Flank Steak Marinade

I’ve been making flank steak for years, but it wasn’t until we bought our first state grill a mates of summers agone that I really started perfecting it. I was first drawn to this trim because it’s budget-friendly and cooks quickly, which makes it cleanable for engaged weeknights aliases casual play grilling.

Back then, I kept things elemental pinch conscionable brackish and pepper. The steak was fine, but it ne'er had that “wow” factor. That changed erstwhile I began experimenting pinch marinades, and nan type you spot present quickly became my go-to. 

What makes this nan champion flank steak marinade is nan equilibrium of soy sauce, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of chromatic (or brownish sugar). Paired pinch precocious power and a speedy navigator time, it transforms this thin trim into a tender, juicy steak that group tin hardly judge is flank steak.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The afloat database of ingredients is in nan look paper below, but aft making this look countless times, I’ve gathered a fewer notes connected what makes these cardinal ingredients truthful important:

Olive oil: Use a good-quality other virgin oliva lipid here. Nowadays, my favourite marque is Garcia de la Cruz (affiliate link) pinch its soft and earthy flavor. You’ll besides want to support a small other lipid to grease your grill grates correct earlier grilling to forestall nan nutrient from sticking to nan grill. 

Soy sauce: Soy condiment is nan concealed constituent that gives nan steak its deep, salty, savory, and umami kick. I’ve tried utilizing conscionable brackish before, but soy condiment adds truthful overmuch much depth. If you’re pursuing a gluten-free diet, tamari aliases coconut aminos activity conscionable arsenic well.

Apple Cider Vinegar: As nan superior acerb successful this recipe, vinegar helps tenderize nan meat. I usage pome cider vinegar successful this recipe, arsenic it is commonly recovered successful astir households. However, balsamic vinegar aliases reddish vino vinegar would besides work. Keep successful mind, though, depending connected nan vinegar you use, that nan spirit floor plan of your marinade will beryllium somewhat different.

For example, utilizing an aged balsamic from Modena will springiness you a deeper, sweeter taste.

Lemon aliases lime juice: I urge utilizing freshly squeezed juice for nan champion taste. I usually spell pinch citrus juice for its somewhat tangier flavor, but lime juice useful conscionable arsenic well. While freshly squeezed juice is best, successful a pinch, bottled juice will activity too.

Dijon mustard: When it comes to mustard, I for illustration to usage Dijon mustard for its strong, tangy flavors, but if you for illustration a spot of texture successful your marinade, you tin besides usage grainy mustard. Yellow mustard will activity successful a pinch, though it has a milder taste.

Sweetener of your choice: A mini magnitude of sweetener helps equilibrium nan tangy and umami flavors of nan marinade. I usage chromatic successful my recipe, but brownish sweetener would besides work.  Either way, beryllium judge to whisk it good truthful that it’s afloat dissolved to forestall nan sweetener burning connected nan grill.

Fresh ail cloves: For nan champion taste, I urge utilizing freshly minced garlic. But if you for illustration a milder flavor, ail powder useful too.

Seasoning for Flank Steak: For nan spices successful this marinade, I’ve recovered that saccharine paprika and crushed cumin activity best, but if you for illustration a smokier flavor, you tin switch successful smoked paprika. You tin besides adhd caller aliases dried herbs that complement nan remainder of your meal. Choose ones that echo nan flavors successful your broadside dishes for a harmonious pairing.

Flank steak: When buying flank steak, look for a trim that is good marbled and has a agleam reddish colour that looks caller and moist. It is champion to take a flank steak that is moreover successful thickness. My look calls for 1 ½ lbs of flank steak that is  ¾ to 1 inch thick, which is perfect for grilling.

How to Marinate Flank Steak? Step-by-Step Instructions

Marinating flank steak is 1 of nan simplest ways to guarantee it turns retired tender and afloat of flavor. It really is arsenic easy arsenic whisking a fewer ingredients together successful a ample vessel and letting nan steak soak up each that goodness.

Here’s precisely really I do it pinch immoderate adjuvant tips connected each step:

Step 1 – Make nan marinade: In a mixing bowl, harvester oliva oil, soy sauce, vinegar, citrus juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Whisk until everything is afloat incorporated and nan marinade looks smooth. 

I find it helps to commencement pinch nan bedewed ingredients first, past adhd successful nan seasonings truthful everything blends evenly. This is particularly adjuvant erstwhile utilizing ingredients for illustration chromatic aliases Dijon mustard, arsenic it ensures they dissolve smoothly and don’t clump.

Step 2 – Add nan steak: Use a large, shallow crockery (ideally 1 pinch a tight-fitting lid) that’s large capable to clasp your flank steak successful a azygous furniture truthful it tin dishonesty level and beryllium afloat coated successful nan marinade. 

If you’re moving pinch a larger trim aliases want little cleanup, a resealable integrative container will activity arsenic well. Pour nan marinade complete nan top, making judge nan full aboveground is covered.

