minute steak
Definition
- Noun:
- A thin steak that can be cooked quickly: A minute steak is a cut of beef, typically from a tender part like the sirloin or round, that is sliced very thinly. This thinness allows it to be cooked in a very short time, often just a minute or two per side.
Usage
- Minute steaks are designed for rapid cooking methods such as pan-frying, grilling, or broiling.
- They are often tenderized mechanically (cubed) to increase tenderness further.
- They are commonly used in quick meals, sandwiches (like Philly cheesesteaks), or dishes where fast preparation is essential.
Examples
- Noun:
- For a quick dinner, she pan-fried a minute steak and served it with vegetables.
- The diner's specialty is a sandwich made with grilled minute steak and onions.
- Because they are so thin, minute steaks cook in just a few minutes.
Advanced Usage
- "Minute steak" as a concept for fast food: The term emphasizes speed, not just the cut of meat. It implies a style of cooking and serving suited to fast-paced meals.
- The rise of fast-casual restaurants popularized dishes based on the minute steak principle.
Variants and Related Words
- Cube steak (n): A similar thin steak that has been tenderized by pounding with a meat tenderizer, creating a pattern of cube-shaped indentations. All minute steaks may be cube steaks, but not all cube steaks are cut thin enough to be "minute" steaks.
- Breakfast steak (n): A thin steak often served for breakfast, similar to a minute steak.
- Pan-fry (v): A common cooking method for minute steaks.
Synonyms
- Fast-fry steak: A direct synonym emphasizing the quick cooking time.
- Thin-cut steak: Describes the physical characteristic that enables the fast cooking.
Related Phrases
- Cook in a minute: A descriptive phrase highlighting the main feature of the steak.
- The beauty of a minute steak is that it truly can cook in a minute.
Related Idioms
Noun
-
a thin steak that can be cooked quickly
