slowly over a moderate fire.
Don’t leave your steaks unattended. | Know your fire and your grill. Find a lower temperature spot for the second side.Use your finger frequently to test the softness of the meat. Take meat off the grill while still moist and springy.
Your beef can go from perfectly cooked to overcooked in less than a minute. Even 4 minutes can be a long time on a very hot fire. Use fresh garlic butter in the final minutes – just like the top steak chefs. |
Try stove top cooking – chefs do steaks on the stove all the time. You have more control over the temperature than on the grill. |
Don’t ever cook grass-fed steaks to Medium Well or Well Done. | If you usually like your meat Well Done, try a steak done to Medium. Grass-fed steaks have a different texture and taste at Medium. |
BURGERS | ||
Do | Don’t | Chef’s Tip |
Remember grass-fed Highland burgers are 85 to 90 percent lean . . . so some moisture is needed to compensate for the lack of fat.Coat your burgers (and your grill) olive oil | Don’t place burgers on grill or pan without added moisture, butter, or oil. | When preparing hamburgers for the grill, use caramelized onions, olives or roasted peppers to add low fat moisture to the meat while cooking.Add a pad of butter as the burger comes off the grill. |
Use a very hot fire.Sear the burger quickly over a high heat on oneside to seal in its natural juices and then reduce the heat to medium or low.Try 3-4 minutes for the first side (after searing for 30 seconds) and 2-3 minutes for the second. | Don’t forget grass-fed beef requires 30 percent less cooking time.Don’t forget minutes really count.Don’t leave your burgers unattended. | Know your fire and your grill. Find a lower temperature spot for the second side.Take burgers off the grill early. Your burgers will continue to cook when removed from heat.Your burgers can go from perfectly cooked to overcooked in less than a minute. |
ROASTS | ||
Do | Don’t | Chef’s Tip |
Reduce the temperature of your grain-fed beef recipes by 50 degrees (generally to about 275 degrees for roasting).Use slightly shorter cooking time even at the lower temperature.
Use the lowest heat setting in a crock pot. Always pre-heat your oven. | Never assume the cooking time will still be the same (it is always shorter). | Coat with extra virgin olive oil, (truffle oil or a favorite light oil) for flavor enhancement and easy browning. When roasting, sear the beef first to lock in the juices and then place in a pre-heated oven.Use moisture from sauces to add to the tenderness when cooking your roast. |
Use a thermometer to test for doneness and watch the thermometer carefully. Remove the roast from your heat source 10 degrees before it reaches the desired temperature (we like 115-125 degrees). | Never wait for the thermometer to get near 140 degrees | Your roast can go from perfectly cooked to overcooked in less than five minutes.Your roast will continue to cook when removed from heat.
Let the roast sit covered and in a warm place for 8 to 10 minutes after removing from heat to let the juices redistribute. |
Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 35 min
Makes: 4 servings
3 beef rib-eye steaks, 1 inch thick
1/4 cup basil pesto
2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Make horizontal cut in side of each steak, forming a pocket (do not cut through to opposite side).
2. Mix pesto and cheese; spread evenly on insides of pockets; press pockets closed. Drizzle oil over beef.
3. Cover and grill beef 4 to 5 inches from medium heat 10 to 12 minutes for medium doneness, turning once. To serve, cut beef into thick strips.
Copyright 2013 R&R HIGHLANDS. All rights reserved.
R&R HIGHLANDS
18425 100TH Ave
Milaca, MN 56353
ph: 320-291-6712
fax: 320-983-5239
rrhighla