So this is not as much a flat iron steak recipe as it is basic instructions on how to cook a flat iron steak. Why? Because I firmly believe in simply grilled steak, served with whatever vegetables happen to look nice at that moment.
That said, I will give you pointers on what to serve with your steak below.
First things first: A flat iron steak is a particular cut of meat from the shoulder of the animal. All four-footed critters have them, but to make it worth it, at least to my mind, you need a large animal.
Why? Because it is cut from the top and bottom of a blade roast, which as you might guess comes from within the shoulder blade. That stretch of muscle on anything smaller than a really big deer is just too small to bother with.
Mostly we get flat iron steaks from cows, but what you see in the pictures is from an elk I hunted in Oregon a while back. My advice is to always seek out your flat iron in elk, moose, bison, caribou and big deer. Or, you know, buy a beef flat iron steak from the store.
If you want to know how to cut a flat iron steak, click that link; it’s my tutorial.
Side note: If you are Australian and reading this, you call this steak a oyster blade steak. If you are British, it’s known as a butler’s steak. If you are a Spanish speaker, look for marucha sin hueso.
Flat iron steak is tender, which is why is it becoming more and more popular; some say it is the second-most tender steak on an animal, after the tenderloin (filet mignon). I find it to be every bit as tender as the backstrap (ribeye), but not nearly as tender as the aptly named tenderloin. Still, the flat iron steak’s chief advantage is that it is a tender steak cut from the shoulder, which is a good thing.
OK, on to grilling your flat iron steak. Here are some tips:
- It is a narrow steak similar to flank steak in that you want it to be cool when it hits the heat — not like a thick ribeye, which you want at room temperature. This prevents it from overcooking while you wait for those pretty grill marks.
- Salt it the morning you plan on cooking it. Give your flat iron steak a nice dusting of salt on both sides before you go to work, and leave it, uncovered, in the fridge. Ideally, you’d do this on a rack over a tray to catch the juices, or you can just flip it once during the day.
- Because it is thin, flat iron steak is a good candidate for a marinade. I have a list of venison marinades here, and they work on beef, too.
- Get your grill screaming hot. Wood is best, followed by charcoal, followed by gas. Use the wood that makes you happy. I like charcoal + scraps of dry wood from my back yard. No pine or other conifers, though!
- Clean your grill grates. Let them get hot, then brush them clean with a wire grill brush. I am always shocked at how few people do this…
- Oil your grates right before you put the steak on by dipping a paper towel in some oil and, using tongs, smearing it around the grates. Coat your flat iron steak with a little oil, too.
- Set the steak on the hot grill and leave it there for a minimum of 5 minutes. You want at least one side to have pretty grill marks. Flip the steak and then use the finger test for doneness to determine how much longer you need. It won’t be more than another 5 minutes.
- Once done, rest your flat iron steak for 5 minutes. During this time, grind any black pepper or other spice mix you feel like using all over the steak. If you put it on before you grill, it will burn and often turn bitter.
- Slice across the grain on the short axis of the meat. This is pretty obvious, but I thought I’d mention it.
What if you don’t want to grill your flat iron steak? Pan sear it. Follow the same timing as on the grill, with your pan at as high a heat as you can stand. It’ll smoke, so keep that in mind. Use a high smoke-point oil, too, like canola, sunflower or grapeseed oil.
OK, here is my general idea of a flat iron steak recipe: It’s best sliced thin, and, since I am a hunter and don’t get too many of these steaks each year, I like to highlight it. In the winter, I love a thinly sliced flat iron draped over, say, mushroom risotto. In the warmer months, it’s steak salad all the way.
And when I do steak salad, it’s a crunchy salad, not greens. I find that sturdier vegetables hold up to the slices of steak and its juices better than leafy things. But that’s just me.
Grilled Flat Iron Steak
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 pounds flat iron steaks
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, to taste
Instructions
- Salt your flat iron steaks on both sides and let them sit, uncovered, in the fridge up to overnight, and at least 1 hour. I like to set them on a rack over a tray to catch any juices. This preseasons your meat and will help develop a better crust on the grill.
- Get your grill very hot and clean and oil your grates as I described above. When you start this process, take your steaks out of the fridge to warm up a bit. You still want them cool, though, so no more than about 15 minutes.
- Grill your flat iron steaks hard on one side, a good 5 minutes without touching them. Flip and grill to the doneness you like, anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes, depending on the heat and the thickness of your steak. Use the finger test for doneness to determine this.
- Move your steaks from the grill, coat them with freshly cracked black pepper - or whatever spices and herbs you like - and let it rest 5 minutes. Slice across the grain (the narrow end), and squeeze citrus juice over it all.
Using your recipe for Grilled Flat Iron steaks, I christened my new Weber LP gas grill earlier today. (My Maiden voyage using a gas grill) The result was a steak as tender as a baby’s bottom. I dry rubbed the 7.5 lb. steak the nte before & fridged it overnight. I grilled the FI for 5 minutes on the 1st side & 3-4 minutes on the 2nd side. Excellent grill marks and color.
We have had this twice now and will repeat frequently.
So good and so easy!
Thanks!
Never made a flatiron steak before. Found a marinade recipe but not a lot of cooking info to go with it. Thus I discovered your website!
!WOW! was it ever tender and oh so delish! Super appreciated the meat cooking tips!
This is going in the regular rotation.
Can’t thank you enough!
Hi Hank, We thought we would marinate this steak overnight. My question is, if we marinate it, do we still do the salt treatment?
Juli: Only if there is no salt in your marinade.
Do you close the grille top or not?
Mart: I do not close the grill top.
Hey Hank. Great job. My family has been in the restaurant business since 1941. Hardest thing to accomplish is providing someone a mental image of a cooking process. You did a wonderful job with that. Thanks again. Joe
I am not good at grilling..the green egg grill and I have a love hate relationship. Your recipe was so simple and the steak was perfect!
I grilled at 400 5 min 1st side, 3 min other side..or was perfect MR.
I did use some meat tenderizer and I did hit this steak a few times with a rolling pin bc in the past this cut of meat has been tough.
This steak was Amazing!!
Hi, we like our steak pink not red, how long should it be cooked for that type of doness?
Debbie: It is impossible to give you a set time. It all depends on how hot your grill is, how cold your steak was when it went on, if it’s windy or cold, and how long you rest your meat after. Remember you can always cook things a bit more, you can’t uncook them.
If we are using gas-what flame setting low-medium-high?
DK: High. You want to grill this hot and fast.
Delicious food. I will definitely try it. Thanks for sharing. Keep posting
Hi Hank! Remember me? Gail, worked for Asm Aghazarian! Great to see you here!! I’m going to try this tonight!
Gail: Hi! Yes, I do. That seems like a lifetime ago…
I’m making it tonight. Love the simplicity. I’m certain it’ll be great.
Thanks for adding the name is Spanish. You guys made my day with this brilliant recipe! 😀
Thanks for the info. Great steak for 2.
Haven’t made it. Yet, but I’m doing it tonite for company. This is exactly how I love my steak! Can’t wait!!!
This mouth watering, for real. Really delicious
This was so good! My mistake was that I did not make enough! I can’t wait to make this again on father’s day to surprise my father-in-law.
Tried this the other night. Outstanding. I am just sad I used to turn this cut of wild game into stew meat.
Thanks Hank,
Totally Awesome! Love Flat Iron Steak, Thanks for the tips… especially about applying the seasoning after the steak is removed.