Flat iron steak, also known as top blade steak, was discovered by researchers at the University of Nebraska while trying to find uses for traditionally less desirable cuts of beef. It is a very tender cut from the area behind a cow’s shoulder and benefits from being marinated before grilling or stir frying.
Flat iron steak is a cut of beef that was discovered by researchers at the University of Nebraska. The researchers were trying to figure out how to use the traditionally less desirable cuts of beef and, in the process, found this cut of beef to be extremely tender. The cut is also called top blade steak, referring to the region of the cow it comes from.
The steak is cut from the area just behind a cow’s shoulder. Traditionally, the large cut of meat from this region has been called a blade roast. The meat was generally considered tough, suitable for stewing or roasting but not for grilling and other delicate cooking processes. However, closer examination of the meat has led to the discovery that this long-held opinion is actually false.
The top of this cut is indeed quite tender, but it needs to be separated from the rest of the roast first. Each shoulder actually produces two flat iron steaks, which are connected by a band of dense connective tissue. This tissue has led people to believe that steaks around it would be stringy and tough, as are most cuts of meat surrounded by connective tissue. This turned out not to be the case; in fact, flat iron steak is one of the most tender cuts of meat.
The origins of the name are a topic of debate. The most obvious explanation is that the steak looks like an old-fashioned triangular flat iron. Some people have also suggested that the steak was named for its supposed toughness, which would have rivaled a solid metal flat iron.
Like many steaks, flat iron steak definitely benefits from being marinated. It does very well grilled and can even be prepared as other steaks would. Just as with a premium steak, overcooking tends to make the meat stringy and dry, rather than tender and moist. It can also be cut into strips for fajitas and stir fries.
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