How Ling To Grill Flank Steak

Scoring And Seasoning The Meat

How To Grill Flank Steak

1Score your steak to a depth of 14 inch . Regardless of the seasonings you choose to use for your flank steak, begin by scoring it, especially if you have a thick piece of meat. Scoring allows both heat and seasonings to penetrate deeper into the meat. To score your flank steak, place the flank steak on a cutting board, then use the tip of a sharp knife to make several shallow cuts into the surface of both sides of the steak in a diamond pattern. Try to make each cut about 14 inch deep.

If you can, cut against the grain of the meat. The general rule with flank steak is to always cut against the grain to reduce the meat’s toughness.

2Choose a marinade or dry rub for your steak. If cooked correctly, flank steak can taste great without any seasoning at all. However, proper seasonings give this dish a burst of zesty flavor that can make it absolutely irresistible. When it comes to seasoning your flank steak, generally, your 2 options will be to use a marinade or a dry rub. Both options can result in great flank steak, but choose one or the other rather than both.

A dry rub is exactly what it sounds like a mix of dry ingredients that you rub onto the outside of the steak.

Whether you’re using a marinade or a dry rub, the basic process for preparing each is the same. Simply combine the ingredients and mix thoroughly until the ingredients are combined.

Make Sure The Grill Is Hot

Preheat the grill so that it is nice and hot. Keep the lid closed and the temperature of the grill should be around 500F.

Place the flank steaks on the grill and you will hear a nice sizzle. Let them cook on the grill for about 3 minutes and then turn them 45 degrees. This will provide the cross sear marks on the steaks. Once they have cooked another 3 minutes, flip the flank steaks over to cook on the other side.

I do not close the lid when I am grilling flank steaks. Since the grill is set to high heat and the meat is not very thick, closing the lid is not necessary.

Repeat the grilling on this side of the steak as well cook for 3 minutes and then turn 45 degrees. Cook for about 3 more minutes, or until it reaches the desired level of doneness. I aim for the flank steak to be somewhere between rare and medium rare. The pictures below of the sliced steak are closer to a medium rare.

Medium rare 130F

Flank steaks that you buy will have different thicknesses. Some may seem bulky and thick, while others seem more flat and thin. The difference in thickness can definitely affect how long they take to grill. A digital thermometer is a great way to ensure that the steak is grilled perfectly every time.

Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Cut the flank steak, with a sharp knife, across the grain into thin slices.

Sliced flank steak is amazing served with a wedge of lime. The combination of steak and fresh lime is so incredible.

Is Flank Steak London Broil

Is there another word for flank steak? One of the most common names for flank steak is London Broil. Flank steak can also be called flank steak fillet and jiffy steak.
Are London broil and flank steak the same?London broil originally referred to broiled flank steak, thus the name. In other words, it refers to a method of preparation rather than a specific cut of meat like in this London Broil recipe. Today, however, grocery stores sometimes label flank steak London Broil. This can be confusing because butchers often label top round as London broil as well so youll need to know what it looks like to make sure youre purchasing the correct cut of beef.

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How To Prepare Flank Steak Seasoning And Marinade

The best way to prepare flank steak is to marinate it. Marinating your flank steak for a few hours or overnight will help tenderize the meat. If you dont have time for a marinade, you can use a rub of spices. However, you may want to use a meat tenderizer to soften the muscle fibers before applying a rub.

Generally, a marinade will provide all the flavor your flank steak needs. You can craft your marinade so it has the flavors you want. We recommend using an acid element like lime juice, a salt element like soy sauce, and olive or vegetable oil to keep the meat juicy. You could alternatively use a rub to season your flank steak.

How Long To Grill A Flank Steak

While some people have a natural knack for grilling, others just arent so sure about it. Whether you want to grill a steak for family or guests, or youre looking for a quick and easy recipe, were here to help you get the most out of your grill. Were going to tell you the best grilling times, the perfect type of grill, and the best ways to cook a steak. When it comes to grilling, we have you covered.

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Specialty Flank Steak Cooking

Want to try your favorite Flank steak taco recipe or a seasoned Flank steak with a unique cooking method? Choose a specialty cooking technique, preparing your meat in a sous vide machine, an instant pot, or even in a smoker. If you have a Flank steak marinade recipe you would like to use, itâs best to wait until your meat is thawed. Marinating while defrosting can make the surface texture of the meat mushy. We recommend thawing in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Once thawed, remove your steak from the refrigerator approximately 3040 minutes before cooking to allow the steak to come to room temperature.

