A steak is a slice of meat that is cut from the flesh of an animal or a large fish. Beef steaks are by far the most popular type of steak. However, steaks of chicken, turkey and lamb are also ordered in restaurants. Steaks may be cooked by grilling, roasting, pan-frying or broiling. Steaks take little time to cook and can be eaten both as an entrée and as a main course. They are eaten with rice, noodles, bread or pasta, usually with a vegetable or mushroom side-dish.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) voluntarily grades steaks according to the marbling and the tenderness of the flesh. Marbling refers to the flecks of white fat that are seen within the steak. Almost all the steaks available in the market fall into the first three grades. The best grade of steak (and the tenderest!) is the prime cut. Filet mignon is the best quality and the softest variety of steak, followed by the sirloin. Only about 2% of steak available in the market falls under the prime category and that too winds up in hotels and restaurants. After the prime cut, there is the choice cut. These cuts are what are generally available in the stores. A little tougher than the choice cut is the select cut. The other grades are standard, commercial, utility, cutter and canner in the decreasing order of their qualities.
The manner of cutting the steak from the flesh of the animal is of importance. Usually the steak is cut perpendicular to the striations on the muscle. This makes the steak tender and easy to chew. The tenderness of steak also depends on which part of beef the slice has been cut from. The sirloin, or the portion of the beef located in the mid portion of the hindquarters, and the filet mignon from the small end of the tenderloin are supposed to be the tenderest. The filet mignon is the most expensive beef cut.
Among steaks, the trend noted is that as the tenderness increases, the flavor reduces. Filet mignon is the tenderest steak, but it has the mildest flavor. Chuck steaks, flank steaks and rib steaks are tougher to chew, but they have more beefy flavors.
Steaks may have originated in France, but every country has developed several indigenous recipes to prepare steaks. King Henry VIII of England was a steak aficionado. In fact it has been supposed that the word ‘sirloin’ has been coined by him. In Asia and Africa, steak kebabs are popular and there are scores of methods of preparing these kebabs.
Raw steaks are available in butcher shops and grocery stores. While buying steak, the red hued ones must be preferred. Like all other meats, steaks need cold storage. Steaks that are aged for long times get an enhanced flavor.
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T-Bone Steak
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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T-bone steaks are named for the characteristic T-shaped bone with which they are cut. They are cut from the portion between top loin and the tenderloin. The specification to be a T-bone steak is that the tenderloin part in it should be at least ½...
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Filet Mignon Steak
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The word ‘filet mignon’ means small boneless piece (in French ‘mignon’ means small and ‘filet’ means a boneless piece). It is considered to be a premium cut of beef, taken from the small end of the tenderloin. Filet mignon steaks are called by different names...
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Sirloin Steak
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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It is said that King Henry VIII was so fond of this particular steak cut from the loins of beef, that he termed it as ‘Sir Loin’, which became notoriously famous as the sirloin steak. The sirloin steak is cut from the lower portion of...
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Steak Recipes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Steaks are the easiest to prepare among all the meats. Tender steaks like the sirloin and the T-bone (filet mignon is the tenderest but it is very expensive and not easily available in the markets) are usually grilled. Most recipes differ in the marinade that...
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How to Cook Steak
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Steak, though a grill favorite, can be cooked in several other ways. They can be pan-fried, braised, broiled, baked, etc. Selecting the proper method for cooking steak depends on its tenderness. There are dry heat methods and moist methods. Dry heat methods are generally applied...
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Grilling Steak
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Steaks are the most palatable when they are grilled. The best steak for grilling is the sirloin steak, but it tends to be a bit tough. The T-bone steak and the porterhouse steak are both excellent choices and the bone in them give them an...
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Flank Steak
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The underside of the belly is called the flank. It is the part directly below the sirloin and the short loin. Steaks cut from this area are grainy any chewy. Hence, special cooking methods are employed for flank steaks to reduce their graininess and chewy...
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Salmon Recipes
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Salmon can be prepared in various styles. However, before you attempt to cook salmon it is essential that you actually know how to buy good, fresh salmon. Which type to buy will depend on your style of cooking. If you are planning to grill them,...
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Dog Treats
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Apart from being well-deserved gifts, dog treats can also be effective training tools. Be sure to have a pocket full of dog treats when teaching your dog how to sit, stay, heel, or perform other similar commands. Make sure that the dog will find the...
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Gourmet Dog Treats
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Dogs have long been considered man’s best friend. It is important to treat them well by giving them some treats once in a while to reward good behavior or as an aid in training. Dog owners may give gourmet dog treats to their dogs to...