Grilled Flank Steak

What is flank steak

Flank steak is a cut of beef taken from the belly, towards the rear end of the steer. It’s a great alternative to premium steaks because it’s usually less expensive compared to ribeyes yet is still tender and juicy if cooked correctly. Flank is a wide, flat, rectangular cut of beef with a moderately beefy flavor, has plenty of juice and a strong grain.

Since it’s on the thinner side, this steak lends itself perfectly to the grill especially if feeding a crowd. It cooks in a matter of minutes over very high heat, but is still thick enough where you can achieve a nice medium-rare center.

Another name for flank steak

Flank steak is also called London Broil or Jiffy Steak. It may also be sold as stir-fry beef at the grocery store, but this will usually come pre-sliced.

Selecting the perfect flank steak

When shopping for the best flank steak, look for an even deep red color with a fair amount of fat running along the muscle. Avoid cuts that still have a thin membrane attached or the surface of the meat is shredded. You want a nice smooth surface without nicks or gouges from a butcher’s knife.

Skirt steak vs flank steak

Flank steak is not the same as skirt steak; although, both are flavorful cuts of meat that can be just as tender and juicy as expensive cuts of steak if they are cooked correctly (usually on a grill over very high heat). But here is how they differ:

• Location – Both come from the belly of cow; however, the outside skirt is the diaphragm muscle of the steer.
• Texture & grain – Flank steak is leaner, more compact and has a more pronounced grain. Skirt has loose texture and can easily become tough and leathery if overcooked.
• Size & shape – Skirt steak comes in a long, thin strip while flank steak is wider, more rectangular shaped and is a bit thicker.
• Flavor – Skirt steak has a beefier more robust, buttery flavor compared to flank.

Flank steak substitute

If you can’t find this cut of beef at your grocery store, luckily there are substitutes for flank steak. These are ideal to replace flank because they can be cooked the same way, have a similar flavor and are considered thin cuts of steak.

Substitutes for flank steak include skirt steak, hanger steak and flap meat. 

How to cut flank steak

When it comes to trimming, flank steak is usually pre-trimmed by the butcher with membranes removed and ready to cook.

After it’s cooked, flank steak should be cut against the grain similar to other cuts of beef. The grain of meat refers to the direction that the muscle fibers are going. These are long, parallel lines that run along the steak. To cut against the grain, position your knife 90 degrees from the direction of the grain. Cut into thin pieces about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

Simple flank steak marinades

If cooked correctly, flank steak can be tender with a mild, beefy flavor, so realistically, you don’t need to add much or any of a marinade. Generally, simple marinades are the best and will let your steak take center stage.

Besides the herb-mustard marinade above, here are some other simple marinades to try:

• Herb garlic – Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 4 cloves smashed garlic, 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns, 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Marinate for at least 6 hours.
• Steak sauce – Make your own A-1 steak sauce by adding 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3 tablespoons brown sugar free sweetener, 2 cloves smashed garlic, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1/2 cup avocado or neutral oil. Marinate for at least an hour.
• Cilantro lime –  Uses fresh cilantro and lime juice. It’s best served over rice or sliced up for flank steak tacos
• Fajita – A unique fajita marinade that uses soy sauce and has a similar flavor to the flank steak fajitas you would find at a Mexican restaurant.

Recipes that use flank steak

Although I prefer to enjoy my flank steak as a steak or even with a side of chimichurri sauce, there are other ways you can use flank steak.

• Swiss steak
• Stuffed flank steak
• Steak fajitas
• Carne asada tacos
• Steak salad