Making Basic Grilled Skirt Steak
How To Slice Skirt Steak
Just like flank steak, skirt steak should be cut against the grain with a sharp knife. This is important in keeping the tender nature of this cut of meat intact.
If sliced against the grain of the meat, skirt steak can become excessively chewy. It wont necessarily become tough as some cuts of meat are when sliced inappropriately, youll just find your mouth muscles having to do double duty!
Note these pictures actually show the steak cut with the grain . This is exactly what you shouldnt do. Ha.
A Quick Dry Rub Packs Flavor Into This Steak
Skirt steak, my favorite beef for quick grilling, benefits from rubs and marinades. My Meat Seasoning is excellent here. The skirt is cut from under the breast of the steer and rarely is thicker than 3/4 inch, which makes for quick cooking. When you buy skirt steak, ask for the outside cut, which is a little more tender than the inside cut .
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Beef Skirt Steak Types Inside Vs Outside Skirt Steak
The two skirt cuts look similar and can easily be confused with each other. However, once you understand what to look for it becomes easier to recognize which is which.
Below we have photographed them side by side and have slightly folded on side of the outside cut in order to make it fit on the board it is a bit longer if fully stretched.
Outside skirt steak. A thin cut located on the periphery of the animals diaphragm. Also known as thin skirt or outer skirt. It is very tender and boasts a rich beefy taste. Longer and thinner in comparison with inside skirt:
- it runs from two to just over four inches wide
- its length can easily surpass two feet
- on average about an inch to half an inch thick
- it has an accordion like coarse surface, good marbling and is typically covered by a thick memberane on one side and a layer of fat on the other
- average weight is twelve ounces but can easily reach twenty ounces
Inside skirt steak. A thicker cut contained partially within the plate and partially within the flank primal cuts. It is a flat, transverse abdominal muscle used to stabilize the rib cage and in result the meat is a bit tough.
Perfect Grilled Skirt Steak Recipe
- Prep Time:15 minutes
- Serving Size:4to 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2tablespoonslemon juice, fresh
- 2poundsskirt steak, trimmed
Directions
For the Steak:
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Which One Is Better
Outside skirt steak is by far the superior of the two cuts it is more flavorful and more tender than inside skirt. Consequently it commands a higher price per pound.
And as far as spectacular appearances go when the outside cut is grilled in the style of Argentinian entraña and presented in its full length as shown below it absolutely steals the show.
Cooking Skirt Steak In The Oven
- Preheat your broiler. Spray an oven-safe pan with cooking spray.
- Season steak with black pepper and, if desired, a little extra salt. Place the steak in the prepared pan.
- Place under the broiler for 3-4 minutes. Flip with tongs and broil for another 3-4 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 125 degrees for medium-rare.
- Rest steaks at room temperature for 5-10 minutes on a plate tented with foil before serving.
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Do You Close The Grill When Cooking Steak
When you cook with the grill open, you ll more effectively get a crispy, perfect-Maillard-reaction caramelization on the outside of the meat without overcooking the center. So, they can hold up to the heat chamber the lid creates, and in fact, the lid will help thicker cuts of meat or vegetables cook more evenly.
How To Cook Skirt Steak On A Stovetop
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Cooking Skirt Steak At Home
Skirt steak is a thin cut thats not typically found in your local supermarket. However, your butcher likely has some in stock. But, expect to pay a bit for it, as theres not much skirt steak from each animal to go around. When cooking at home, remember to stay vigilant to avoid overcooking. This quick-to-cook cut can get overdone fast if youre not careful.
Want some at-home cooking inspiration for skirt steak? Try our Grilled Thai Coconut-Lime Skirt Steak recipe or this Fresh Garlic Cilantro Steak Sauce recipe, which is perfect for kicking skirt steak up a notch or two.
How To Cook Skirt Steak On A Grill
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Need Some Flavor Ideas
The robust flavors of skirt steak can handle some hearty dry rubs or marinades.
Try creating a customized blend using coarse salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, thyme, oregano, mustard, chili powder, cayenne pepper, or coriander, or use this recipe for Steak Dry Rub!
Get creative with marinades like citrus juice, chopped fresh herbs, garlic, red wine vinegar, or soy sauce for an Asian twist.
What You Need To Know About Cooking Skirt Steak
A few simple tricks for working with skirt steak bring out the best in this exceptionally flavorful cut of meat. Credit: Marge Perry
Skirt steak has an exceptionally beefy, savory flavor and a satisfyingly chewy texture. It is a long thin strip of meat that is best cooked quickly over high heat making it ideal for getting dinner on the table fast!
There are two types of skirt steak: the outside and inside skirt. The outside skirt is more desirable: it is more tender, a little thicker and not quite as wide as the inside skirt. The outside skirt is about three to four inches wide and less than 1 inch thick. When you buy it in the grocery store, chances are the long piece of meat is folded over in the package. To make it more manageable, I generally cut that long piece across in half to cook it.
