25+ BEST Round Steak Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook round steak so it is tender? ›

You can also use slow cooking methods for round steak, like braising, oven roasting, or the slow cooker. This can take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Like I said, use a meat thermometer to ensure the steak is cooked to your perfect internal temperature.

This versatile cut of meat doesn't need to just stay intact as a roast. Once you cook it, you can cut it up to use in soups, beef stew, stir frys, and so much more. Round steak can also work much like flat iron or flank steak. Slice it up to use on steak sandwiches or atop a salad.

The best way to cook Round Steak is with moisture, which makes this cut of meat much more tender. Moist cooking includes slow cooking and braising.

The Top Round Steak is the most tender of the various round steaks. This boneless steak consists of a large muscle called the top or inside round. Note the cover fat on the curved top surface, the cut surface on the left side, and connective tissue along the bottom.

Make a marinade with acidic components—such as citrus juice, buttermilk, yogurt, wine, vinegar or soda—to help break down tough connective tissue and muscle fibers.

The round beef cut comes from the steer's hind legs, thigh, butt, and hams. These are the largest muscles in the body. It is a less expensive beef cut and also quite lean. Round beef cuts provide some of the best value for family meals.

Steps to Make It

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, kosher salt, and coarsely ground black pepper. Rub the mixture all over the steak and place the steak on the oiled rack of a broiler pan. Place pan about five inches from the heat source and broil for 10 to 12 minutes. Place steak on a cutting board.

While both are large, tough cuts of budget-friendly beef, the main difference that sets these two roasts apart is where on the animal they're cut from. Top round roast is cut from the rear leg and is more lean than chuck roast, which is cut from the shoulder and contains more fat.

Either before or after cooking, use a sharp knife cut the steak against the grain to break the muscle fibers down. This will make the steak easier to chew and make it feel more tender as you eat it. Instead of tenderizing with a mallet, you can also use a Jaccard tenderizer.

How do you know when round steak is done? ›

If you'd like your steak medium-rare, it should feel like your cheek: tender and soft but still fleshy (as opposed to raw, which would be just soft). If you want a medium steak, touch your chin: The steak should still be tender, but with some resistance.

The round steak is also referred to as the rump, and that anatomical description is pretty self-explanatory. That large muscle works hard, so it's lean, without a lot of fat "marbled" throughout. The entire round is very large, weighing up to 150 pounds, with the bone-in.

A steak cut at least 1.5” thick has many benefits. It provides sufficient size to sear each side over high heat and allow the interior to remain pink and juicy. Thin steaks are easily overcooked in the middle after searing both sides.

You can also cook the steak in a skillet on the stovetop or with an electric grill pan. Slice the steak thinly against the grain, which shortens tough fibers and makes the meat more tender. Serve with garlic roasted potatoes and asparagus for a delicious meal.

It is a moderately tough cut of meat because it includes a lot of connective tissue and comes from a heavily exercised muscle. Lack of fat and marbling makes round dry out when cooked with dry-heat cooking methods like roasting or grilling, so this cut is best suited for slow cooking methods with gentle, moist heat.

Rest Your Steak: After cooking, let your steak rest for about 10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, ensuring a juicy and tender bite. Reconsider Your Cut: If you consistently find one cut to be too chewy, try switching to a more tender cut next time.