Grilled Flap Steak

High-quality meats cost a lot, so I'll often go for one of the cheaper cuts and eat it over a few days. This particular cheaper cut is called flap steak. You might not have heard of flap meat, but this is a hidden gem you definitely want to try.

I'm not always a fan of marinating a steak. The reason that you buy an expensive high-quality steak to be able to taste that wonderful beef flavor. However, certain cuts (e.g., flap, flank, hanger, and tri tip) are perfect candidates for taking on a flavorful marinade that helps tenderize them at the same time.

What Is Flap Steak and Is It Tender?

Flap meat comes from the "short sirloin" section in the belly of the cow. Flap is usually a long, narrow cut, with excellent marbling. It's cheap, it cooks quickly, it has great flavor and has so many uses! Flap steak gets even better the next day after cooking when all the flavors meld together even further.

It's not a particularly tender cut of meat, with long muscle fibers. But that makes it the perfect cut to marinate, slice and enjoy in so many ways.

Making a Tough Cut Tender

Just because a cut of meat is tough, doesn't mean every bite can't be deliciously tender. Here are a few ways to help make it flap steak nice and tender.

• Use an acidic marinade - Even just adding a nice olive oil to the marinade has acid that helps break down the meat. You can also add a little vinegar.
• Use a meat tenderizer - Either a mallet, the spiky tool or even an enzyme powder.
• Cook it hot and fast - That's where the direct heat of a hot grill comes in. You can also use a cast iron skillet.
• Slicing properly - Slicing against the grain is key to tenderness. I highly recommend a granton blade slicing knife that will slice through meat like butter.

For this recipe, we're basically doing everything except the tenderizer, although olive oil is slightly acidic and will help tenderize very slightly.

The Marinade: Shallot, Garlic and Rosemary

This marinade is the secret weapon for this steak recipe. It tenderizes and adds a flavor that complements the beef. This particular recipe makes a paste, rather than a liquid. If you already have your own go-to marinade, feel free to experiment and add whatever ingredients you like, or remove what you don't.

Simply combine the shallots, garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. You can use a food processor to make a purée or use a hand immersion blender so it wasn't quite as smooth, which is totally fine. Just know that the rosemary doesn't get as chopped and the flavor will be more subtle, which isn't a bad thing.

How Long to Marinate Steak?

The general rule is: The longer you marinate, the stronger the flavors will be. Since this is a strongly flavored marinade, you can marinate the steak for as little as an hour, but I really prefer to let it sit on the meat overnight. This allows the marinade to penetrate and tenderize the flap steak. You can also tenderize the meat with a spiky tenderizing tool to aid the marinade and tenderize the steak even more, but I haven't found this necessary.

Special Tools & Equipment Used

• Thermapen One Instant Read Probe Thermometer
• Immersion Blender
• Victorinox Fibrox Pro Granton Slicing Knife

Top Tips for Grilling Flap Steak

• Study the grain before cooking so you know which direction you need to slice against.
• Wipe off the excess marinade before grilling as it can burn.
• Gill for about 4 to 6 minutes per side over high direct heat, or until the internal temp reaches 130° F for medium-rare.
• Medium-rare is the sweet spot. Rare isn't enough for this cut and it can be chewy. Too cooked and it can get tough as well.
• Don't be afraid of a little char on the grilled meat. Just not on the whole steak; it gives it another flavor element and smokiness.
• Rest it uncovered for 10-15 minutes, then slice against the grain. Slicing against the grain cuts those long muscle fibers for a better texture when served.
• Flap steak is best cooked on the grill, but can be seared in a heavy cast-iron skillet and will turn out great as well.

Meal Inspiration from This 3-Pound Flap Steak

Grill one big steak and make six delicious and unique meals out of it.

• Steak and potatoes with grilled broccolini.
• Steak tacos with avocado, fresh salsa and pickled red onions.
• Fajitas: Sautée up some onions and bell peppers in some oil with a dash of cumin and a pinch of chili powder.
• Steak quesadillas with tortillas, cheddar, Monterey Jack, avocado and pico de gallo.
• Steak and fried eggs for breakfast (or dinner).
• Steak salad with a fresh heirloom tomato salad or arugula with a lemon vinaigrette.

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This recipe was originally published December 4, 2020. It was last updated December 2, 2022 with useful information.