I for illustration to property nan steak mildly into nan marinade to thief it really soak in. If you’re utilizing a integrative bag, seal it tightly and massage nan marinade into nan nutrient to administer nan liquid evenly. 

Step 3 – Cover and marinate: Cover your crockery pinch a tight-fitting lid (or seal your bag). If you tin scheme ahead, marinating overnight successful nan fridge is my go-to, but moreover a speedy 1-hour marinade will still springiness you bully flavor. Depending connected your schedule, here’s really I do both:

• 1 Hour Marinade: If each you person is an hour, you tin fto it beryllium astatine room somesthesia connected your room counter, which helps return nan chill disconnected nan meat, allowing it to navigator much evenly later. 
• Overnight Marinade (preferred method): If you tin scheme ahead, marinating it overnight successful nan fridge is moreover better. Just don’t spell past 24 hours; nan acids successful nan marinade will commencement to alteration nan texture, and alternatively of tender, nan nutrient tin move a small mushy.

How To Cook Marinated Flank Steak?

Once your steak is marinated and fresh to go, it’s clip to cook. While my preferred method for cooking is connected nan grill, I cognize that it is not ever possible. The bully news is that you tin navigator your marinated steak connected nan stove aliases successful nan oven.

Below are nan steps for each method:

On The Grill

Step 1 – Preheat nan grill: When it comes to grilling marinated beef flank steak, we’re aiming for precocious heat, astir 500°F. You want that grill bully and basking truthful you get a bully sear connected nan steak without overcooking nan inside. 

While nan grill heats up, springiness nan grates a bully scrape to region immoderate residue. Then, usage a insubstantial towel dipped successful lipid to overgarment nan grates generously to forestall sticking and thief you get those beautiful grill marks.

Step 2 – Prepare nan steak: Remove nan steak from nan marinade, letting nan excess drip off. We don’t want it soaking bedewed erstwhile it hits nan grill, which tin origin flare-ups and pain nan extracurricular earlier nan wrong cooks. 

As nan first broadside cooks, you tin spoon a small of nan leftover marinade complete nan apical to support nan uncooked broadside moist. However, erstwhile you flip nan steak, you should discard immoderate marinade that has been successful interaction pinch earthy meat.

Step 3 – Grill: Place nan steak straight connected nan grill and navigator for astir 4 to 5 minutes per broadside for medium-rare. The champion measurement to find if it has reached your perfect doneness is to usage an instant-read thermometer (affiliate link). If you’re not judge what somesthesia to purpose for, here’s a speedy guideline to thief you navigator your steak conscionable nan measurement you for illustration it:

• Medium-rare: 130 to 135°F soul somesthesia (3 to 4 minutes per side)
• Medium: 140 to 145°F soul somesthesia (4 to 5 minutes per side)
• Medium-well: 150 to 155°F soul somesthesia (5 to 6 minutes per side)

I usually spell for a medium-rare to mean level of doneness pinch flank steak to support it juicy and tender, but consciousness free to set based connected your preference. Just remember, since it’s a thin cut, going overmuch past mean tin commencement to barren it out.

Step 4 – Rest earlier slicing: Once your steak is cooked to your liking, transportation it to a cutting committee aliases platter and fto it remainder for astir 5 to 10 minutes. This will springiness nan juices clip to redistribute, truthful erstwhile you portion into it, they enactment successful nan nutrient alternatively of moving retired and keeping each wound juicy and tender.

In The Oven

I’ll beryllium honest, my favourite measurement of cooking flank steak is connected nan grill, but let’s look it, sometimes grilling is not an option. The bully news is that you tin get a akin consequence utilizing your oven’s broiler, and it’s conscionable arsenic easy.

Step 1 – Turn nan broiler on: Set your oven to nan “broil” mounting connected high. For nan champion results, spot nan oven rack successful nan precocious 3rd section, astir 5-6 inches from nan power source.

Step 2 – Prepare nan pan: Line a baking expanse pinch parchment insubstantial (or aluminum foil), past group a ligament rack complete it. The rack is cardinal because it allows basking aerial to move wholly astir nan nutrient arsenic it roasts, helping america create crispy edges and evenly cooked flank steak.

Step 3 – Broil: Remove nan steak from nan marinade and fto nan excess drip disconnected earlier transferring it to your prepared expanse pan. Broil for 5-6 minutes connected each side, aliases until it reaches your desired doneness. The champion measurement to cognize erstwhile it’s fresh is by inserting an instant-read thermometer into nan thickest portion of nan meat. For a speedy guideline connected what temperatures to purpose for, spot nan doneness somesthesia floor plan successful nan grilling conception above.

Step 4 – Rest and slice: When nan cooking clip is completed, transportation nan steak to a plate, screen loosely pinch foil, and fto it remainder for 5-10 minutes earlier slicing.

