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

1. a cut of beef from the flank of the animal