If you choose to use a marinade, place your steak in a bowl or resealable plastic bag and add the marinade. Use enough marinade to cover the meat completely or and be sure to turn the steak a few times while marinating. Your marinade recipe should tell you how long to marinate your Flank steak. For the sake of food safety, always refrigerate the meat while marinating. Before cooking, remove your Flank steak from the marinade and allow excess marinade to drain away. If you do not want to marinate your Flank steak, season it as desired we recommend using Kansas City Steak Original Steak Seasoning.

Does The Flank Steak Need To Be Fully Cooked

Cooking the Flank Steak Because the flank steak is lean, it can become dry and tough if overcooked. So choose rare to medium-rare. And because the flank steak is relatively thin, its best to cook it over a relatively high heat so it can develop a flavorful crust on the outside before it overcooks the inside.

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How Long Can This Recipe Be Stored Or Refrigerated

Assuming you mean how long the steak can stay refrigerated, it is best to consume within 3-5 days.

If you have a lot of extra time on your hands, you can marinate your steak for up to 24 hours. This will help tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. However, if you dont have that much time, you can still marinate for as little as 30 minutes.

Tips For Grilled Flank Steak Recipe

The Art of Grilling: How to Grill Flank Steak

Flank steak is quite simple to make as long as you follow my easy instructions. Heres a summary of the tips and tricks included in the post for perfect marinated flank steak every time:

Pound the steak to an even, thin thickness to tenderize and for even cooking.
Dont marinate much longer than 12 hours or the muscle fibers can break down and become mushy but please aim for 12 hours for optimal flavor and juiciness.
Bring steak to room temperature before cooking by letting it sit on the counter for 30-60 minutes.
Clean the grill very well before cooking for beautiful grill marks and to prevent sticking.
Grease the grill very well with a wad of oiled paper towels using tongs. NEVER use spray oils once the grill is on.
Dont add the steak until the grill is hot to achieve a beautiful sear.
Only flip/touch your steak once for the perfect caramelized crust.
Only use tongs to flip the meat because a fork will pierce the meat and you will continuously loose juices and tenderness.
Dont overcook or your steak wont be as juicy. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness and grill to 140 degrees for medium. The steak will rise to 145 degrees after it rests.
Let steak rest 10 minutes before slicing so it has time to reabsorb the juices that have accumulated in the middle of the steak to redistribute throughout the steak.
Slice steak across the grain to shorten the muscle fibers for tender steak.

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The Challenge Of Flank Steak: It’s A Lean Cut

Flank steak is a long, thin, lean cut of beef. It presents challenges to grillers everywhere for three reasons. First, it lacks marbling , which provides taste. Second, it’s a chewier cut of beef, which many people find tough. Third, its thin nature causes it to cook quickly so that most people severely overcook it. I’ve seen this happen a dozen times. The cook seasons and slaps it on the grill. They overcook it, and when it’s served it’s tough as nails, dried out, and has no taste.

What Are London Broil Steaks

Originally, the term London Broil referred to a steak dish prepared by marinating and grilling a lean cut, such as a flank steak or top round, until it was tender. It was then sliced into thin strips across the grain. However, over the years, butchers have started selling London Broil, which is usually a top round.

In any case, I think its wrong to use London broil as a term for a type of steak. Its better to call it the London broil method rather than London broil steak.

The London broil is the best cooking method for a lean but affordable top-round steak. This turns it into a tender and highly flavorful dish. Some of the most common London broil recipes include stew meats or other recipes where you can use flank steaks. Its also used as a substitute for meat where you need to use a traditional skirt steak.

The preparation involves marinating the raw steak in a balsamic and honey-based sauce and sous vide cooked to juicy perfection with precise temperature control. Its then pan-fried at high heat for a nice brown crust.

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Let It Rest And Cut It Properly

One of the most crucial elements to flank steak is how you carve it. Because of its distinct muscle graining, if you cut it incorrectly, you might be left with much chewier meat.

First, allow the steak to rest for five to 10 minutes. This will seal in the juices and allow the muscles to relax. This is a key element for any steak, but especially important for a cut that is mostly muscle. You can place some aluminum foil over the steak if you are worried about it cooling off.

One it has rested, you want to be sure you are using a sharp knife to slice against the grain. What does that mean, exactly? If the grain is the lines that you see on the steak, slicing against it means you will cut perpendicular to those lines. Dont cut with the lines and instead cut straight across them in the opposite direction. This severs those muscle fibers and makes the meat much less chewy.