On The Stove Top:

When it comes to cooking your marinated steak connected nan stove top, a cast-iron skillet useful champion arsenic it retains power very well. Simply:

Step 1 – Heat nan skillet: Grab a ample (10 aliases 12 inch) formed robust skillet and power it complete medium-high power until sizzling hot. You tin cheque if it is basking capable by spraying it pinch a driblet of water. If it evaporates correct away, it should beryllium bully to go.

Step 2 – Prepare nan steak: Remove nan marinated flank steak from nan marinade, making judge to region immoderate excess. This is an important measurement successful that excess liquid will steam nan nutrient alternatively of searing it. I moreover urge patting it barren pinch a fewer sheets of insubstantial towels to make judge that it is arsenic “dry” arsenic possible.

Step 3 – Cook nan steak: Transfer nan steak to nan skillet and sear for 3-4 minutes aliases until nicely browned. Flip nan steak and navigator for different 3-5 minutes, depending connected nan level of doneness you prefer.

What To Serve It With?

One of nan things I emotion astir about this flank steak marinade look is really versatile nan steak turns out. You tin service it connected its ain for a elemental meal aliases build it into bowls, tacos, aliases hearty salads. No matter really you bask it, present are immoderate of my favourite recipes to information retired nan meal:

Grilled Vegetables: If you’re making this arsenic a summertime meal, it pairs beautifully pinch grilled vegetables for illustration Grilled Eggplant aliases Grilled Corn connected nan Cob. Both are easy to hole alongside nan steak and bring that aforesaid fresh-off-the-grill sensation to nan plate.

Salad: My Grilled Flank Steak Salad is simply a fantastic, meal-worthy crockery that is everything you want successful a vessel connected a lukewarm summertime dinner. If you want a different option, my Original Caesar Salad, tangy Mediterranean Pasta Salad, aliases creamy Coleslaw pinch Greek Yogurt each complement nan steak perfectly without overpowering it.

Potatoes: If you’re looking to adhd thing hearty, effort a broadside of crispy potatoes. I urge my Fingerling Potatoes successful an Air Fryer for a speedy action aliases my elemental Smashed Fingerling Potatoes.

Butter Sauce: And don’t hide a drizzle of thing buttery to decorativeness it off. A spoonful of Roasted Garlic Butter aliases my elemental buttery Garlic Sauce takes this steak complete nan apical and ties nan full repast together.

How To Store, Freeze, and Reheat?

If you person leftovers, this grilled flank steak keeps good and makes for an easy 2nd meal. Remember, nan cardinal to awesome leftovers is preserving moisture. By pursuing these elemental steps, you tin bask this delicious flank steak days aliases moreover weeks later pinch nan aforesaid awesome taste:

Storage:

If you’re readying to shop leftovers, I urge keeping nan steak whole. It helps fastener successful moisture and makes it easier to reheat without overcooking. Once it’s cooled, wrap it up aliases transportation it to an airtight instrumentality and shop it successful nan fridge for up to 3 days. 

If it’s already sliced, that’s okay, you’ll conscionable want to reheat it successful a cast-iron skillet pinch a scatter of h2o to bring backmost immoderate of that texture.

Freezing:

If you scheme connected freezing it, I urge freezing nan cooked steak whole. Let it cool wholly first, past wrap it tightly successful parchment insubstantial aliases integrative wrap to thief forestall freezer burn. Place it successful a freezer-safe container and property retired arsenic overmuch aerial arsenic you tin earlier sealing. It’ll support good successful nan freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re fresh to bask it again, thaw it successful nan fridge overnight. For a quicker option, submerge nan sealed container successful a vessel of acold h2o and fto it beryllium for astir 30 minutes.

Reheating: 

If you stored your steak whole, nan champion measurement to reheat it is successful nan oven. Preheat to 275°F, wrap nan steak loosely successful foil, and lukewarm it for 10 to 15 minutes aliases until heated through. Covering is important arsenic it will thief fastener successful moisture and support nan steak from drying out.

If your steak is already sliced, I urge reheating it successful a cast-iron skillet complete mean heat. Add a scatter of h2o aliases beef broth to support it moist, and lukewarm conscionable until heated through. This helps bring backmost immoderate of that texture and gives nan edges a flimsy crisp without overcooking nan inside.

Whichever method you use, reheat debased and slow. Since flank steak is lean, precocious power tin barren it retired fast.

FAQs

Other Steak Recipes You Might Like:

If you enjoyed this easy flank steak recipe, location are plentifulness of different ways to bask it too:

• For an easy weeknight meal aliases a get-together, you can’t spell incorrect pinch my Flank Steak Tacos. These brace perfectly pinch caller toppings and lukewarm tortillas.
• If you’re craving thing hearty and satisfying, my Chimichurri Steak Sandwich is ever a hit.  Imagine perfectly cooked steak wrapped successful chimichurri condiment successful a soft, crusty bread. It’s everything you want successful a sandwich.
• Or if you’re successful nan temper for thing lighter, effort nan cult-favorite, Houston’s Thai Steak Noodle Salad for an awesome yet easy steak meal recipe.

Photos by Tanya Pilgrim.