How to Cook Skirt Steak

How to Cook Skirt Steak

When you hear skirt steak, you may envision a cut of beef that’s tough, chewy, and not as high-profile as steaks like New York strip and the ribeye. In fact, skirt steak is known as a “butcher’s cut.” That means it was historically passed over by consumers in favor of those more well-known cuts. However, what those butchers knew and what many steak lovers now realize is that the skirt steak boasts that rich marbling we all covet. So, when it’s cooked properly, you get a juicy, beefy cut of delicious American Wagyu skirt steak.

What is Skirt Steak?

Skirt steak is a long and thin cut of beef that comes from the underside of the cow, near the diaphragm, and is known for its rich flavor and chewy texture. Skirt steak is often used in Mexican and other Latin American cuisines to make dishes like fajitas, tacos, and carne asada. Skirt steak is also popularly used in Asian cuisine,  such as Korean barbecue and Japanese yakiniku dishes.

Although skirt steak is considered one of the most flavorful cuts of steak, it is also on the tougher side due to its labyrinth of connective tissue. Skirt steak comes from the section of the cow called the plate primal, located below the ribs in the abdominal cavity between the brisket and the flank.

Inside vs Outside Skirt Steak - The Cut 

There are two separate skirt steaks, an inside and an outside cut, that look similar but feature several key differences. 

The inside skirt, or transversus abdominis muscle, is located inside the body cavity. Conversely, the outside skirt is the animal’s diaphragm muscle. Because the diaphragm muscle is constantly in motion, the outside skirt steak is not only more tender than the inside skirt, but also more flavorful.

Both the inside and outside skirt offer a wealth of rich marbling to help create that beefy flavor we love. So, which should you choose? As the outside skirt is most often used for restaurant dishes and by food retailers, it can be more difficult to find than the inside. Fortunately, we can easily recommend our American Wagyu outside skirt steak which is readily available to ship directly to your door.

What is the Best Way to Cook Skirt Steak?

The best way to cook skirt steak is considered on the grill, as the cut’s thinness lends itself to a quick sear and flip style of cooking. However, you can get great results by cooking skirt steak in the oven, or even using the sous vide method.

Skirt steak is one of the go-to cuts of beef for dishes you love like carne asada and fajitas. In fact, did you know that the word “fajita” roughly translates to “little skirts”?

So, this must be a difficult steak to cook to make it nice and tender, right? Not if you know the best ways to cook skirt steak. Here are three of our recommended cooking methods for skirt steak.

How to Grill Skirt Steak 

The best way to cook skirt steak is over high heat on a grill. Because it’s such a thin, and potentially tough, cut, all you want to do is provide a quick sear on both sides at a high temperature. It is important not to overcook skirt steak. Unfortunately, if you usually use a meat thermometer to check the temperature, it won’t do you much good here. Instead, use your eyes and senses to judge a beautiful char on the outside and a lovely pink middle, medium rare to medium. 

Here are the simple steps to grill your skirt steak: 

1. Because skirt steak is a longer cut of meat, you’ll want to cut it into shorter pieces, 5” to 7” in length. Trim off excess fat or silver skin if there is any.
2. Pat the steak dry with paper towels to remove moisture and ensure a nice char later on.
3. Season your skirt steak with either salt and pepper, a dry rub, or your favorite marinade. If using a marinade, let the steak marinate for 30 minutes.
4. Heat your grill or skillet to high heat.
5. Place the skirt steak over the heat and sear on each side for 5 to 10 minutes. Remember, do not overcook this cut.
6. Remove the steak from the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes.
7. Cut your skirt steak and serve in your preferred entrée.

How to Cook a Skirt Steak in the Oven 

Another method for cooking skirt steak is in the oven. This option is just as easy as grilling and should take about the same amount of time. Just remember that the keys to a properly cooked skirt steak are high heat and a short cooking time. 

