How To Make Tender Oxtails

by Jerome
(San Francisco, CA)

I cooked 5 lbs of oxtails in a roasting pan for 6 hours. The longer they cooked, the tougher they became. The temp was at 400 degrees. I took them off and put 5 more pounds on in a crock pot and started over. I don't want these to get tough, what did I do wrong? I guess I will take the others down to the shoe repair man, and get me a pair of shoes made with them.

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How To Make Tender Oxtails

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how to cook oxtail meat
by: orchids

I cooked 6 pieces of oxtail meat for 1-1/2 hour by boiling it first on high heat then lower to med - low and cook for 1-1/2 hr and it will be ready for any kind of cooking. Example oxtail soup like in las vegas or with vegetable of different kind. Salt and pepper to taste, or with cilantro and ginger. Plain and simple.

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My take on How to make tender oxtails
by: Laura

Oxtails are one of those meats that have to be cooked low and slow. You can't rush them. My personal preferred cooking method is a crock pot set on low for about 10 hours.

If you're trying to get something a little faster than that, say, 3 hours, then you'll need to ensure that your oxtails simmer slowly for about 3 hours.

You can also cook your oxtails in the oven and have them turn out tender. You have to ensure that there is always liquid in the pot. Get a good dutch oven (cast iron is ideal but incredibly heavy), put the lid on tight, set the oven at about 325 for an hour or two then drop the heat to about 275-300 for another couple of hours. Check the oxtails every 30 to 45 minutes to ensure that there is plenty of liquid in the pan. You can't cook oxtails dry or they will be tough.

Keep in mind that you'll have to increase the cooking time if you have a lot of oxtails.

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Feel your pain
by: Big poppa

Jerome

Six hours is the way to long at 400 degrees. If you are braising in a roast pan, 375 degrees with pan covered should take 2 or 2-1/2 hours. It also depends on the meat itself. There must also be fluid in the pan. Use a broth which covers 1/2 to 3/4 of meat in pan. In the end you can use 2 table spoons of cornstarch to thicken the gravy

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How To Cook Oxtails
by: Soul Food Chef

Jerome

I feel your pain, nothing disturbs me more the cooking a meal that doesn't turn out right. I've never tried cooking oxtails in a crock pot, but from what I can tell, it looks like you're cooking at too high a temperature.

I think for the best results, you should trying boiling your oxtails on the stove top until they are tender. Just bring your oxtails to a boil in a heavy bottom pot, that retains heat well, then reduce heat to MED and simmer with lid on, until the oxtails are tender. This will take 2 to 3 hours. But the results will be well worth the wait.

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