Cooking skirt steak is a quick business: 3 to 4 minutes per side gives you perfect medium-rare meat. Marinating adds good flavor, but when youre in a hurry you can simply season it with salt and pepper and still have a tasty meal.
This is a perfect use for a cast iron skillet but you can follow the same instructions for any other skillet, including nonstick as well.
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How To Season Skirt Steak
Seasoning Skirt Steak
A lot of skirt steak recipes suggest marinating the meat before cooking it, especially if you are going to grill it and because of its looser structure, it will absorb the marinade flavors quite well.
Remember that if you want to tenderize your steak, try a simple tenderizing method. Marinating doesnt tenderize it and only helps to make it more flavorful.
After you have prepared the meat, now it is time to start the cooking process.
We are going to explain the step-by-step process for several cooking methods including the oven, grill, sous vide etc.
In the next section, we are going to show you how to cook skirt steak in oven.
How To Cook Skirt Steak In A Slow Cooker
In order for you to cook a skirt steak in a slow cooker, you will need a total of 15 minutes of preparation time and about 8 hours of cooking time.
Step 1: Season the meat with salt, pepper, and any other preferred ingredient and place it into a slow cooker.
Step 2: Set the setting to High and cook it for 4 hours. After 4 hours, turn the steak in the other side and press down into the liquid and continue cooking until a fork easily passes through the meat, usually for another 4 hours.
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Whats The Difference Between Skirt Steak And Flank Steak
Both skirt steak and flank steak are lean cuts of beef that are often grilled, pan-seared on the stovetop, or stir-fried.
Flank steak comes from the flank primal, the abdominal area right next to the short plate, where the skirt is located. It has a less intense beefy flavor compared to the skirt, and it is noticeably thicker.
A good visual cue is that skirt steak has its grain running across the width of the meat, whereas flank runs lengthwise. With both steaks, you want to cut them across the grain to end up with a tender slice.
How Long Should You Cook Skirt Steak
Cook skirt steak between 4 to 9 minutes, depending on the doneness. Rare steak takes 4 minutes to cook. Medium rare takes around 5 minutes. Medium takes 6-7 minutes. Medium-well takes around 8 minutes. Well done takes 9-10 minutes. Keep in mind cooking times can be different depending on how you cook skirt steak .
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Do I Need To Pan Sear Skirt Steak Before Air Frying
Pan searing the steak before cooking in the air fryer isnt necessary.
However, if you want to mimic the crispy edged outside of the steak youd get from grilling, you may choose to add this step to the recipe.
If you choose to pan-sear the skirt steak, youll want to reduce the cooking time in the air fryer by 1-2 minutes.
Again, its best to go by what the meat thermometer says rather than a specific time but cooking time will be reduced since youre essentially partially cooking it in a pan first.
To pan sear, heat a cast iron skillet over high heat with a bit of oil or ghee. Once hot, sear both sides of the seasoned skirt steak until charred and browned. Transfer to the air fryer and cook as directed.
I generally try to avoid unnecessary extra steps when using kitchen appliances like the air fryer or slow cooker and find that with the air fryer, preheating the appliance can work just as well as pan-searing.
How Long To Cook Skirt Steak In The Air Fryer
Air fry the skirt steak for about 6 minutes rotating the trays or flipping the steak in the air fryer basket half way through.
Cook time will depend on your preference for cooked beef and how thick the skirt steak is. Expect a 1-3 minute variation for these factors.
Using a meat thermometer is the best way to assess doneness for steak.
For medium-rare, remove the steak from the air fryer when the internal temperature has reached 130-135°F in the middle.
Once cooked to your desired temperature, remove from the air fryer and transfer steak to a cutting board.
Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to serve. Always do this with meat before slicing, especially a tender cut like skirt steak or these air fryer lamb chops.
Serve with fresh lime wedges and chopped cilantro.
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Best Way To Cook Skirt Steak
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If you like to eat steak at your favorite steak house, your favorites must be a filet, ribeye, prime rib or a sirloin. These cuts are delicious, especially of cooked the way you want it. But have you ever tried skirt steak? According to one chef who owns a steakhouse, the skirt steak is his favorite cut because it is tasty, quick is easy to prepare. Are you curious about what is the best way to cook skirt steak?
This article will teach you all you want to know about skirt steak, including how to prepare them to perfection. Read on, and we will show you how.
In this post we’ll cover:
Best And Easy Marinade For Skirt Steak
Skirt steak is full of flavor unlike other steak cuts like filet or other tender cuts of beef. And because it is loose, it can absorb full flavorings you need to go easy on it. You can use soy sauce-based marinades, peppercorn crusts, spice rubs, fresh herbs, olive oil, red wine, capers, and lemon. Some may overpower the meat, so you need to be careful.
The steak also needs a shorter marinating time because it is porous and tender. The flavors tend to bind faster. Marinating the skirt should not take more than 20 minutes, or you will lose the meat flavor.
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