Here are the easy steps to cook your skirt steak in the oven: 

1. Remove the skirt steak from the fridge about 45 minutes before needed.
2. After it has had time to rest outside the fridge, season both sides with salt, making sure to rub the salt into the meat’s coarse grain with your fingers.
3. Move an oven rack to the middle and preheat the oven to 450°F.
4. Grab your rimmed baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray.
5. Put the SRF skirt steak on the baking sheet and place it in the oven.
6. For a medium rare steak, cook on one side until browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
7. Flip the steak over and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes.
8. Here you can try using your meat thermometer to check for 120°F to 125°F for medium rare.
9. Once you’ve achieved your desired internal temperature, remove from the oven.
10. Let your skirt steak rest on a plate under tented foil for 5 minutes.
11. Slice and serve!

 How to Cook Sous Vide Skirt Steak 

OK, we know we said that the best way to cook a skirt steak is quickly on high heat, and this method is anything but quick. However, sous vide cooking is a great way to ensure you achieve your desired cooking temperature. You’ll still need to sear the steak in a pan or skillet after the sous vide. This is an excellent way to eliminate the risk of overcooking your skirt steak.

Here is what you’ll need to cook skirt steak using the sous vide method:

• Precision cooker or pot
• Water
• Thermometer
• Sous vide bags
• Marinade or spices
• Pan or skillet

If you’re using a marinade, apply it at least 2 hours before cooking.

Here are the simple steps to use sous vide to Cook your skirt steak:

1. Season the steaks with kosher salt and pepper.
2. Place each skirt steak in a separate sous vide bag and seal them tight, releasing as much excess air from each bag as possible.
3. For medium rare steak, preheat your water bath to 130°F.
4. Place the bags in the water bath using tongs.
5. For medium rare, cook for 2 hours.
6. Using tongs, remove the skirt steaks from the water and place aside to let rest for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Now, remove the steaks from their sous vide bags and pat them dry with paper towels.
8. Preheat a pan or skillet to high heat and drizzle a tablespoon of your favorite cooking oil in the pan.
9. Give the steaks a quick sear on each side, about 1 to 2 minutes.
10. Place the steaks on a foil-tented plate and let them rest for 2-3 minutes.
11. Slice and serve!  

What is the Best Way to Cut a Skirt Steak?

Cutting against the grain of steak is the preferred slicing method, and the same holds true for skirt steak due to its coarse grain. This will ensure that each bite is tender and not chewy. 

Here's how to best cut a skirt steak for serving:

1. Do not slice the steak before cooking it. Doing so will likely lead to it being overcooked and chewy.
2. Once cooked, allow the steak to rest. Not only will it be easier to slice, but the resting period gives the juices time to soak back into the meat.
3. Slice the skirt steak against the grain and serve as desired. 

Substitute for Skirt Steak 

Skirt steak is not always widely available when you need it. So, what do you do when you are craving carne asada or fajitas and don’t have skirt steak? Fortunately, there are several excellent cuts that can be used as substitutes.

These include: 

• Flank steak
• Flat iron steak
• Denver steak
• Hanger steak

Try one of these as a substitute and you may just discover your new favorite cut of beef.

Our Favorite Skirt Steak Recipes

Skirt steak goes best with your favorite marinade, cooked quickly on high heat, and served up in an amazing dish.

Snake River Farms has put together some of our favorite skirt steak recipes that we hope will become your favorites, as well.

• Tequila Lime Flank Steak Tacos (skirt steak can be substituted for flank steak)
• Carne Asada Skirt Steak Tacos
• Carne Asada Platter

Wagyu Skirt Steak from Snake River Farms 

While you may not have considered skirt steak as a standard cut of beef in your home, the versatility of this cut of beef will have you adding new recipes to the rotation immediately. With so many options like stir fry, cheesesteaks, flatbreads, tacos and more, you’ll wonder why you didn’t include this steak in your menu rotation long before now.

Order the Snake River Farms American Wagyu skirt steak and taste the difference.