All About Flank Steak - Meat Recipes and Cooking Info (2024)

Meat

by: Cara Nicoletti

May23,2014

11Comments

11Comments

Each week this summer, Cara Nicolettiof The Meat Hookis helping us get to know our favorite cuts a little bit better – and introducing you to a few new ones, too. Read on, study up, then hightail it to your nearest butcher.

Today: We're learning all about flank steak -- including how to cook it to perfection.

All About Flank Steak - Meat Recipes and Cooking Info (1)

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Friends, we made it! It’s grilling season! Which means that it’s time to talk about meat. While it isn’t seasonal like fruits and vegetables, there are definitely times of the year when certain cuts are more popular than others. In the fall and winter, for example, we tend to gravitate towards cuts that go incozy braises and comforting stews, cuts that pair well with belly-warming red wines and toasty bourbons, ones that leave us sleepy and satisfied. In the spring and summer, we look for cuts that are easy to grill -- cuts that benefit from zippy, fresh,herb-laden marinades, and that pair well with ice-cold beers and refreshing co*cktails.

All About Flank Steak - Meat Recipes and Cooking Info (2)

One of the most popular steaks in spring and summertime is flank steak. If you’re unsure of what this cut looks like, check out the image ofLady Gaga’s meat hat and purse from the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards--there it is! Flank is popular because it's affordable, flavorful, and works in a wide range of dishes. It’s great grilled and sliced into fajitas,tacos,steak salads, Korean bulgogi, stir fry, orsteak sandwiches. However, it also works well on its own, sharing a plate withsome grilled vegetablesor alight salad.

Flank steak gets its beautiful, beefy flavor and satisfying chew from its location on the animal’s body. It lays across the belly of the cow, in between the ribs and the hind legs, in an area that is very well-exercised. Because these muscles are stronger, they are also chewier, and because they get a lot of blood flow, they are also more flavorful. Flank is recognizable by its teardrop shape and the long, thin muscle fibers that run down its length. These muscle striations are what can make flank tough if it isn’t prepared properly, so here are a few tips on how to prepare and cook it.

  • Marinate your flank:The acid and the salt in a marinade will help to break up those muscle fibers. You only need to marinate the steak an hour or two -- don’t exceed 24 hours, or the acid in the marinade will begin to “cook” your meat. Be sure to pat the steak dry with a paper towel before grilling to avoid flare-ups.
  • Ask your butcher to tenderize your steak for you with a Jaccard knife (or buy your own!). This will help to break up those testy fibers, and will also allow your marinade to penetrate the top layer of meat.
  • If your butcher doesn’t have a jaccard knife, simply slice the beef across the grain all along the steak. Make1/4-inch deep slices about an inch apart to break up the muscle.
  • Cook it quickly at high heat. Flank tends to get chewier the longer it’s cooked, so cook it to a nice rare or medium rare (125° F to 130° F) -- about 3 to 4 minutes for the first side, and 2 minutes on the second side.
  • Let your steak rest for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting it to seal in the juices and let the muscle relax -- this is a must for every steak. Tent some foil over it to keep it warm.
  • Slice it against the grain. This is very important for a cut like flank. It's also quite easy, since the muscle graining is so apparent -- just slice perpendicular to the grain!

More: Need a simple flank steak recipe? This one's bloody good.

What are your tricks for preparing flank steak?

Any Night Grilling is your guide to becoming a charcoal champion (or getting in your grill-pan groove), any night of the week. With over 60 ways to fire up dinner—no long marinades or low-and-slow cook times in sight—this book is your go-to for freshly grilled meals in a flash.

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Tags:

  • How to Cook
  • Steak
  • Ingredients
  • Grill/Barbecue

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • carmella bellia

  • Mike J

  • Johnny DiVincenzo

  • MeechieNell

  • Vicki Schrader

Written by: Cara Nicoletti

Cara Nicoletti is a butcher and writer living in Brooklyn, New York. Cara started working in restaurants when she moved to New York in 2004, and was a baker and pastry chef for several years before following in her grandfather and great-grandfathers' footsteps and becoming a butcher. She is the writer behind the literary recipe blog, Yummy-Books.com, and author of Voracious, which will be published by Little, Brown in 2015. She is currently a whole-animal butcher and sausage-making teacher at The Meat Hook in Williamsburg.

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11 Comments

carmella B. June 19, 2016

I am a first time reader, great advice ,looking forward to more good stuff,thanks c.b. from brooklyn

Mike J. May 19, 2016

I sure don't like how the term butcher is used. A "butcher" is a person who slaughters the meat and sections it into Quarters or even smaller sections. A "meat Cutter" is the person in the grocery store or restaraunt who cuts the meat into specific types of steaks. Just sayin

Johnny D. May 17, 2016

Flank stake is the Rodney Dangerfield of steak, it gets no respect. I grew up on Flank steak.

MeechieNell March 30, 2015

I read Mark Duckor's article about 'Frambled Eggs' being a new way to cook eggs.... not so! Where my grandfather came from down South, that same way of cooking eggs us called 'Stirred Aigs' and I've beeb making them since I was 8 yrs. old.... I'm in my 60s now. So much for new ways. But they are delicious!
Sincerely,

Vicki S. June 15, 2014

I add Balsamic vinegar all over my steak and leave my meat to get to room temperature, when I'm ready to cook I use paper towels to remove all moisture before cooking. I rest for 5 min and eat. fantastic results, I'm yet to taste any better from any Resturant.

