Flank Steak Marinade (and easy methods to grill it!)

Flank steak is scrumptious—if you put together and prepare dinner it the proper means. Because it’s such a lean minimize, marinating it earlier than cooking can go a good distance in the direction of making it tasty and tender. Marinating flank steak helps break down the robust fibers, guaranteeing a juicy, tender outcome. And, after all, it additionally infuses the meat with taste, which is one other bonus! 

This straightforward flank steak marinade can be utilized to make grilled flank steak, as within the recipe card under, or you may pan-sear it, broil it, and even make air fryer steak with it. Nonetheless you prepare dinner it, it’s going to be fan-flipping-tastic as a result of this marinade has simply the proper steadiness of acidic, candy, and savory flavors, plus thyme for an natural observe that makes the steak delectable with roasted fingerling potatoes.

Greatest Flank Steak EVER

Marinade is a should for flank steak. Flank steak is cheap in comparison with different cuts of steak, however that’s as a result of it wants a bit additional TLC to coax out its deliciousness. A marinade is the easiest way to rework this finances minimize of beef into one thing that may get everybody operating to the desk.

On a regular basis elements. A lot of the elements you’ll want to make your personal flank steak marinade are in your fridge and pantry already. (My hen thigh marinade is comparable!) Selfmade marinade is a lot better-tasting than bottled and it’s inexpensive to make your personal, too.

Wonderful for meal prep. Marinating steak is an effective way to do meal prep. If you’re able to grill, your steak can be able to go—and infused with taste! The steak may be marinated for as much as eight hours, so you will get it going within the morning if you would like. You may even prep the marinade a few days forward of time so it’s prepared when you’re.

Ingredient Notes

• Soy sauce: I like to make use of reduced-sodium or lite soy sauce so I’ve a bit extra management over the salt stage. Soy sauce is the bottom of the marinade.
• Olive oil: Actually, you may select any neutral-flavored oil. Utilizing oil in a marinade helps ship the flavour deeper into the meat, making it additional scrumptious.
• Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar has a bit extra richness and pure sweetness than different forms of vinegar. The wealthy taste of balsamic and beef steak is an efficient mixture!
• Worcestershire sauce: This condiment is fermented and comprises a wide range of spices and herbs. It’s barely candy and salty, and brings a number of umami to the desk.
• Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard perks up the marinade with a pop of sharp taste. You don’t essentially style it within the marinade but when it wasn’t there, the general taste would fall a bit flat.
• Garlic: Recent garlic is greatest, however you should use garlic powder for those who’re in a pinch. (The marinade may be saved longer for those who use garlic powder.)
• Brown sugar: Both darkish or gentle brown sugar will work right here.
• Herbs and seasonings: I like to make use of straightforward pantry gadgets like dried thyme leaves, salt, and pepper. You may omit the salt for those who’re not utilizing low-sodium soy sauce.

The way to Make Flank Steak Marinade

Make the marinade. Whisk collectively the soy sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, sugar, and seasonings in a small bowl.

Marinate the steak. Set the steak in a shallow dish or place it right into a resealable bag. I normally use a bag however I at all times set the bag in a dish to comprise any potential leakage. You don’t need meat juices dripping by means of your fridge! Add the marinade and flip the steak a couple of occasions to coat it. Cowl or seal the bag, and refrigerate for no less than 2 hours, or as much as in a single day.

How To Grill Flank Steak

Preheat the grill. It’s essential that the grill is good and sizzling earlier than you begin grilling the steak. I normally take the steak out of the fridge earlier than I activate the grill so it has time to heat up a bit. If the steak is ice-cold, it doesn’t get prepare dinner as evenly.

Grill the steak. Take away the flank steak from the marinade, and discard the liquid. Since flank steak may be very lean, you could wish to evenly oil the grates earlier than you grill the steak so it doesn’t stick. Grill the flank steak on either side, 4 to 5 minutes per facet, relying on the thickness of the meat, how sizzling your grill is, and the way you prefer it performed. Monitor the temperature with an instant-read thermometer.

• Medium-rare: 130 to 135°F inside temperature
• Medium: 140 to 145°F inside temperature
• Medium-well: 150 to 155°F inside temperature

Serve. Permit the steak to relaxation for 5 to 10 minutes after you take away it from the grill. This provides time for the juices to calm down within the meat so that they don’t all run out if you slice it. To serve, slice the flank steak into skinny strips, reducing towards the grain.

