For a devoted carnivore, there is nothing better than a well-cooked steak dinner. And for most people, that means selecting from one of the usual suspects, well-known varieties such as ribeye, sirloin, and fillet.
But these cuts, the ones most commonly found in steakhouses across the globe, can be overpriced.
And though undeniably delicious when sourced well and cooked properly (like in our recipe for crispy breaded beef fillets, baked to golden brown perfection), they are not the only quality cuts that can be found.
For true steak lovers, it can often be rewarding to go a little off the beaten path by trying some of the lesser known cuts.
Although the following varieties may not grace as many restaurant menus, a good butcher will always be happy to sell you a more obscure cut. You may find a hidden gem of previously unexplored flavor, while perhaps even saving a little money in the process.
Hanger
Sometimes called onglet, or skirt in the UK, this steak is rich in flavor, but is also remarkably tender. It has been known as “butcher’s steak” in the past, as it was often kept back for personal use by the meat cutter rather than being offered for sale.
Hanger, named for the fact that it “hangs” from the diaphragm of the animal, it is often described as having a slight offal flavor, owing to its proximity to the liver and kidneys.
It is much more well known and loved in Europe, especially in France and Belgium, where it is the traditional cut used for classic steak-frites.
It is also highly prized in Mexican cooking, where is it known as arrachera.
Flat Iron
Otherwise known as top blade, butler’s steak, or oyster blade, flat iron is another tender steak, this time with a slightly more moderate flavor. This cut originates from the shoulder of the animal.
Flat iron tends to be cheaper than many other varieties, owing to a gristly membrane present in the meat. This is best removed before cooking – a good butcher will always help out with this if asked.
It is an excellent choice for marinades, as it takes on flavor well. And it performs best when quickly seared to medium-rare over very high heat, and then well rested. Try it the next time you’re craving big chunks of grilled meat on a kebab.
Picanha
Sometimes known as the top sirloin cap, rump cover, or rump cap, this cut is widely used (and adored) in South America. But it is practically unheard of in much of the rest of the world, where it is often divided into other cuts (like top sirloin, in the US).
It is particularly prized in Brazil, where the large, thick layer of fat rind, often trimmed down by butchers in the rest of the world, is left on the steak until after cooking.
Picanha is particularly good when marinated and thrown on a hot barbecue for the intense, smoky flavor associated with vibrant South American cooking.
Flank
Another popular cut in France, this comes from the buttocks or abdominal muscles of the cow. It is less tender, but the connective tissue and fat marbling present make it rich in flavor. It is another South American favorite, particularly in Colombia where it is known as Sobrebarriga.
Flank is often marinated before being pan fried, grilled, or – due to its potential to become chewy – braised for extra succulence.
It is most often served cut into strips across the grain, again increasing its tenderness. It is particularly prevalent in Asian cooking. So, if you love a beef stir-fry or the increasingly popular Vietnamese pho, those delicious strips of meat were likely sliced from a cut of flank.
We also love using this cut for our marinated and grilled carne asada recipe.
The next time you find yourself shopping for steak, why not ask your butcher for one of these lesser-known varieties?
By sidestepping the most popular cuts, you will almost certainly save some money, and be rewarded with the satisfaction of trying out a new flavor in the process. Your new favorite steak is just waiting to be discovered (and maybe even tossed into your favorite stew)!
What’s your favorite obscure cut? Any special cooking methods? Tell us and share with the community in the comments below!
Photos by Mike Quinn, unless otherwise noted, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details.
About Mike Quinn
Mike Quinn spent 20 years in the US Army and traveled extensively all over the world. As part of his military service, Mike sampled coffee and tea from all virtually every geographic region, from the beans from the plantation of an El Salvadorian Army Colonel to "Chi" in Iraq to Turkish Coffee in the Turkish Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He spent nearly a decade in the Republic of Korea where he was exposed to all forms of traditional teas. Mike formerly owned and operated Cup And Brew, an online espresso and coffee equipment retail operation.
Well I have had the flat iron and the flank steak, but this makes me really want to try the picanha and the hanger. That picture of the pcanha though does look a little like fish heads at first glance, which is a little unnerving. I actually live in an area where steaks are pretty cheap, at least cheaper than elsewhere, so I might have to look around for some of these and expand my horizons a little bit. Thanks for sharing.
My father and I used to grill flank steaks(also known by other names like London Broil steaks as they were labeled at the time). It was always my favorite, though I’ve never tried picanha steak. We never marinated it though. Dad used Adolf’s brand tenderizer, the one that’s basically just papain and salt. First he’d splash a little Worcestershire sauce on it, then a bit of imported German beer (made in accordance with reinheitsgebot) then the salty tenderizer. We’d do each side like that a number of times until we got a nice, salty, mildly charred crust that basically sealed in the steak’s juices, kept it tender and boy was it flavorful. A friend tried it once and was like “You should go to that local barbecue joint and tell them this is how it you want it done.” Nowadays I do tend to marinate mine though, with some lemon juice and garlic and maybe even some things like mushrooms and peppers.
Wow, I haven’t even heard of these before, and we eat beef for almost every dinner, so that is saying something. Though I do have to say, the hanger meat looks fairly decent, worth giving a try! We get tired of the same cuts of meat and was looking for new cuts to try!
I’ve never bought flat iron steak before because of that line of gristle that goes through the middle. I’ve always thought it would be a hard cud to swallow. I’ve never thought about trimming the fat from the center of the meat. I’ll ask the meat man next time around just to see if he’ll do it! Normally what I do with not so tender beef is cook it low and slow in the oven. I take two to four steaks and cover them with mushrooms and onions and a 1/2 cup of water and a couple of bouillon cubes + salt and pepper, foil cover and bake for a couple of hours 200F. Sometimes I will coat the steaks in flour and fry/brown them quickly before putting in the oven.
I have tried a couple of these, but I’m certainly always happy to find even more options. Thanks for that.
This is one thing we really enjoy, especially with some nice wine. It does get pricey though, so this is article is quite welcome. I will definitely be speaking to the butcher (whom I have known for years and is a good guy). I’m sure he’ll help me out.
I wouldn’t call it obscure, but chuck eye is another good choice. It’s not super cheap these days, but it’s also not nearly as expensive as a prime cut of meat. It’s tender and flavorful as well.