Marinated Grilled Flank Steak Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (2024)

FAQs

How long should you cook flank steak on the grill? ›

Follow the directions for how long to grill Flank steak. For the perfect medium-rare Flank steak, grill for 9–12 minutes, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F. Rest your Flank steak for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil.

For the maximum benefit, however, marinate for 12 hours. If your marinade contains citrus or a lot of vinegar like this flank steak marinade or marinades common for steak fajitas, don't marinate longer than 12 hours or the steak can become mushy; otherwise, you can marinate the steak for up to 24 hours.

The trick is to only cook for about 5 minutes on each side to medium rare. Any further and you'll risk overdoing it, turning your beloved flanks into hockey pucks. Allow resting for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Then, once it starts to cook, the collagen won't be able to tighten back up as much, making a more tender piece of steak. You'll still want to follow the rule of cutting against the grain and if you want the full benefit of the marinade, even flatten and tenderize the steak with a meat mallet before marinating.

Preheat your grill for direct heat grilling at 450 degrees F. Grill the steak for 4-5 minutes per side, or until an internal thermometer reads 130-135 degrees F for medium rare or around 145 degrees for medium. Remove the steak from the grill to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.

Grill the steak until it reaches 130°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 3 to 4 minutes per side depending on its thickness. (This is for medium-rare, which is best for flank steak; if you like your steak more well done, cook it 1 to 2 minutes more, but note this cut of meat will be tough).

Avoid marinating in metal containers as the metal can chemically react with the marinade and change the flavor of your dish. Not marinating in the refrigerator. Marinating in the refrigerator will help to prevent the growth of bacteria. Never marinate food at room temperature.

Soaking your meat in marinades helps add flavor while making your meat tender. However, depending on how thin you have cut your pieces of meat, the marinade may fail to penetrate all that deep. In such cases, poking holes in your meat will help all the ingredients fully absorb and not remain on the surface.

But if you marinate it for too long in an acid (or even in too much acid), you could turn the exterior to mush — which is one of the most common mistakes people make with flank steak.

Best Recipe Beef Flank Steak

Heat an outdoor grill to hot. Grill steak for 7 to 8 minutes per side to no more than “medium” or 145° F on a quality instant-read thermometer, like this Thermopop (please, no more well done than medium, or you will be disappointed). To serve, thinly slice against the grain on the diagonal.

Why is my flank steak always tough? ›

The critical reason for this is that flank steak, although lean and tasty, is tougher than other cuts of beef due to the many long, thin fibers running through it. To help tenderize flank steak, it is often marinated and cooked by grilling, stir-frying, broiling, or smoking.

This will help to break down the muscle fibers and tenderize the meat. Rest the steak before cutting: Let the flank steak rest for a while after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute. This helps the flank steak easier to cut and keep its moisture.

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

The big advantage of dry rubs, and the reason we love using them so much, is that they don't add any additional moisture to the exterior of a piece of meat the way that a marinade does.

If you're looking for a tender and flavorful way to cook flank steak, consider slow cooking. Slow cooking allows the meat to break down and become melt-in-your-mouth tender while infusing it with rich flavors.

Closed lid means convection

We want that result whether we're cooking a thin flank steak, or a thick slab of ribeye. We want it when we grill wispy asparagus, and also when we grill hearty potatoes.

If you're looking for a tender and flavorful way to cook flank steak, consider slow cooking. Slow cooking allows the meat to break down and become melt-in-your-mouth tender while infusing it with rich flavors.

To help tenderize flank steak, it is often marinated and cooked by grilling, stir-frying, broiling, or smoking. No matter the cooking method, with or without a marinade, you should always cut flank steak across the grain for the most delicious results.