Purchasing some cheap cuts of steak does not equal sacrificing the quality. There are many yummy steaks with an affordable price in the market. The point is do you explore them, and here is the list for you. Let’s dive in!
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Why Are Some Steak Cuts Cheaper?
Have you ever thought about why Ribeye and Filet Mignon are so expensive? This is because they are stunningly marbled or extremely tender, which is highly favored by people. Everybody loves steak cuts with these features, and the price remains elevated due to the high demand.
However, these steaks are scarce which only occupy around 8% of a cow. What about the other 92%? In order to maximize the profit, some skillful butchers try to find the relatively tender cuts within the remaining 92%. So you can find more and more new names that you have never seen before in the market, for example, Flat Iron Steak and Denver Steak.
For the beef butchers, they cut the large piece of cheap meat into smaller pieces of steak with a higher price. For us, we can enjoy tender steaks at a lower price and have more choices. That’s win-win!
► Read More: 8 Primal Cuts of Beef to Learn Before Ordering Steaks
► Read More: 20 Best Steak Cuts with Ranking (A Complete Guide to Know Your Cuts)
1. Best Cheap Cuts of Steak: Sirloin Steak
Sirloin Filet – $14.00
from: Porter Road
What is Sirloin Steak?
Sirloin is part of the loin primal which can be divided into two sections, top sirloin and bottom sirloin. Thus, there are actually different types of sirloin steaks depending on the location.
The Top Sirloin Steak is the finest cut among them so its price is the highest, yet it’s still a budget-friendly cut. It is usually labeled clearly for sale. While Bottom Sirloin Steak is less tender and leaner which is simply marked as “sirloin steak” generally.
Top Sirloin Steak is an alternative choice for the fans of Tenderloin or Filet Mignon. It has a low content of fat with mild beef flavor as well as a pretty good tenderness. The most important point is the price, it saves you quite a lot of money.
Features of Sirloin Steak
- Tender
- Lean
- Mild Beef Flavor
How to Cook Sirloin Steak?
On account of the low amount of fat, searing over high heat with butter is the magic code for Sirloin Steak. Preheat the cast iron pan and quickly pan-sear the steak until brown. After that, reduce heat to medium, then add butter, herbs and garlic and cook to desired doneness. Butter would add an extra grease aroma to Sirloin which is exactly what it lacks.
It’s recommended to cook medium rare as this cut is lean. It will be tough and dry out if cooked too long.
2. Best Cheap Cuts of Steak: Denver Steak
Denver Steak – $15.00
from: Porter Road
What is Denver Steak?
Denver Steak is located in the chuck primal which is the shoulder of a cow. Steak cuts from this primal is usually tough due to the frequently used muscle. Yet, Denver Steak is an exception as it comes from the muscle beneath the shoulder blade bone that does not exercise much. Butchering this cut requires excellent skill which is extracting a tender steak from a large piece of tough meat, therefore not many butcher shops carry, but they are on the shelf of some top butcher shops.
Denver Steak is fairly tender, juicy, packed with flavor, and usually comes with a nice marbling. But you just need to spend a little money to enjoy this cost-effective cut.
Features of Denver Steak
- Quite Tender
- Juicy
- Full of Beef Flavor
- Fairly Marbled
How to Cook Denver Steak?
There are diverse ways to cook a Denver Steak. For a more tender outcome, you can sous vide with herbs at 125°F (51.7°C). After 4 hours of sous vide, pat dry and char over high heat to give a mouth-watering surface.
Or you can just throw the Denver Steak on a hot cast iron pan or a grill with your favorite seasonings. We suggest cooking it medium rare.
3. Best Cheap Cuts of Steak: Flat Iron
Flat Iron – $19.00
from: Porter Road
What is Flat Iron?
Tender steak cuts are typically expensive, but you can opt for Flat Iron. It is obtained from the top blade muscle of the shoulder, therefore it’s also called Top Blade Steak.