M May 31, 2014

Anyone know what flank steak is called in the UK? I've tried to get it from my butcher several times, but get funny looks!

Carol D. March 30, 2015

Hi, flank steak is also called skirt steak

j August 14, 2017

http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-flank-steak-and-skirt-steak-meat-basics-212263

Deb May 25, 2014

This is such useful info! I love Cara's writing style and am looking forward to reading more of what she has to say! Great addition to Food52!

Marcy May 24, 2014

Great article. So happy to see Cara Nicoletti here. She is the BEST. I just subscribed to Food52 so I could read her here. Whenever a new Yuumy Books piece appears in my email I know it's going to be a good day. Can't wait to see what's next. Thanks Cara!

Catherine L. May 24, 2014

She is the best! We're so excited to have her on the site, sharing her expertise.

All About Flank Steak - Meat Recipes and Cooking Info (2024)

FAQs

All About Flank Steak - Meat Recipes and Cooking Info? ›

For the perfect medium-rare Flank steak (recommended) broil in the oven for 11–14 minutes, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F. After removing from the oven, rest your Flank steak for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil.

What is the best cooking method for flank steak? ›

Flank steaks are great cooked on a hot grill, which often makes for a nice outer crust. This Grilled Flank Steak with Mozzarella and Basil gets pounded with a meat mallet, seasoned simply, cooked on a medium high grill for four minutes a side and paired with a simple summer salad.

Should flank steak be cooked with dry or moist heat? ›

These steaks do best when cooking over high heat for a short period of time to give them the perfect texture and taste. Spray the pan with some cooking spray or add olive oil and cook on each side for about four minutes each. The optimal temperature is, again, a medium rare so your meat doesn't end up too chewy.

Does flank steak get tender the longer you cook it? ›

If you're looking for a tender and flavorful way to cook flank steak, consider slow cooking. Slow cooking allows the meat to break down and become melt-in-your-mouth tender while infusing it with rich flavors.

How do you cook flank steak so it's not chewy? ›

Best Recipe Beef Flank Steak

Heat an outdoor grill to hot. Grill steak for 7 to 8 minutes per side to no more than “medium” or 145° F on a quality instant-read thermometer, like this Thermopop (please, no more well done than medium, or you will be disappointed). To serve, thinly slice against the grain on the diagonal.

What is the best way to tenderize flank steak? ›

Acids like balsamic vinegar and lemon juice or lime juice are commonly used to tenderize flank steak, but a lesser-known tenderizer is soy sauce. Like acid, soy sauce will break down the proteins just enough to make for a tender steak. This flank steak marinade is made with low-sodium soy sauce.

What are the cooking methods for flank? ›

Because flank steak is relatively thin, it's best to cook it over fairly high heat so that it can develop a flavorful crust on the outside before it's overcooked on the inside. This means a flank steak will do best with quick, high-heat cooking methods like grilling, broiling, and pan-searing.

Why is my flank steak tough? ›

The critical reason for this is that flank steak, although lean and tasty, is tougher than other cuts of beef due to the many long, thin fibers running through it. To help tenderize flank steak, it is often marinated and cooked by grilling, stir-frying, broiling, or smoking.

What is flank steak best used for? ›

The flank steak is taken from below the loin of the cow. Since it is very lean, the lack of fat may make it tougher than other cuts. Thus, this steak is best used in dishes like stews or fajitas because it can soak up the marinades well, ensuring that flavour gets injected into the meat.

Do you cook flank steak on high heat? ›

Flank steak is typically grilled over high heat for a short amount of time. It's a thin cut, so it doesn't need as much grill time as a thicker steak. You can also braise your flank steak to help break down those muscle fibers.

How do you know when flank steak is done? ›

Preheat your grill for direct heat grilling at 450 degrees F. Grill the steak for 4-5 minutes per side, or until an internal thermometer reads 130-135 degrees F for medium rare or around 145 degrees for medium. Remove the steak from the grill to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.

How long should a flank steak be cooked on each side? ›

Flank steak is a relatively thin cut, but depending on the thickness of your piece, it should take 3 to 5 minutes per side over a very hot grill (around 400˚ to 450˚) or in a grill pan over medium-high heat.

What is another name for a flank steak? ›

Bavette steak is another name for flank steak. It is a popular cut of beef known for its rich flavor and texture. Are skirt steak and flank steak the same? Skirt steak and flank steak are not the same, but they are similar cuts of beef.

Should you cut flank steak before marinating? ›

Experts recommend marinating from the night before or very early in the morning, leaving it to rest in the fridge and covering the marinade with clingfilm. Also, keep in mind that cutting the flank steak into steaks should be done before marinating.

What's the difference between flank steak and skirt steak? ›

What's the Difference Between Skirt and Flank Steak? While they're both from the group known as “flat steaks” and have deep, beefy flavor, there are a few differences; namely, skirt steak is longer, thinner and richer in flavor than flank steak. Shape: Skirt steak is a much longer, narrower and thinner cut.

Is it better to broil or bake flank steak? ›

Flank steak is on the thinner side, so it doesn't take much time to cook. For medium-rare flank steak cooked under the broiler, it takes about 8-12 minutes, depending on the steak's thickness. If you like your steak cooked to medium or medium-well, use the oven instead of the broiler.

What is better to grill flank or skirt steak? ›

Skirt steak is a good choice for grilling or barbecue. Flank steak should be cut into thin slices before cooking, making it a poor choice for the grill. Skirt steak benefits from marinade which can help to tenderize the steak.

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