If you’re a fan of steak, then you’ve likely heard of flank steak. Flank steak is a delicious cut of meat that comes from the abdominal muscles of a cow.
It’s known for its rich flavor, tender texture, and versatility in cooking. However, when it comes to preparing flank steak, one question that often arises is whether or not it should be trimmed.
What is Flank Steak?
Before we dive into whether or not you should trim your flank steak, let’s first take a closer look at what exactly flank steak is. As mentioned earlier, flank steak comes from the abdominal muscles of a cow. It’s a long and flat cut of meat with visible muscle fibers running along its length.
Flank steak is a lean and flavorful cut of beef that’s perfect for grilling, broiling, or pan-frying. It’s typically cooked quickly over high heat to keep it tender and juicy.
Should You Trim Flank Steak?
Now let’s get back to the main question – should you trim your flank steak? The short answer is yes! While some people prefer to leave the fat on their meat for added flavor and moisture during cooking, in the case of flank steak, it’s best to remove any excess fat from the surface.
The reason for this is because flank steak has long muscle fibers that run along its length. If there are any pockets of fat or connective tissue present on the surface of the meat, they can cause these fibers to contract during cooking. This can result in an unevenly cooked piece of meat with tough and Chewy sections.
To avoid this, it’s recommended to trim any excess fat or connective tissue from your flank steak before cooking it. This will help ensure that your meat cooks evenly and stays tender and juicy throughout.
How to Trim Flank Steak
So now that we know why trimming your flank steak is important, let’s take a look at how to do it. The process is actually quite simple:
1. Start by placing your flank steak on a cutting board with the muscle fibers running perpendicular to your knife. 2. Use a sharp knife to carefully trim away any excess fat or connective tissue from the surface of the meat.
3. Try to remove as much of the fat as possible without removing too much of the meat itself. 4. Once you’ve trimmed your flank steak, it’s ready for cooking!
Conclusion
In conclusion, trimming your flank steak is an important step in preparing this delicious cut of beef. By removing any excess fat or connective tissue from the surface of the meat, you’ll ensure that it cooks evenly and stays tender and juicy throughout.
So next time you’re preparing flank steak for dinner, be sure to take a few extra minutes to trim it properly before cooking. Your taste buds will thank you!