Useful Ideas

• Pierce the steak first. Typically I pierce the meat in a number of locations with a fork earlier than marinating. This permits the flavors to penetrate deeper into the meat.
• Don’t marinate too lengthy. By no means over-marinate steak, or some other meat for that matter. After a sure level, the meat will start to get mushy and truly is more durable as soon as it’s cooked.
• Let the meat come to room temperature. For extra even cooking, enable the steak to return to room temperature earlier than you prepare dinner it. An ice-cold steak will probably be seared on the skin however nonetheless uncooked on the within. By the point the within is cooked correctly, the skin is simply too dry.
• By no means re-use marinade. When you’ve marinated the steak, discard the marinade.

Straightforward Recipe Variations

• Use a special cooking methodology. The flank steak doesn’t need to be grilled. You may simply pan-fry it, broil it within the oven, or air fry the steak. Use your favourite cooking methodology. Regardless of which one you select, your marinated flank steak will probably be superb!
• Add ginger. For an Asian-style marinade, add grated contemporary ginger to the recipe and omit the thyme. If I’m leaning extra into Asian flavors, I normally swap in rice vinegar as an alternative of utilizing balsamic.
• Give it Tex-Mex aptitude. Omit the thyme, and use oregano as an alternative (Mexican oregano is even higher!). Add a teaspoon of chili powder and a pinch of chipotle to actually lean into the smoky taste. This marinade is ideal for steak fajitas!
• Make it gluten-free. Soy sauce has gluten in it, however utilizing tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos will make your flank steak marinade gluten-free.

Extra Methods to Use Flank Steak Marinade

• Different cuts of steak. This marinade works nicely with different cuts of beef, resembling skirt steak (one other cheap minimize that wants TLC!) or sirloin.
• Rooster. Rooster drumsticks and grilled hen thighs would arise nicely to this marinade.
• Pork. Pork chops and pork tenderloin can be residence runs with this recipe too!

Refrigerate: This steak marinade may be made upfront. It would preserve (with out meat in it) for 3 to five days within the fridge. Retailer it in a tightly coated container, or a jar with a tight-fitting lid. In the event you substitute garlic powder for the contemporary garlic, it would preserve even longer, for a few weeks if it’s saved in an hermetic container within the fridge.

To Marinate:

• In a small bowl, whisk collectively the soy sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, brown sugar, thyme, salt, and pepper to make the marinade.

  ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon coarse floor black pepper

• Place the flank steak in a zip-top bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the steak, guaranteeing it’s absolutely coated. Seal the bag or cowl the dish, and marinate within the fridge for at the least 2 hours, ideally as much as 8 hours or in a single day for the most effective taste and tenderness.

  1 ½ kilos flank steak

To Grill:

• When able to prepare dinner, preheat your grill to medium-high warmth (400-450°F). Clear and evenly oil the grill grates to forestall sticking.

• Take away the steak from the marinade and discard the used marinade.

• Grill the flank steak for 4 to five minutes per facet for medium-rare (inside temperature ought to attain 130 to 135°F). Alter the cooking time primarily based in your most well-liked stage of doneness (see chart under). All cooking occasions will fluctuate significantly primarily based on the thickness of your steak, the temperature of the grill, and the beginning temperature of the steak. Use an prompt learn thermometer for greatest outcomes.

• When the steak is cooked to your liking, take away it from the grill and let it relaxation for five to 10 minutes. Slice the steak towards the grain into skinny strips, and serve.

• Yield: This recipe makes sufficient marinade for 1 ½ to 2 kilos of flank steak.
• Cooking suggestions: Pierce the steak in a number of locations with a fork to let the marinade permeate the meat extra deeply. Permit the steak to return to room temperature when you preheat the grill in order that it cooks extra evenly. Examine the interior temperature of the steak to determine when it’s performed.
  • Medium-rare: 130 to 135°F inside temperature
  • Medium: 140 to 145°F inside temperature
  • Medium-well: 150 to 155°F inside temperature.
• Vitamin observe: Calculated for one 8 oz. serving of steak. Since a lot of the marinade is discarded, the vitamin data is just not actually correct. It’s troublesome to determine how a lot of the marinade penetrates into the meat. 
• Salt: In the event you select to make use of common soy sauce, not lowered sodium, you could wish to omit the ½ teaspoon of added salt. 
• Different cooking strategies: Marinated flank steak doesn’t need to be grilled. You may pan-sear it, broil it, and even make air fryer steak.
• Extra makes use of: You should utilize this marinade for different cuts of beef, hen thighs or drumsticks, pork chops, or pork tenderloin.

Serving: 8oz. steak, Energy: 470kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 51g, Fats: 25g, Saturated Fats: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 14g, Ldl cholesterol: 136mg, Sodium: 1376mg, Potassium: 904mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 16IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 5mg

Vitamin data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

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