How to Boil a Cow Tongue

Beef tongue is an overlooked and underused part of the cow. The tongue is a tough, fiberous muscle that is naturally low in fat due to its constant movement. When prepared correctly, cow tongue tastes similar to steak but has a more chewy consistency. This meat can be used for anything from cold-cut sandwiches to tacos.

Things You'll Need

• Cow tongue
• Vegetables
• Bay leaves
• Pot
• Water
• Tongs
• Knife

Instructions

1. Remove any string or wrapping that is holding the tongue together. Cow tongues often come folded in half and tied with a string. They can be cooked this way, but it slows the process.

2. Put the tongue in a pot. Make sure the pot is big enough to hold the tongue, water and any vegetables you want to add.

3. Chop vegetables coarsely. Good vegetables to use include carrots, onions, peppers and celery. Add two bay leaves as well. This step is not mandatory but the vegetables will add a great deal of flavor to the meat.

4. Cover the tongue and vegetables with water. Put the pot on the stove and set it to high heat.

5. Let the tongue boil three hours with the pot uncovered. Check the pot every 15 minutes and refill with water as needed. Make sure the tongue is covered with water at all times.

6. Flip the tongue over every 30 minutes to ensure it is cooked evenly.

7. Pull the tongue out of the pot with tongs after three hours. Slice through the skin down the center of the tongue so you can peel the skin off. The skin is the white outer layer and the edible meat is a reddish-tan color.

8. Slice the tongue to your desired thickness.

References

• Beef Tongue Recipe