You may be familiar with ribeye, tenderloin and sirloin, but have you heard of other relatively unknown cuts like skirt, flat iron and hanger steak? Here is a beginners guide to the different cuts of steak. Read on to find out which cut suits you best.

RIBEYE STEAK

The ribeye – also known as Scotch Fillet, Beauty Steak or Delmonico Steak – comes from the area near the rib, so it has good marbling with a nice amount of fat in the centre to give it the distinctive concentrated flavour. Suffice it to say, it is easy to understand why this is usually one of the top sellers in steakhouses.

TENDERLOIN STEAK

Tenderloin, or eye fillet, as it is known in certain parts of the world, is cut from the middle of a cow. As the muscle is less utilised, it is very lean and tender. Tenderloin is the crowd’s favourite because it is lean and does not contain too much fat. Also, it is a cut that is easy to cook and eat.

FILLET MIGNON

This cut is taken from the end of the tenderloin. It is extremely tender and has no fat as the muscle does not have to work. I am not a fan of Fillet Mignon as I prefer to have some fat in my steak. This cut, however, is perfect for
ladies.

SIRLOIN STEAK

Like the tenderloin, a sirloin steak is a cut from the loin section of a cow. While sirloin steaks are not as tender as the tenderloin steaks, they are popular as they are significantly less expensive than that from the short loin and rib section.

FLANK STEAK

The Flank is a beef steak cut from the underside of a cow. This part of the muscle is well-exercised, making it a naturally lean cut. Most people would probably be familiar with the flank steak as it is used for Fajitas and also as stir-fried beef in Asian cuisine.

T-BONE STEAK & PORTERHOUSE

The T-Bone steak, recognised by the distinctive T-shaped bone, is cut from the centre of the short loin and it comprises both the top loin and tenderloin. Porterhouse, on the other hand, is from the rear end of the short loin, thus has more of tenderloin steak. In general, they are expensive in steakhouses as they contain meat from two of the most prized cuts of beef. My favourite is the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, T-Bone steak prepared in Fiorentine style, an exceptional charcoal-grilled steak that is tasty and flavourful; it melts like butter in your mouth.

FLAT IRON STEAK

A relatively unknown cut, the Flat Iron Steak has been gaining popularity in recent years as restaurants start to offer this cut on the menu as a more affordable option. For instance, Prive Grill is serving a 200g Australian Flat Iron Steak for just S$38, while The Prime Society has a Black Angus Flat Iron for S$48.

HANGER STEAK

In an attempt to save on cost and to provide more variety, more restaurants are starting to offer alternative cuts instead of the more expensive cuts such as ribeye or strip. The hanger steak is one of them. It is inexpensive (usually you can get it for S$30), flavourful and rich. I have had several good hanger steaks recently. I would recommend going to Barracks Cafe, Osteria Mozza or Suprette at Kam Leng Hotel for their hanger steaks.

SKIRT STEAK

The skirt steak is a cow’s diaphragm muscle, located in the area just below the ribs on the cow. For what it lacks in tenderness, the skirt steak more than makes up for it with flavour. Most importantly, it is an inexpensive cut, and provides good value for money. The new Skirt at W Hotel Singapore serves the namesake Skirt Steak on its menu.

Chef Robin Ho is no stranger in the local food & beverage scene. He is the current group executive chef of the Prive Group, and he has previously helmed the kitchens of Les Amis Restaurants, and The Marmalade Group of restaurants.

And for one, he sure knows a thing or two about steaks. We sat down with him to discuss about the different cuts and some of the things to look out for when you are cooking steak at home.

Here are 5 tips for cooking the perfect steak.

1. Choose the right meat.

“The most important thing is to get the right cut,” says Chef Robin. There are many different cuts, it really boils down to personal preference. For those who prefer lean meat, tenderloin is the obvious choice. Otherwise, ribeye is one of the favourite cuts as it has the most fat as compared to the others. Knowing your favourite meat is the key to cooking the perfect steak. And your local butcher will always be the best source of advice on choosing the right cuts of meat.

2. Leave the meat in room temperature before cooking.

Take out the steaks from the refrigerator, cover them with a sheet for at least 25 to 30 minutes to allow the steaks to come to room temperature.

3. Season the meat with good salt.

Keep it simple. Use good rock salt to season the steak, and let the deliciousness of the beef speak for itself.

4. Use a good pan.

Not everyone can afford the superb but expensive Josper Grill in the kitchen, so the best alternative is to use a good pan.

Choose a good thick-bottomed pan (cast-iron is the best option because it transfers heat better) to cook the steak. Non-sticky pans are easy to use, but we would suggest avoiding them as they tend to prevent a good crust from forming.

5. Let the steak rest before serving

Allow the steak rest for about 5 minutes (200g steak) before serving, as this allows the juices that have been drawn to the surface to relax and flow evenly through the meat.