Add a 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or butter to skillet (enough to coat the bottom) and immediately place flank steak in the hot skillet. So what's the secret to cooking flank steak? Allow the meat to simmer slowly on the stovetop or in the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is done and tender. Marinate flank steak in the refrigerator for up to four hours. If You Can’t Find Flank, Use These Cuts. But, there's an easy solution – learning to carve your flank steak against the grain. Although stir-frying is a quick cook method, you’ll find flank steak will be too chewy. Braising flank steak in a flavorful liquid like broth, wine or a tomato sauce cooks the meat slowly and brings out the tenderness. Flip steak and continue to cook until second side is well charred, about 3 … Flank steak is best cooked rare, medium rare or so well-done that it is fork tender. Sear both sides for 1-2 minutes, then reduce to medium heat and continue to grill. Medium. Put the cooking grate in place, cover, and allow grill to preheat for 5 minutes. Add the steak to the marinade turning each side once. Line a broiler pan … Set oven for broil and preheat 10 minutes. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. By butterflying them, you cut them across the grain, solving the need to slice in one fell swoop. Use the chart below to determine how long to grill flank steak. Grilling is perhaps the best way to cook flank steak, but you can also pan-sear it in a skillet or broil it in your oven. Heat a heavy skillet, a cast-iron skillet, or wok over high heat until hot, for about 5 minutes. Scrape cooking grates clean, then place flank steak over hot side of grill. The broiler is basically an upside-down grill that blasts the steak with direct heat. Use enough marinade to cover the meat completely or and be sure to turn the steak a few times while marinating. Let it cook for about 3-4 minutes. What part of the cow does flank steak come from? Turn about 1 minute prior to the halfway point. Marinating adds flavor while tenderizing the meat. These days, consumers are wise to its benefits, and it has become as near-ubiquitous a cut as the standard high end steaks. Rest your flank steak for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil. Be sure your flank steak is completely thawed. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise about 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking"). Position broiler pan in oven so that the surface of the beef is 3 to 4 inches from the heat. Cooking quickly over high heat preserves the natural moisture of the meat. Sear on high heat for 1 - 2 minutes each side, then move to indirect heat. The real trick is to keep your flank steak grill time to a minimum; this lean cut is best cooked rare, medium-rare, or medium. slow cooker. Broil for about 4 to 6 minutes, turn the meat with tongs and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes or until steak is done to your liking. This flank steak is about 1 1/2 inches thick and should cook … Broiling utilizes high heat to quickly cook the steak, but expect a little smoke when using this method. Remove when your steaks are 5 degrees less than the temperatures listed. How long should I cook a 2 inch steak? When it comes to thin cuts of meat, like skirt or flank steak, the broiler is your best bet. Trim off any excess fat, mix together a beef steak marinade according to its recipe. Your steak should come out fork-tender and full of flavor. Brown the meat on both sides in a little oil in a hot skillet, and then add the liquid. Flank steak can be used in most recipes that call for skirt steak. Cook flank steak to medium-rare or medium doneness to prevent overcooking the meat. Because of its leanness, medium or well-done steak can be tough and chewy. After marinating, flank steak should be cooked hot and fast – either grilled, broiled or pan seared. However, cooking for long times will cause the fibers in the meat to break down, turning the meat soft. Grill flank steak over direct heat on a grill pre-heated to medium-high. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight. A traditional marinade for flank steak consists of two parts red wine and one part olive oil. Both skirt steak and flank steak beg for high heat and searing for a short amount of time. It is harder to get that angle on the end of the flank steak when you start carving. It can become tough when cooked too long at low temperatures unless it is braised low and slow until tender like in ropa vieja – there is no middle ground when it comes to cooking flank steak. To cook on a gas grill, preheat on high. The truth is, flank steak is a wonderfully versatile cut of beef and can be melt-in-your-mouth tender with just a little know-how. Flank steak is a terrific cut for marinating. Flip the flank steak and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until it reaches your preferred doneness (125F for rare – 130F for medium rare – 135F for medium). In the same skillet, saute onion for 1 minute. Adding oil to the marinade replaces some of the fat that is missing in the flank steak. Flank steak is really best at a rare (125-130 degrees Fahrenheit) to medium-rare (130-135 degrees Fahrenheit) temperature. Behind the Issue: A Primitive, Perfect Method for Grilling Steaks with Cook’s Illustrated’s Dan Souza Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the How should flank steak be cooked? If you want to cook flank steaks on the stove, you should opt for a cast-iron skillet to do the job, since it can handle higher temperatures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cooking flank steak to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. Use the chart below to determine how long to grill flank steak. Brown flank steak. How to cook skirt steak or flank steak. Remove the steak from the marinade. Steak is one of the best types of food to cook sous vide. Slowly lay the flank steak on skillet or griddle. After you heat up the grill plan, add the flank steak (shake off any excess marinade) and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until browned with grill marks on both sides. Add the Flank Steak to the marinade and put it in the fridge. The end result should be medium-rare. For perfect doneness, we recommend you use a meat thermometer and use the Measuring Doneness chart below. But depending on the type and thickness of the steak, the time and temperature will vary. Sear the slices for 4-7 minutes, turning frequently with tongs, until you see each slice is cooked to the desired level of pink in the center. The flank steak is a very lean cut of beef from the underbelly of the cow. Cut the flank steak along the grain in 3 inch strips. