Flank steak is a common piece of meat, but it can be chewy and tough if cooked incorrectly. Cooking a flank steak can be difficult to get right, but can this steak be cooked low and slow and come out perfectly cooked?
Flank steaks are cut from the lower abdomen of the cow. This cut is lean and tough, so it needs to be cooked correctly. Cooking a flank steak low and slow is an excellent way of ensuring the steak is tender and juicy when served. Marinate the steak first to keep it moist.
How do you marinate a flank steak before you cook it? What is another cooking method that will help keep your flank steak tender and juicy? We will find the answers to these great questions and more in this article!
Should Flank Steak Be Cooked Low And Slow?
Flank steak is one of the most popular steak cuts in the world. In addition, it’s a relatively cheap cut of meat that will fit most budgets.
This steak can be used in many different meals, making it a versatile cut of meat.
Flank steaks have a full, beefy flavor and can be lovely and tender when cooked correctly. Flank steaks come from the lower half of a cow’s abdomen, which means it’s a muscle that gets used a lot throughout the cow’s life.
This means the flank steak is naturally chewy meat, filled with lean, tough, long-fibered muscles, making the meat difficult to eat if not prepared correctly. But can you cook this popular cut of meat low and slow?
One of the best advantages flank steaks offer is that you can cook them in many different ways. Several cooking methods ensure your flank steak comes out perfectly delicious, including cooking your flank steak low and slow.
Many people prefer cooking their flank steaks low and slow, as this can break down the muscle fibers better than most other cooking methods.
When a flank steak is marinated correctly and cooked low and slow, this results in a perfectly tender and juicy steak that will make your tastebuds sing.
How To Prepare Flank Steak For A Low And Slow Cook?
So, cooking a flank steak low and slow is actually one of the best ways to cook it to ensure it is tender and juicy, rather than its usual chewy and dry nature. As mentioned earlier, you can use many cooking methods to cook your flank steak.
However, if you want to cook it low and slow to ensure it’s lovely and tender, you should cook it according to the most recommended method.
However, before you get to the cooking, you need to prepare your flank steak expertly and ensure it’s marinated, as this will help keep the steak flavorful and juicy. If you want to cook your flank steak low and slow, the marinade is the most important part of the cooking process.
The marinade will flavor the steak and add moisture to it, keeping it moist throughout the long cooking process. This will help the muscle fibers of the steak break down, creating a tender piece of meat.
So, let’s go through how to prepare your flank steak correctly with a marinade for a low and slow cook.
Ingredients Needed
To ensure your flank steak comes out a low and slow cook perfectly, you must marinate the steak. You will need a few ingredients to prepare a great marinade that will help keep your flank steak juicy and tender through the slow cooking process. Here are the ingredients you will need:
- Olive oil; enough to cover half the steak
- Chilli powder; 1tsp
- Paprika; 1tsp
- Brown sugar; 2tbsp
- Cayenne pepper; 1 tsp
- Ranch seasoning mix; 2 tsp
Once you have all the needed ingredients together, you can begin making the marinade. This is a spicier marinade. So, if you don’t like spicy food, leave the chili powder out and only add half the amount of paprika and cayenne pepper into the mix.
Making The Marinade
Place your steak into a large bowl to prepare it for the marinade. To make the marinade for your flank steak, pour the olive oil over the steak and ensure the oil just covers half of the steak. Now you can mix in all the spices and the sugar.
Once these are in the bowl, you need to mix them into the oil and massage the spices and oil into the steak, ensuring they are rubbed into both sides of the steak.
Cover the bowl with the marinated flank steak with plastic wrap, then place it in the fridge for about 4 hours, preferably overnight. Your flank steak is perfectly marinated and ready to be cooked low and slow when this time is up.
Method Of Cooking
To cook your flank steak low and slow, the best option would be to smoke it on your grill. This will let you monitor the temperature more and ensure your flank steak gets cooked to perfection. You should heat your smoker or grill to 200°F and place your marinated flank steak inside.
Leave your steak to cook for at least 2 hours, after which you can check the steak and see if it’s cooked to your liking. Once the steak has been cooked, you need to rest it for 10 minutes before serving. Then you can enjoy your tender and juicy flank steak.
Another Cooking Method For Flank Steak
As we mentioned, there are many methods to cook a flank steak perfectly. So, if you don’t have a grill to cook your flank steak low and slow, another technique can offer the same delicious results. You can cook your flank steak low and slow in your oven.
This is the best alternative to a grill as you will get similar results. You can heat your oven to 200°F and cook your flank steak for about 2 hours. Then let the steak rest for 20 minutes and serve. The steak should be tender, juicy, and flavorful.
Conclusion
Cooking a flank steak low and slow is one of the best methods of cooking this type of steak. These steaks are known to be tough and chewy if not cooked correctly, and this cooking method ensures the steak is tender and juicy once cooked.
You can follow the recipe above for a great marinade for your flank steak to help it survive the low and slow cooking process, or you can make your own marinade.
Make sure your steak is completely marinated through for best results. Good luck cooking your flank steak low and slow!
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Sources
https://www.mychicagosteak.com/steak-university/flank-steak-cooking-tips-ideas