Whats The Best Steak For Grilling

Honestly, when it comes to cooking a steak on the grill, you cant really go wrong with any cut you choose. However, getting a perfectly cooked steak from a grill can be tricky if youre new to steak cooking or using a grill. Each cut of steak is a different size, thickness, and texture, so itll be a different process to grill ribeye steak than it would be to grill a much thicker steak, like a filet mignon.

Another issue you might have with the grill lies in the fat content of steak. Although steaks with more fat tend to be more flavorful and tender , they also can be more dangerous to cook on the grill. As fat drips off cut steaks, grill flare-ups can happen. This is especially common with cuts like the rib eye, which are known for their marbling.

That doesnt mean you cant grill them, but youll definitely need to take extra precautions when doing so. Whether you want to cook a rib steak, a T-bone, or flat iron on the grill, you can learn to do it by following our helpful grilling tips for steak.

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At What Temperature Is Flank Steak Done

The temperature of done steak varies depending on how you like your meat cooked. For medium, aim for an internal temperature of about 145 degrees F. Well done steak has an internal temperature of about 165 degrees, so I dont recommend letting the meat go past that mark. Using a meat thermometer is extremely helpful with this recipe.

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Can You Marinate And Freeze Flank Steak

Feel free to freeze this steak with the marinade! Make the marinade in a zip top bag, add the steak and turn to coat. Squeeze as much air out as possible, then store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Take the steak out of the freezer and thaw it in a bowl of water a couple of hours before you want to grill it or the morning before you plan to grill it.

How To Serve Marinated Flank Steak

The most common way to serve marinated flank steak is as the main entree with sides. Just pick any of the aforementioned sides and call it dinner! That being said, flank steak is also a chameleon and delicious in salads, pastas, fajitas, etc. Here are some fun ideas to mix up how you serve grilled flank steak:

How Should Flank Steak Be Cooked

How How To Grill Flank Steak

Because flank steak is very thin, its preferable to cook it at a high heat for a short period of time so that it may acquire a tasty crust on the outside before it becomes overdone on the interior, as is the case with most steaks. Overall, this indicates that rapid, high-heat cooking methods such as grilling, broiling, and pan-searing will yield the best results for preparing flank steak.

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Buy The Right Cut And Salt It Well

Start by buying a flank steak from a trusted source that has deep red coloring and a small amount of fat along the muscle lines. It also helps to try to find a flank steak that is as evenly sized as possible, so you dont have significantly thicker parts that cook at different times. The average flank steak should be around two pounds.

Flank steak is naturally tougher than other steaks so it does require a bit of forward planning but luckily that forward planning can be as little as an hour, rather than the time-consuming marinades that many believe is necessary.

The fallacy of marinades is that anything beyond the salt does not actually penetrate deep into the meat. Sugars and spices have too large of molecules to go beyond the small cracks in the surface. So, no matter how long your steak is sitting in a beautifully prepared marinade, the flavors will not do much more than they would if you poured them on top after cooking. The real secret is in the salt.

Salt actually can alter the structure of proteins and muscle fibers, making it particularly useful for cuts of meat with a lot of muscle to be tenderized. That alteration makes the meat more tender and allows it to hang onto more moisture the two most important elements when dealing with a flank steak.

Step One: Marinade Flank Steak

To start, make sure your steak is completely thawed! Then prepare our simple marinade.
In a gallon Ziploc bag, combine all of the ingredients for the marinade . SEE PICS. 1 & 2
Zip the top and toss the marinade mixture gently until the salt is dissolved.
Then, place the flank steak in the marinade. Make sure to press out any excess air from the bag and seal it tightly. SEE PICS. 3 & 4
Using your hands, massage the marinade around the flank steak for an even coating.
Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours to up to 24 hours. SEE PIC. 5 But remove the bag from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking so it will cook evenly. Meanwhile, clean and preheat your grill !

NOTE: If you prefer to not marinate the meat before grilling, tenderize the thawed steak by placing plastic over the meat on a cutting board. Then use the rough edge of a meat mallet to lightly pound the meat on both sides. Pat the meat dry with paper towels and season both sides well!

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How Long Do You Grill Flank Steak

It doesnt take long to grill flank steak, but exactly how long depends on how done you want your steak .

Grilling it for about 6 minutes on each side will cook it to rare, while cooking closer to 9-10 minutes per side will give you a well-done steak . Keep your meat thermometer by the grill, as thats the best way to know when its ready!

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