Chef’s £1 ingredient can turn even cheapest cut of beef into juicy steaks

A professional chef has revealed a game-changing £1 kitchen hack that can transform even the cheapest cut of beef into a tender, juicy steak, and it’s something you probably already have in your cupboard.

Chef Joshy Jin, who shares culinary tips on TikTok, @chefjoshyjin, went viral with a video demonstrating how to use bicarbonate of soda to dramatically improve the texture and tenderness of budget beef. The clip, which has already racked up millions of views, shows him applying the common household ingredient to an inexpensive steak cut, resulting in a dramatically improved final dish.

“This method is used in Chinese cooking to tenderise meat, and it works wonders on tougher cuts,” Chef Jin explains in the video.

The technique, often referred to as “velveting,” involves sprinkling a small amount of bicarbonate of soda over the surface of the meat and letting it sit for 15 to 30 minutes.

The alkaline compound raises the pH level on the meat’s surface, making it harder for the proteins to bond too tightly. This helps prevent the meat from becoming tough during cooking.

After the resting period, it’s crucial to rinse the meat thoroughly and pat it dry before cooking, otherwise, the residual soda can affect the flavour.

Chef Jin demonstrates the transformation using a typically chewy, lower-grade beef steak, turning it into a succulent, pan-seared treat. Commenters were stunned by the results.

“I tried this and I couldn’t believe the difference, my £3 steak tasted like something from a high-end restaurant,” one viewer wrote.

While the hack is praised for its simplicity and effectiveness, Jin cautions against overusing the bicarbonate, as too much can result in a mushy texture. A teaspoon per pound of meat is more than enough.

This budget-friendly tip comes as many households look to save on food costs without sacrificing quality. With meat prices continuing to climb, simple tricks like this are proving invaluable.

Chef Jin’s bicarbonate of soda steak hack is just one of many clever ideas he shares on his TikTok channel, which blends professional know-how with accessible home cooking advice.