What Is Eye Round Steak?

what is eye round steak

Have you heard of a cut names eye round steak lately? If so, this post is for you.

But what is eye round steak?

Eye round steak is a cut of beef from the hindquarter. It’s widely used as ground beef or sometimes as stew meat, but eye round steaks are also often sold separately from cuts of sirloin and skirt steak.

While it can be tough if overcooked, eye round steak contains a lot of connective tissue that breaks down over time. This can give it a very tender and juicy bite if it’s cooked properly.

Let’s take a closer look…

What Exactly Is Eye Round Steak?

Eye round steak is a cut that comes from the rear of the beef carcass, and it’s located behind the sirloin and in front of the rump.

Because it has little fat, this steak must be cooked using dry heat methods like grilling or pan-frying to avoid becoming too tough.

This cut of beef comes from the top rear leg of the animal, so it is sometimes called top round roast or top round steak.

As you can imagine, this steak comes from a section of meat that carries very little fat because the inner thighs are leaner than other parts on most animals.

You will more likely find this as a boneless cut at the grocery store, as it is sometimes seen as part of a larger roast.

In comparison to other cuts from this area, eye round steak is lower in both cholesterol and saturated fat. Making it a strong option for those watching their figure.

How Is Eye Round Steak Best Cooked?

When it comes to cooking eye round steak, you want to be sure not to overcook it.

This cut has little fat, so overcooking will cause the meat to become dry and tough and just taste nasty.

You should use medium-high heat when grilling or pan-frying this steak, as high heat will dry out your beef without adding that extra layer of flavor that you want.

Preheat the grill for about 10 minutes before you toss on your steak.

You should use tongs to flip the beef several times while it grills. You do not want to pierce or cut into the meat when checking doneness.

Instead, poke the steak with your finger in its thickest part and judge how done it is by how much resistance you feel.

Alternatively, use a knife to measure the steak’s thickness before cooking it.

Eye round steaks are thin cuts of meat, so you should be able to tell when they’re done by cutting them in half and checking their color.

You want to remove your eye round steaks from the heat while they still appear pink, but are cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside.

Slice your meat against the grain to make cutting easier, as this reduces its toughness as well.

How Is Eye Round Steak Best Prepared?

Preparing your eye round steak is easy when you know how.

First of all, cut off any excess fat that you find on this meat before cooking it.

Despite its leanness, there’s still a lot of connective tissue and this can make your beef chewy and tough if left on during the cooking process.

Also, remove any silver skin that you find on your steak. You can do this by sliding a sharp knife between the silver skin and the beef until you hit the bone, then gently pulling it upwards to remove it completely.

Ensure the steak is seasoned to your liking, and don’t forget to add any marinade if you want the extra flavor boost.

Spice rubs and sauces can also be added before cooking, but try not to soak your steak in them for too long. Otherwise, the spices will penetrate the meat and take away from its beefy taste.

When cooking eye round steaks, pan-frying is the best choice because grilling will dry out this cut of meat.

You want to cook this cut of beef in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 4 minutes on each side.

This is one cut of beef that can’t afford to be over-cooked!

When you’re preparing your eye round steak, think of flank steak.

The preparation process is nearly identical, with both cuts of meat coming from the same part of the animal.

This cut is very thin and takes well to marinades because it’s easy to cut into pieces for this purpose, too.

How Is Eye Round Steak Best Served?

Eye round steak is best served on its own with a side of your favorite vegetable.

This cut of beef is excellent in the form of bologna or nitrate-free hot dogs.

It can also be added to soups or stews, but you need to keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t overcook before you serve it.

There are plenty of tasty recipes using eye round steak available on the web, and you can always make things like shepherd’s pie with ground beef and other ingredients.

This cut is great in dishes like tacos or stews, because its thinness allows it to cook quickly.

Eye round steak is very lean and has little fat, so it doesn’t soak up flavors as well as fattier cuts of beef do.

How Expensive Is Eye Round Steak?

The price of eye round steak is typically very affordable, even for organic beef.

You can typically expect to pay around $6 a pound for this cut of beef.

It will be the cheapest steak you’ll ever buy, and yet it’s not tough or flavorless as a result.

Eye round steaks are one of the most popular types of beef to include in your diet because they’re so lean and easy to cook without sacrificing flavor.

Buy them from a butcher, and if you’re worried about their tough texture, ask your local store to tenderize them for you.

If they say no, find a different butcher!    

Where Is Eye Round Steak Commonly Found?

This cut is most commonly found in the United States.

However, it is popular all over the world and can be found in a number of different countries for reasonable prices.

Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Argentina are all countries that commonly sell eye round steak.

You can also find it in Asian markets, including India and Malaysia.

Budget-conscious consumers should know that this cut of beef is typically the cheapest available, which means you can save money on groceries by cooking with it often.

If you’re looking for an affordable cut of beef that is easy to prepare and versatile in the kitchen, eye round steak should be one of your top choices.

What Is The Nutritional Value Of Eye Round Steak?

It’s important to look at the nutritional value of food before you consume it on a regular basis, and eye round steak is no exception.

This type of beef has very little fat because it’s so thin, making it an excellent food for anyone who wants to lose weight or just keep things trim.

Eye round steaks won’t do much to pad your belly, so if you want the additional caloric intake, make sure you compensate by eating less of it.

See below the nutritional value of one serving of Eye Round Steak (113g):

  • Calories = 150
  • Fat = 4g
  • Saturated Fat = 1.5g
  • Carbohydrates = 0g
  • Sugar = 0g
  • Protein = 26g

As you can see, this steak is packed full of protein and only has 150 calories per serving, making it an excellent choice for those on a diet.

Health-conscious people often choose to buy this cut of meat because it is so lean and has virtually no saturated fat or cholesterol.

It’s also a good choice for people who are on restricted diets, as they can eat small portions of this steak without feeling guilty about the amount of fat that it contains.

Eye round steak is also an excellent choice for people who are trying to lose weight, as it’s the most filling of all the lean steak cuts.

It might not be very impressive in terms of taste or texture, but it will do its job of being a healthy meat source that won’t bog you down with excessive calories or fat.

Other Considerations

This steak isn’t always available at the grocery store, but if your local butcher carries it, purchase several pounds at once because this cut freezes well for later use.

You can also cook with leftover eye round steak in a variety of ways, such as making soup or throwing it into a stir fry.

It’s a versatile cut, so if you find an affordable source for it, chances are high that you’ll enjoy the flavor and texture of eye round steak.

It’s also worth noting that this steak works well for people trying to cut their cholesterol.

Too much fat in your diet leads to high cholesterol, which can clog your arteries and increase your risk of stroke or heart attack.

When you choose eye round steak over other cuts of beef, you consume less fat on a regular basis because this type of meat is so lean.

If you’re on a high-protein diet and want to eat as many steaks as possible, choose eye round steak because it’s so low in calories.

Conclusion

In conclusion, eye round steak is a versatile cut of meat that works well for people trying to cut calories, lose weight, or just eat healthier.

This type of beef is low in cholesterol and saturated fat, which is why it’s so healthy for you.

If you’re looking for a lean steak that won’t bog down your belly with extra pounds, eye round steak is the tasty cut for you.

It might not be the most popular cut of beef, but people who choose it will eat less fat and cholesterol on a regular basis without having to give up tasty cuts of meat.

The next time you’re in the grocery store, make eye round steak a priority purchase because it’s an excellent source of lean protein and only has 150 calories per serving.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I hope you’ve learned a thing or two about eye round steak.

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