If you’ve tried to cook up a top-round steak and it turned out dry and tough, you’re not the only one.
It took me a good few fails before I perfected the process, and I can now whip up a delicious top round. I’m going to share my tips and tricks with you, along with some guidance from expert chefs.
Quick Summary
- The trick to cooking a delicious steak is seasoning it well and allowing it to marinate (unless thinly sliced).
- It is best to brown it using the searing method before cooking for more tenderness and improved flavor.
- The top-round steak recipe is best grilled or broiled, but you can roast it too.
Take a look at the article to learn how to season, marinate, and cook your steak.
You will also understand how long to cook it, why you should allow it to rest, and how to slice the meat before serving.
Season Your Top Round Steak Before Cooking
Top-round steaks are pretty large cuts of meat and require significant seasoning. It is recommended that you marinate your top round well for 6-8 hours or overnight.
You can marinate it with a citric ingredient such as lemon juice or vinegar, which will help to tenderize it because the marinade absorbs into the flesh [1].
To avoid your seasonings running off the meat during marination due to the release of juices, you can season your steak right before cooking – if you prefer.
Before placing it to grill or broil, rub some melted butter or olive oil all around the steak, and then sprinkle your seasoning. You can rub the seasoning in to get it everywhere.
Ways to Cook Top Round Steak
1. Steak On The Grill
- Season and marinate your steak.
- Heat your grill, making sure it is hot enough.
- Place your steak on the grill and let it sear for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Move it to indirect heat and cook it for a further 5-7 minutes, or until it has reached your desired top-round steak doneness.
Also Read: How to Cook Steak on a Griddle
2. Cooking Top Round Steak By Broiling
- Season and marinate your steak.
- Heat the oven to around 325°F. Make sure the oven has reached the heated temperature.
- Place your steak on a baking tray. You can put a wire rack under it to separate the juices that release.
- Place it in the oven for around 5–7 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to around 300°F for another 5-6 minutes until the desired doneness.
- You could cover the steak with foil before placing it in the oven and then keep the temperature at 325°F until done.
Oven Temperature For Cooking Top Round Steak
For a 6-8 pound steak, preheat the oven to 325°F. If your meat is smaller or bigger, adjust the oven temperature at your discretion accordingly.
Make sure you preheat the oven and only place the steak in once the oven is hot enough.
If you put your steak in when the oven is not heated correctly, the steak will not seal and lose excessive juices leaving it dry and tough.
I learned an excellent tip to always pat the meat dry before you cook it. If there’s any leftover marinade, discard it.
You can add more seasoning if you lose some of it, but cooking a wet steak is not ideal for tossing onto a hot grill.
Hawksmoor – the British steak restaurant group explains that wet steak will struggle to form a decent crust and pick up unpleasant boiled-meat flavors.
How Long To Cook Top Round Steak
You can cook your steak for 10-12 minutes. Cook it less if you want it less done or longer if you want it more done, not medium-rare.
For a medium-rare inside, 10-12 minutes is the average time with a 145°F internal temperature.
Let Your Top Round Steak Rest Before Slicing
It is crucial to give your steak time to rest for a good 15-20 minutes after cooking, even at medium rare.
The resting time allows the heat to complete the cooking process, redistribute the juices, and even out the color and flavor of the meat.
If you slice the steak before it’s cooled off, it will release all its juices, and your meat will turn out dry and tough, resulting in very chewy bites.
You cook and cover the steak with foil to slow down the cooling process further, leading to even better overall results in taste and texture.
How To Slice Top Round Steak
When you slice this steak, you want to do it against the grain. It should have that marble effect. I always liked how Fernando Larroude said,
“The marbling on these cuts means they’ll be succulent and juicy, perfect for a summer barbecue.” [2]
Slicing against the grain helps retain the juices and keeps the meat tender. When you cut it the wrong way, you can end up with very tough, chewy bites.
Why Is Top Round A Good Steak For Grilling/Broiling?
Grilled top-round steak is typically considered quite a lean and tough meat.
That naturally makes it great for grilling or broiling because the effect of a charcoal or gas grill or London broil adds a significant flavor profile.
You can easily tenderize the meat allowing it to remain juicy and flavorful.
The top-round steak comes from a more affordable portion of the cow and is considered one of the less expensive beef.
That makes the top-round steak budget-friendly for grilling and BBQs compared to other meats.
Another way a top round steak makes a good cut for broiling is an alternative to roasting it in the oven because you will find many people prefer a juicy steak for Sunday roast – sliced with a side of gravy and mashed potatoes.
It applies to a flank steak as well, especially if you use Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for the marinade alongside seasonings like freshly ground black pepper.
Consider adding ground beef to your meals since it can give you more variety.
Related Articles:
- Top Blade Steak Uses
- What are Flank Steaks?
- How to Cook Bottom Round Steak?
- Questions About Teres Major Steak
Conclusion
You can grill, broil, or roast your meaty piece of top-round steak, and you will love every bite of it, especially with mashed potatoes.
Remember, marination with soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce and generous seasoning is key to flavor, and browning will leave you with the juiciest steak ever!
Don't forget about getting it from a trusted, quality seller. We recommend reading ButcherBox’s high-quality meat delivery review , where all their cows are organic and grass-fed. It's what makes them perfect for your top-round steak recipe.
References:
- https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1945-fruit-enzymes-tenderise-meat
- https://worldsteakchallenge.com/live/en/node/speakerprofile-fernando-larroude
