Everyone has their favorite cut of steak. For some it’s a big cut of rump, for others it’s some slim and tender sirloin steaks. However, for others, their favorite type of steak will be a lovely top-round steak.
Some people may not have heard of this type of beef, so we’ve made a guide on how to grill top round steak and where it comes from.
This way, you’ll be well-informed enough to know whether you like the sound of this meat and whether you’ll be able to cook it yourself.
Where Does Top Round Steak Come From?
The top-round steak comes from the leg and rump of the cow and is usually from hugely exercised cows so that the meat is of a higher quality. The top round cut is also known as the inside round because the cut of steak comes from the inside of the cow’s leg.
This particular cut of steak is a bit tougher than other cuts, similar to a rump because of the texture and consistency. Very lean and tough, the top round is one of the cheaper cuts of beef that you can purchase because of how tough it can be.
However, for a relatively cheap cut of meat, top round steak is very flavorful and full of taste. If it wasn’t full of some sort of flavor, then nobody would buy it! The steaks are made when top round beef cuts are improved by tenderization and marinating. Because of this, you’re more likely to find top round beef, rather than top round steak specifically.
What Does Top Round Steak Taste Like?
A lot of beef tends to taste fairly alike other cuts of meat. The main difference is usually the levels of fat and the texture of the meat. With regard to the actual taste, top round beef tastes incredibly similar to top sirloin if braised or roasted and then sliced into thin pieces.
The size of the cut will often determine the tenderness of the steak, with thicker cuts being tougher than thinner, more tender pieces. Therefore, the steak versions of this cut of beef will be softer, depending on how big you like your steak and how long you cook your steak.
What Is The Best Way To Cook Top Round Steak?
We find that smoking and grilling are the best ways to cook your steak, however, grilling ensures that you bring out all of the juices and the flavors of the meat. Because of how tough the meat can be, you might be better off cooking the steak to a medium or medium-rare level. Anything cooked over this may end up with the steak being too tough.
Of course, many people prefer to cook their steak to a rare level, or sometimes even rawer. This helps to maintain the beef’s tenderness, whilst keeping all of the flavors and juices flowing freely throughout your meal.
Quick Tips Before Cooking
Trimming the fatty edges around your steak is a great way to ensure there aren’t any flare-ups when grilling. It also allows your steak to cook a lot more evenly than if there were bits of fat on the beef.
However, removing marbling is a bad idea because it adds a lot of flavor to your steak. After a time, they will cook down and the tastes will start flowing!
Making a marinade to tenderize the meat even further is a great way to start the process and will complement the beef’s succulent tones. You can look to soak your beef for around 4 hours, or up to a day. This retains the steak’s beefy flavor but will make it a lot softer.
Levels Of Cooking For Top Round Steak
As previously mentioned, we recommend cooking your steak to around the level of medium-rare because the meat will then remain somewhat tender, considering this type of beef is particularly sturdy. Because fabricating top round beef into steaks takes marinating, you could grill the steak and then slice the steak into thin pieces.
This method is called the London broil and is a very popular technique amongst those who like cooking and eating top round steak. Again, there are often better cuts of steak to grill, so the London broil is a reliable cooking method on the grill. Make sure you have a mix of beefy flavor and seasonings, you can add black pepper to your steak before adding your beef to the gas grill. Electric grills also work very well.
Different types of steak will take longer to cook than others and will often depend on how thick your steak is. Using a meat thermometer is a great way to ensure that you haven’t overcooked your steak, especially when cooking at medium heat or higher. This keeps your tender steaks the softest they can be.
Making The Marinade And Cooking The Steak
Follow our step-by-step guide below to make your marinade and cook the steak to perfection!
Step One – Making The Marinade
Get a medium-sized non-reactive bowl and a whisk. Use soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce for a kick, vinegar, tomato paste or puree, garlic and herbs, mustard, and black pepper. Lightly drizzle in some neutral oil under the mixture so it starts to get thicker and blended well as you stir with the whisk.
Step Two – Marinade The Steak
Place your steak cuts into a glass roasting pan, preferably shallow. Pour your marinade onto the steaks and flip them over so that you can ensure all of the meat is covered. Leave this for anywhere from 4 hours to a day.
Step Three – Grill Temperature
Get your grill to medium heat, whether it’s on an electric or a charcoal grill. If using a pellet grill, set the temperature to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Four – Remove The Steaks
Take the meat out of the marinade and pat them until dry. Remove all of the bits of garlic from the surface as they can burn and affect the steak’s flavor.
Step Six – Grill The Steaks
Grill your meat for 3-4 minutes and ensure you flip them at regular intervals to avoid burning. Using tongs, keep flipping until they reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees on a meat thermometer. This will give you a medium-rare finish. For medium, cook them for 2 or 3 more minutes.
Step Seven – Plate Up
Place your steaks on a plate and cover with tin foil for 5-10 minutes to rest. Following this, use a knife to carve them into thin slices and serve for everyone to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Although there are more desirable cuts of beef to have grilled, a top-round steak is often one with lots of flavors. A ribeye steak is an example of beef that is more expensive because of its texture. Top-round steak is a lean steak type and will be considerably less because of its toughness.
For extra flavor, remember to add a marinade and some vegetable oil to ensure the marinade is thick enough. There are many to choose from when it comes to looking for the right marinade recipe, with many complementing top rounds perfectly.
