flank steak
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A cut of beef taken from the abdominal muscles or lower chest of the cow, specifically from the flank section. It is a lean, flat, and fibrous piece of meat known for its distinct grain.
Usage
Flank steak is a specific cut of beef. It is typically prepared by marinating and then cooked quickly using high-heat methods like grilling, broiling, or pan-searing. It is important to slice it thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness.
Examples
- For dinner, we marinated a flank steak in garlic and herbs before grilling it.
- The recipe calls for one pound of flank steak, cut into thin strips for stir-fry.
- Compared to filet mignon, flank steak is a more affordable but less tender cut.
Advanced Usage
- "to be cut from the flank steak": This phrase is not a standard idiom. The term "flank steak" is used literally to refer to the meat cut itself.
- In culinary contexts, it is often noted for its use in dishes like fajitas, London broil (though traditionally a different cut), and Asian stir-fries.
Variants and Related Words
- Flank (noun): The side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip. In butchery, this is the section of the animal from which the flank steak is cut.
- Skirt Steak (noun): A different, but similar, cut of beef from the diaphragm muscles. It is often confused with or used interchangeably with flank steak in some recipes, though they are distinct cuts.
Synonyms
- Beef flank: A more formal or descriptive term.
- London broil: This is primarily a cooking method (marinating and broiling) and a dish name. While flank steak is commonly used for it, other cuts like top round can also be prepared as London broil.
Related Phrases
- Against the grain: This is a crucial carving instruction for flank steak. It means to slice perpendicular to the long muscle fibers, which shortens them and makes the meat more tender to eat.
- Always slice cooked flank steak against the grain.
Related Idioms
There are no common idioms that feature the term "flank steak." Its usage is almost exclusively literal and culinary.
Noun
- a cut of beef from the flank of the animal