Thinly sliced pork or beef is the important thing ingredient in lots of well-liked Japanese recipes. Right here‘s my easy hack for learn how to slice meat thinly at residence for scrumptious Japanese dishes like shabu shabu, okonomiyaki, and gyudon.
Most Japanese recipes that embrace pork or beef will listing “thinly sliced meat” as one of many substances. For those who don’t dwell close to a retailer that sells it already sliced, you are able to do it your self! On this tutorial, I’ll present you learn how to slice meat thinly in your individual kitchen with my easy trick and a really sharp knife—no fancy deli slicer wanted!
For those who take pleasure in Japanese pork and beef dishes, strive my Shabu Shabu, Gyudon, and Okonomiyaki recipes!
The way to Slice Meat Thinly
- Choose the meat. Use any reduce of meat that’s barely leaner and a bit firmer.
- Prep. Wrap the uncooked meat with plastic wrap. If the steak or block is massive, reduce it in half on the reducing board earlier than wrapping.
- Freeze. Place the items on a metallic tray or small baking sheet and freeze 1½–2 hours for meat chunks which are about 1 lb (about 450 g) every. Freezing time varies based mostly on the scale and fattiness of the meat.
- Slice. Verify that the meat is agency. With a chef knife, reduce 1/8-inch (3 mm) slices in opposition to the grain utilizing a delicate sawing movement. It’s now prepared to make use of.
Nami’s Suggestions
- Choose premium-quality meat. I like to recommend beef tenderloin, prime sirloin, strip loin, ribeye, filet mignon, pork loin, and pork stomach. Typically, I counsel searching for a reduce of meat that’s barely leaner and a bit firmer.
- Select thicker cuts. I like to purchase steaks which are not less than 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to five cm) thick. This manner, you’ll reduce wider slices of thin-cut meats which are appropriate for Japanese recipes.
- Use a really sharp kitchen knife. Sharpen the blade earlier than you begin. This manner, you’ll slice by means of the frozen meat easily. You’ll be rewarded with clear, stunning slices! For this activity, I like to recommend a chef knife just like the Nagomi Damascus Gyuto Chef Knife at JOC Items.
- Reduce massive steaks in half. Earlier than wrapping and freezing massive steaks like beef ribeye, I like to chop it in half into two smaller items which are about 1 pound (450 g) every. I wish to work with smaller chunks so I’ve leverage to slice extra simply.
- Pack filet mignon tightly. For those who’re utilizing filet mignon, be certain to pack the meat tightly once you wrap it in plastic. This freezes the meat in a stable chunk so you will get stunning skinny slices that keep collectively.
- Slice when the meat is agency. Your slicing knife ought to undergo the meat easily and slice it thinly. When you have bother slicing as a result of the meat remains to be too smooth, it’s not frozen sufficient. Put it again within the freezer till it companies up.
- Reduce in opposition to the grain. Whenever you take a look at the meat, you will note muscle fibers going in a single path. You could reduce throughout this grain, not with it. Reducing in opposition to the grain is the key to a young texture.
Storage Suggestions
To refrigerate: Layer the skinny slices of meat on a tray or plate and canopy with plastic wrap. Retailer within the fridge as much as 3 days till you’re prepared to make use of.
To freeze: Seal the layered meat in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Retailer it within the freezer for as much as 1 month. Whenever you’re prepared to make use of it, defrost it within the fridge in a single day.
The place To Purchase Thinly Sliced Meat
For those who’re fortunate sufficient to dwell close to a Japanese or Korean grocery retailer, you’ll find handy pre-sliced packages of thinly sliced meat. These shops often have high-quality meat picks. Verify our listing of Japanese Grocery Shops across the World to see if there’s a retailer close by.
Recipes Utilizing Thinly Sliced Beef
When you learn to slice meat thinly, you may prepare dinner all types of scrumptious Japanese dishes utilizing beef or pork. Under are my favourite thin-sliced beef recipes.
Recipes Utilizing Thinly Sliced Pork Loin
Along with Shabu Shabu, recipes utilizing thinly sliced pork loin embrace these crowd pleasers.
Recipes Utilizing Thinly Sliced Pork Stomach
Regularly Requested Questions
Sure, you may! Slicing your individual meat lets you management the cuts of meat you utilize in your recipe.
Freezing rooster earlier than thinly slicing just isn’t essential. If you would like skinny, flat rooster slices, see my tutorial The way to Reduce Sogigiri.
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Earlier than You Begin…
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For finest outcomes, choose a high-quality reduce of beef or pork as described above. I like to recommend selecting thicker cuts; steaks ought to be not less than 1½–2 inches (3.8–5 cm) thick. Additionally, sharpen your kitchen knife earlier than you begin slicing. For this activity, I like to recommend a chef knife just like the Nagomi Damascus Gyuto Chef Knife at JOC Items.
To Put together the Meat
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Put together your premium-quality meat. For a ribeye steak or different massive steak, reduce it in half into two smaller items. I discover {that a} smaller chunk is simpler to slice thinly as soon as frozen.
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Tightly wrap each bit individually with plastic wrap.
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For a filet mignon, be certain to pack the meat tightly once you wrap it in plastic. This freezes the filet right into a stable chunk so you will get stunning skinny slices that keep collectively.
To Freeze
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Put the meat on a metallic tray and place it within the freezer till agency, about 1½ to 2 hours for meat items which are roughly 1 lb (450 g) every. Freezing time varies relying on the scale and fattiness of the meat.
To Slice the Meat
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Verify that the meat is able to slice. It is prepared if a very sharp knife goes by means of easily and the meat is agency sufficient to slice thinly. When you have bother slicing as a result of the meat is simply too smooth, put it again into the freezer till it‘s firmer.
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Slice in opposition to the grain utilizing a delicate sawing movement. Whenever you take a look at the meat, you will note the muscle fibers going in a single path. Please reduce throughout these fibers within the different path. Nami’s Tip: Reducing in opposition to the grain is the key to tender meat.
To Retailer
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The meat is now prepared to make use of. Layer the skinny slices on a tray or plate, cowl with plastic wrap, and retailer it within the fridge till prepared to make use of, as much as 3 days.To freeze it for later, seal the layered meat in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Retailer it within the freezer for as much as 1 month. Whenever you’re prepared to make use of it, defrost it within the fridge in a single day.
Editor’s Notice: The publish was initially printed on September 21, 2013. It was republished on Could 15, 2025, with up to date photos and useful tricks to supply clear directions and steering.
