# Why is cube steak called 'cube steak'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035 "2006-01-29T02:21:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/1 "2006-01-29T02:21:02Z")
Or is it ‘cubed’ steak? It’s not cube-shaped. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/2 "2006-01-29T02:30:23Z")
My dictionary defines “cubing” as tenderizing meat by breaking the fibers with superficial cuts in a pattern of squares. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/3 "2006-01-29T05:03:19Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > It’s not cube-shaped. No, it’s not, but there are tiny little squares in it. Have you ever seen it raw? [http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/cubesteak.jpg](http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/cubesteak.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/4 "2006-01-29T05:09:54Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > No, it’s not, but there are tiny little squares in it. Have you ever seen it raw? [http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/cubesteak.jpg](http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/cubesteak.jpg) You might condider the probability that the originak term was “cubed” steak! EZ ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/5 "2006-01-29T12:36:20Z")
Yup. Just like you see these stands selling “shave” ice. I’m sure it used to be “shaved” ice. I hate subliterate shit like that. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/6 "2006-01-29T14:32:00Z")
My mother used to have a “cuber” (Not what Massachusettsans call that island south of Florida). It was a roller-shaped device on a handle, with the surface of the roller being pyramidal points that were the apexes of cubes. Rolling this repeatedly across a tough cut of meat would tenderize it and make it passably enjoyable eating. The process was of course “cubing” and I suspect that “cube steak” was originally “cube **d** steak” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/7 "2006-01-29T14:44:09Z")
I have a mallet-type device with the same points, used for the same purpose of tenderizing meat. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/8 "2006-01-29T16:36:50Z")
Yes, it’s “cubed” steak. “Ice” tea, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-cube-steak-called-cube-steak/342035/9 "2006-01-29T20:07:19Z")
The term seems to appear first as “cube steak” around the teens in the US.