Monday, October 19, 2009

Cuts of Steak and How to Cook Them

By K.C. Kudra

Do you have trouble telling your steaks apart? Many of us do, especially if we eat mostly steak prepared for us in restaurants. That can make it pretty tricky if you decide you would rather start preparing your own gourmet steak dinners. Here is a look at what kind of steaks you can buy and how they are best prepared, to help you in your steak cooking endeavors.

Rib Eye - This is one of the best all around cuts, since its high level of fat makes it hard to do badly, with the steak ending up juicy, tender, and flavorful in most cases. It is a good choice for novices, since its great pan fried, grilled, and broiled.

New York Strip - A tender, versatile cut of meat, New York Strip is also pretty flavorful, and is prepared best by grilling or pan-frying. Skip broiling this one, and trim fat only after you have cooked the steak to retain the most flavor.

Tenderloin - Steaks from the tenderloin are among the most expensive cuts available, but are lean and extremely tender, due to the limited use these muscles receive. The low fat of this steak causes many people to wrap it in bacon before cooking or sear it in butter. High in price, tenderloin is usually a choice for important occasions.

T-Bone - The classic steak most of us think about this combines the New York Strip and a tenderloin. Porterhouse steaks are a type of t-bone steak cut further up the loin, and are known for size and tenderness. T-bones can be hard to cook, due to the difficulty of cooking them evenly. Do not choose this one if you like well-done meat. This steak is hard to pan cook or sear, so try grilling your t-bones or broiling them instead.

Flank Steak - Long and thin, this is a cut of meat used traditionally in London Broil, but that is not the only option. Consider flank steak on the grill when you are serving a lot of people. Remember that although it is more flavorful than many high-end steaks, it is also pretty expensive. That means you should marinate your flank steak and cook it whole, slicing across the grain on a diagonal to serve.

Skirt Steak - A lot like a flank steak, this is a piece of meat that can be cooked a number of different ways. Many choose a pan, but cooking steak on a grill works well here, too. Use this kind of steak in traditional fajitas and have a great Mexican or Tex-Mex themed cookout.

Top Sirloin - This popular steak is affordable, and more tender than flank and skirt steaks. It is tougher than the fanciest cuts, however, and is very lean. Pound and marinate it for cooking on the grill, or use it in kebabs.

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