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on it. Overcooking makes flank steak tougher and dries out the meat. If you choose to use a marinade, place your steak in a bowl or resealable plastic bag and add the marinade. Because it has long muscle fibers and little marbled fat, it requires proper cooking and slicing to bring out the tenderness. If the steak reaches medium temperature (140-145 degrees Fahrenheit) it begins to get dry and tough. However, the further you get towards the middle of the flank steak you should definitely be able to get a nice angle for carving. You can grill flank steak, cook it in a skillet on the stovetop, or even cut it up for a stir-fry, but my choice for everyday cooking is under the broiler. Cooking Instructions (Marinating)(Grilling) Flank Steak . Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM Place flank steak on the rack of a broiler pan. You get lots of lovely crispy bits around the edge without drying out or overco… To make each bite extra tender, hold your knife blade at a 45° angle; this is called "cutting on the bias." Longer marinating times risk denaturing the meat and ruining the texture of the steak. To cook on a charcoal grill, place your flank steak over the hottest part of the grill, and sear both sides for 1-2 minutes. When shopping for flank steak, look for an even, deep red colorwith a fair amount of fine fat running along the length of the muscles. The acid ingredients in the marinade break down the connective tissue that is partly responsible for making the meat tough. Because it has long muscle fibers and little marbled fat, it requires proper cooking and slicing to bring out the tenderness. After 2 and 1/2 minutes, turn the steak 90 degrees to attain the grill marks. Cook the steak to: 120–125 degrees F for rare, 130–140 for medium rare, 140–150 for medium, 150–160 for medium well, and 160+ for well done. Meaning, cut perpendicular (like a T) to the lines or striations in the meat. Copyright Policy Cook for 5 minutes per side. USDA Prime Private Stock® Tenderloin Chateaubriand, USDA Prime Private Stock® Prime Rib Roast. Copyright © The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse Leaving the inside a bit rare will help ensure tenderness … Next, you'll need to know how to carve a flank steak. 1. Remove and serve immediately. Allow it to cook for no more than 4-6 minutes on each side, for a total of 16-24 minutes. Turn them 1 minute before the halfway point of the cooking time. A very hot pan delivers the best sear. Make sure your carving knife is sharp (See our. She has taken graduate courses in biochemistry and education. Flank steak is often used in tacos or fajitas, but when properly cooked, this flavorful meat stands alone in dishes such as London broil. Cook's Illustrated recipe for Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Sriracha-Lime Butter; What the heck is a Ribalizer? Cook on low-heat for 8 hours. cook until well charred, about 3 minutes. Some of its substitutes will make better choices. Flank steaks in general tend to get a bad rap for being tough and requiring marinades to make them anywhere near tender. Take a good look at your flank steak and note which direction the fibers are running. Everything you need to know is in the instructions below. Directions In a skillet, brown steak in oil; transfer to a 5-qt. When you cut flank steak you want to slice against the grain with your knife at a 45-degree angle. The flank steak is a very lean cut of beef from the underbelly of the cow. diagnosis or treatment. Let the broiled flank steak rest. The real trick is to keep your flank steak grill time to a minimum; this lean cut is best cooked rare, medium-rare, or medium. You should see round bundles of meat fibers in each slice, not long chewy fibers. Why? Keep each slice no more than 1/4" thick. Diane Watkins has been writing since 1984, with experience in newspaper, newsletter and Web content. And does it make cooking ribs better or easier? Use these techniques along with a meat thermometer and soon you'll be famous for your amazing flank steak! There's still time! Preheat the grill at high levels. Coat the grill grate or pan with olive oil, and place the steak on the cooking surface. Terms of Use , 125°F - Center is bright red; pinkish towards the outside, 135°F - Center is very pink; slightly brown towards the outside, 145°F - Center is light pink; outer portion is brown, 155°F - Center is slightly pink; outer portion is brown. The muscle fibers in flank steak are very strong and can be extremely tough. Allow the steak to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. Gradually add water, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Allowing the steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful. Flank steak is too thick to be cooked well-done. Rub the flank steak on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. . Poorly butchered flank steak will either have a thin membrane stil… What temperature should flank steak be? Resting flank steak is also important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your flank steak. Slide your knife back and forth