This cut is increasingly popular in recent years due to its remarkable features. The number one thing that makes Flat Iron stand out is its tenderness. According to some meat scientists, this cut is the second most tender cut just after Filet Mignon, even though it is from the chuck primal. Other than fine grain, it has a nice marbling, plentiful juice, and rich beef flavor as well. All come together in this fantastic buttery cut.
What’s more, Flat Iron only costs you less than half of the money that you need to purchase a Filet Mignon!
Features of Flat Iron
- Extremely Tender (second only to Filet Mignon)
- Nice Marbling
- Juicy
- Flavorful
How to Cook Flat Iron?
Cooking Flat Iron has no fuss. Grilling or pan-searing over high heat would create an amazing result. Bear in mind that thaw your steak and preheat the grill or pan completely beforehand. Simple seasonings like salt and pepper are more than enough for Flat Iron.
This cut tastes good from medium rare to well done, even well done would not destroy its savor. Yet, it’s best to serve as medium rare to medium.
4. Best Cheap Cuts of Steak: Chuck Eye Steak
Chuck Eye Steak – $22.00
from: Porter Road
What is Chuck Eye Steak?
Chuck Eye Steak is positioned at the fifth rib of a heifer that is near the source of Ribeye Steak (sixth to twelfth ribs). Since these two steak cuts are taken from the same muscle and nearby, they share some similar characteristics. Chuck Eye Steak has a good marbling and tender texture. Yet, this cut cost much less because it’s cut from the chuck primal, that’s why it is also known as “poor man’s rib-eye”.
Apart from that, it has an intense beefy flavor as the surrounding muscles of the chuck get a lot of exercise.
It’s not common to see this cut in the market as there are only 6 Chuck Eye Steaks in an entire cow. But you can find them in some professional butcher shops.
Features of Chuck Eye Steak
- Rich Beef Flavor
- Well Marbled
- Fairly Tender
How to Cook Chuck Eye Steak?
Before putting the Chuck Eye Steak on a grill or pan, rub it with some oil and seasonings. Then, grill or sear it over high heat, just like the way you cook ribeye. Remember don’t overcook it, otherwise the steak will be dry and tough. Medium rare is appropriate for Chuck Eye Steak.
5. Best Cheap Cuts of Steak: Skirt Steak
Large Skirt Steak – $24.00
from: Porter Road
What is Skirt Steak?
Skirt Steak is obtained from the plate primal and it is actually the diaphragm of the cow. The diaphragm functions as a helper of breathing that needs to move constantly. Hence, this muscle has an extraordinarily rich flavor and iconic coarse muscle fibers.
Skirt Steak is ideal for marinades thanks to the accordion-like structure of coarse grain. This feature provides a large surface area and captures more flavor from the marinades. That’s why you can usually enjoy this cut in dishes like carne asada and fajitas, and it tastes awesome with tacos. To cook this long and thin steak, cutting against the grain is the key to optimize the tenderness.
Features of Skirt Steak
- Long and Thin
- Very Deep Flavor
- Coarse Grain (Good for Marinades)
- Very Lean
How to Cook Skirt Steak?
As mentioned above, Skirt Steak is perfect to be marinated as the coarse grain helps absorb the flavor. But do not marinate it over 30 minutes because it will overwhelm the beef flavor and get wasted. Then, pat dry the steak after marinating to form a nice crust on the pan.
You only need to spend a few minutes to pan-sear over high heat on each side owing to its thinness. To enjoy, let the steak rest for a while and slice it against the grain. Why not taste it with tacos!
Summary
Enjoying yummy steak does not require spending a lot of money. You can also try some cheap cuts of steak with a high quality. Thinking about what to cook for dinner? Why not try the steaks mentioned in the above!
► Read More: 5 Most Expensive Steak Cuts Ranked and How to Cook
► Read More: 11 Secret Beef Cuts that True Beef Lovers Should Know!
