How to Cook Beef Tips in an Oven Bag? Easy Guide

Afraid that roasted beef will be dry? Try using an oven bag! It locks in the meat juices for you. It's extremely simple and you're guaranteed a successful roast every time!

Cooking beef tips with an oven bag saves time and effort, and the cooking method is healthy. It's my favorite way to cook:

Ingredients

Beef Tips: Choose beef shoulder, which is suitable for stewing.

Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, rosemary, thyme.

Vegetables: Onions, carrots, garlic, etc.

Liquid: Beef broth (can be substituted with plain water).

Cooking Steps

Prepare the Beef

Cut the beef shoulder into large pieces. Pat the surface dry with kitchen paper towels, sprinkle with an appropriate amount of salt and black pepper, and marinate for 15 minutes.

Prepare the Vegetables

Slice the onions, cube the carrots, and slice the garlic. Set them aside.

Seasoning

Put the beef tips into the oven bag. Add the onions, carrots, and garlic. Sprinkle with rosemary and thyme. Pour in an appropriate amount of beef broth or plain water and stir well.

Seal the Oven Bag

Seal the oven bag tightly and prick several small holes in the bag with a toothpick.

Bake

Place the oven bag in a baking pan and put it into an oven preheated to 160°C (320°F). Bake for about 2 hours until the beef becomes tender.

Check Doneness

After baking, open the oven bag. Gently poke the beef with a fork. If it can be easily pierced, it means the beef is fully cooked.

Will Meat Brown in an Oven Bag?

Putting the meat in an oven bag won't make it turn as dark brown as direct baking, but it will still develop some color.

First of all, the function of an oven bag is to lock in steam and meat juices during cooking, allowing the ingredients to cook slowly in a closed environment, similar to the effect of "steam roasting".

Because the humidity inside the oven bag is relatively high and the meat is not directly exposed to the oven, it won't form the dark brown color and caramelization reaction of direct baking, but it will still develop some color.

Do Oven Bags Make Meat Tender?

During the cooking process, the oven bag mainly creates an environment similar to a "steam oven". It can lock in the meat juices and moisture, prevent the meat from drying out, and make the meat more tender and juicy.

Lock in Moisture: The oven bag prevents the meat juices from draining away, keeping the meat moist at all times.

Low-temperature Slow Cooking: The oven bag is suitable for low-temperature slow cooking, which can gradually soften the meat fibers and result in a more delicate texture.

Reduce Oxidation: The environment inside the oven bag is relatively closed, reducing the contact between the meat and air and avoiding oxidation, which helps maintain the color and texture of the meat.

Does Meat Cook Quicker in a Roasting Bag?

No.

Cooking meat in an oven bag won't make it cook faster. This is because the oven bag creates a closed environment where the meat is slowly stewed at a low temperature. Therefore, the cooking time will not be shortened but will instead increase.

For example, when cooking beef in an oven bag, the temperature is around 60-70°C and it takes about 2-4 hours to cook. This is to ensure that the beef fibers are fully softened through low-temperature slow cooking for a more tender texture.

Do Beef Tips Get More Tender the Longer They Cook?

Beef tips don't necessarily become tenderer the longer they are cooked.

Beef itself has relatively tender meat and is suitable for quick cooking. Usually, the longer beef tips are cooked, the more tender and soft the texture becomes, but not necessarily more tender. For example, simmering over low heat for 1.5-2 hours will make the beef tips soft but still retain some chewiness. However, if the stewing time is too long, the beef may become overly mushy and lose its fresh and tender texture.

If using a pressure cooker to stew beef tips, it only takes 30-40 minutes to achieve the desired tender and smooth effect. This is because the high-temperature and high-pressure environment of the pressure cooker can quickly soften the beef fibers while retaining the meat juices, keeping the beef fresh and tender.

How Long to Cook Beef Tips in Oven at 350?

The baking time of beef tips in a 350°F (about 175°C) oven depends on the size and cut of the meat, as well as the desired doneness.

Small beef pieces (2-3 cm): It takes 1.5-2 hours for them to be tender and flavorful.

Medium-sized beef pieces (5-7 cm): It takes 2-2.5 hours, which is suitable for slow roasting and stewing.

Whole piece of beef (1.5-2 kg): It takes 2.5-3.5 hours, and slow roasting gives the best results.

Tips:

Cuts rich in connective tissues such as beef brisket, beef shoulder, and beef shank require a longer time for slow roasting, usually 2.5-3 hours, to break down the collagen and make the meat more tender.

Cuts like beef tenderloin and steak require a shorter baking time, usually about 1-1.5 hours.