across those fibers - across the grain - cutting your flank steak into slices. Choose overnight delivery in checkout. Turn about 1 minute prior to the halfway point. Your marinade recipe should tell you how long to marinate your flank steak. The truth is if you start with a good flank steak such as our Brant Lake Wagyu flank steak, and you follow the proper technique for how to cook flank steak, the results will be outstanding. She writes two electronic newsletters and has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Clemson University. Heat a heavy skillet or cast-iron skillet over high heat until hot, for about 5 minutes. The material appearing on LIVESTRONG.COM is for educational use only. Privacy Policy Flank steak is a lean and flavorful cut of beef. Flank steaks, from the hard-working abdominal area, need high heat and a thin slice to stay tender. There are two cuts of meat that have the long striations of muscle similar to flank. Heat skillet or griddle on medium heat. Thick steaks may take a few minutes longer. Position an oven rack 5 to 6 inches from the broiler unit, and preheat the broiler. They are hanger and skirt steaks. Flank steak is famous for its intense flavor – and for how tough it can be if improperly cooked. The centers will continue to warm as they rest. Place the steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. At one time flank steak was a relatively hard cut to find, reserved for specialty butchers or saved for industrial uses. Leaf Group Ltd. The temperature will rise up to 10 degrees F while resting. Start cooking flank steak by putting some olive oil on the grill. and After resting, slice the meat into thin strips, cutting across the fibers of the meat. 2020 To feed four to six adults, get 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of flank steak you can stretch this amount to feed eight if you're serving appetizers or other side dishes. It should not be Place flank steak on a broiler pan under a pre-heated broiler. used as a substitute for professional medical advice, Let the steak rest on the counter at room temperature for 10 minutes. any of the products or services that are advertised on the web site. Of course, anything past medium may end up being chewy. Arguably the most important thing about flank steak isn’t how you cook it, but how you cut it. The resultant curtain of meat is perfect for stuffing and rolling up, … Next, you'll need to know how to carve a flank steak. For an Asian flavor, try a marinade made from two parts citrus juice and one part soy sauce, spiced with garlic and ginger. These steaks do best when cooking over high heat for a short period of time to give them the perfect texture and taste. Then move to medium, ash-covered coals and continue to grill. Broiled Flank Steak – How to Cut Your Flank Steak. If you have a marinade recipe you would like to use, it's best to wait until your flank steak is thawed. For best results, the flank steak should marinade for a minimum of two hours being turned about every half hour. What's Cooking America: Marinating Meat Guidelines, PARTNER & LICENSEE OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. This step is crucial. Take off the heat and let it rest, covered, for between 5 and ten minutes. We recommend checking out our best selling steaks. Cutting against the grain this way exposes more surface area in each fiber and keeps the fibers from being stacked directly on top of each other in each slice of meat, further weakening the bonds that hold them together. If you … Cooking flank steak: Flanks steaks take to marinades very well, and some marinades can help to tenderize the meat. Broil to desired doneness; use the chart below to determine how long to cook flank steak under the broiler. How To Cook Steak In The Oven - Best Perfect Oven-Steak Recipe After this you can allow it to marinade up to 24 hours in the fridge prior to getting it on the Big Green Egg. To pre-slice your flank steak, place it to the freezer for just 15 minutes; this will firm up the meat and make it easier to slice. Flank steak should always (always, always) be cut against the grain. Hover your hand over the skillet or grill a couple of inches to ensure that it is nice and hot. For a simple and tender flank steak, place your steak in the Crock-Pot, season with salt and pepper, and add a chopped onion, basil, bay leaf and 1/2 cup of water. … Marinating while defrosting can make the surface texture of the meat mushy. A very hot pan delivers the best sear. If you are grilling for a large group of people, this level of doneness often pleases most … Grilling is perhaps the best way to cook flank steak, but you can also pan-sear it in a skillet or broil it in your oven. Remember to fully thaw your steaks. For best results place the flank steak in a resealable plastic food bag with 1/2 to 1 cup(250ml) of marinade, squeeze any air from bag, refrigerate 6-24 hours. How to Cook Flank Steak … If you do not want to marinate your flank steak, you may still want to season it; we recommend Kansas City Steak Original Steak Seasoning. Grill for approximately 5 minutes per side or until cooked to your preferred degree of doneness. One of the most important techniques for a tender flank steak is proper slicing. Set it on the grill. Home / The Steak Guide / How to Cook / How to Cook Flank Steak. Dry and tough cut flank steak over direct heat on a grill pre-heated to medium-high oil season... Saute onion for 1 minute prior to getting it on the counter at room for! Use, it requires proper cooking and slicing to bring out the tenderness turning the meat tough broiling utilizes heat... 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Consumers are wise to how should flank steak be cooked benefits, and it has long muscle fibers and little marbled fat, it proper. Two electronic newsletters and has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Clemson University best cooked rare, rare!