Top Round Steak — Everything You Need And Want To Know

Top round steak, a lean and moderately tender beef cut, comes from the top round muscle in the cow’s hindquarters. Known for its low fat content and lack of tenderness but a robust beef flavor, it’s suitable for grilling, broiling, and slow cooking but benefits from marinating or tenderizing before cooking.

But hang on, it’s a cut that lacks tenderness and any real marbling? Aren’t these missing characteristics what we usually look for in a great steak?

Yes, usually! But in this guide, we will show you precisely why it should still be a mainstay on your weekly menu. We’ll give you the low down on why, with a little TLC, it is a go-to cut. By answering what it is, where it’s from on the cow, and what it tastes like. And, of course, how best to get your hands on some.

Not entirely convinced? Let me show you…

Key Takeaways

• Top Round steak is a versatile cut of beef You can cook thick or thin, and its flavor is enough to satisfy meat-eaters
• It is a lean cut of meat with minimal fat marbling, making it suitable for those who prefer leaner cuts of beef.
• The Top Round steak comes from the round primal of the cow, which includes the rump, hips, and buttocks. These muscles are well-worked, resulting in leaner and less tender meat.
• It has various names, including London Broil, Beef Round, and Family Steak.
• Despite its lack of fat, the Top Round steak is flavorful and has a medium tenderness when appropriately cooked.
• Cooks typically use it in dishes such as beef carnitas, chili, stew, and for ground beef in burgers.
• Top round steak is readily available in butchers and supermarkets, but online options are limited.
• We recommend marinating the Top Round steak and cooking it carefully to avoid overcooking.

Jump to:

• 1 Key Takeaways
• 2 My Opinion of Top Round Steak
• 3 What is Top Round Steak?
• 4 Where Does Top Round Steak Come from on the Cow?
• 5 Other Names for the Top Round Steak
• 6 Flavor, Texture, Fat Content, and Tenderness
• 7 Typical Uses
• 8 Top Round Steak Nutrition
• 9 Top Round Steak Price
• 10 Portion Size: How Much Top Round Steak Per Person?
• 11 How to Prepare Top Round Steak for Grilling or Smoking
• 12 How to Cook Top Round Steak on a Grill
• 13 Buying Top Round Steak
  • 13.1 Where to Buy Top Round Steak Online
• 14 Conclusion

My Opinion of Top Round Steak

When I was a kid, my mom used to buy minute steak for steak sandwiches, but then insisted on cooking it for ten minutes. And this is what turns delicious beef into not-so-tasty boot leather.

Because of that, I’d always avoided beef that was cut thin and recommended flash cooking. That was until someone introduced me to the Top Round steak. It’s a versatile piece of meat that can be cooked thick or thin, and tastes great.

I’ve experimented with it in various thicknesses, finding it consistently delivers flavor but can be a little tough and dry compared to many other cuts. So, I like to marinate it well beforehand to tenderize it and add flavor.

A favorite use in my house is to buy it very thin, cook it with an Asian-influenced marinade, and use it in noodle dishes, ramen, or salads.

I would always opt for a different cut as an out-and-out steak, grilled simply and served as is. But as an ingredient in wetter dishes where the beef is a vehicle for other flavors, a top-round steak does brilliantly at an affordable price.

What is Top Round Steak?

Top round steak is a lean, flavorful beef cut from the upper rear leg of the cow, known for its versatility and tenderness when properly cooked.

Usually 0.5 – 0.75 inches thick, it has a small amount of fat marbling, a minimal fat cap at one end, and it usually comes as a 6 – 8 inch cut.

Of all the different types of steak, top round is the chicken of the steak world. Lean enough to suit most tastes and flavorful enough to satisfy the reddest of meat-eaters.

It takes very well to a marinade and can be cooked as a thick steak, thinly sliced, or cut up for carnitas and other dishes.

Where Does Top Round Steak Come from on the Cow?

The Top Round steak is found in the round primal, so-called because it surrounds the femur. This is the area of the cow that includes the rump, the hips, and buttocks.

The muscles in this area are used for movement and are well-worked as the cow moves around. As a result, the beef is leaner and less tender.

The Top Round steak is from the upper part of the round, or the semimembranosus muscle to be specific. This makes up part of the pelvic group of muscles that include the inside round and bottom round, from where the bottom round steak originates.

Other Names for the Top Round Steak

The round primal is divided into cuts such as the bottom, inside, and top round. As such, it has many name variations, but there are far too many to list them all. So, here are just a few of its more common names:

• London Broil: this name is given because it is a lean and less tender steak, and broiling is the preferred cooking method.
• Beef Round: a simple version of what it is and where it comes from.
• Family Steak: a nod to its popularity as a great all-rounder that has created many family meals.

Flavor, Texture, Fat Content, and Tenderness

The Top Round steak, despite its lack of fat, is a very flavorful piece of beef. Cooked well, it will be of medium tenderness and still moist with a firm chew.

It has a more robust beef flavor than other lean steaks such as a Filet Mignon. The grain of the meat is already tight and firm, so care must be taken not to overcook it, and you want to slice it against the grain before eating, otherwise, it will be very chewy.

Typical Uses

Top Round steak is typically used as a lean cut of beef for homemade dishes such as beef carnitas, a chunky beef chili, or even a beef stew.

It takes well to a saucy, liquid-based dish as it has a lack of natural fat for keeping it moist. It is also used as a lean cut of beef for ground beef in burgers. It is usually coupled with some pork meat or bacon to add the fat that it lacks to keep it from drying out.

Top Round Steak Nutrition

Nutrition	Total Amount	% Daily Value (based on 2000 calories/day)
Calories	140	7%
Saturated Fat	1.3 g	8%
Sodium	65 mg	3%
Protein	25 g	50%
Iron	2.7 mg	15%
Zinc	4.3 mg	40%

Top Round Steak Price

Despite its great flavor and versatility, top round steak comes at a fantastic price. At the time of writing, the cost per-pound was $6.99 – $7.49 per lb. Across online outlets.

Portion Size: How Much Top Round Steak Per Person?

A top round steak weighs in on average at 12 oz. It is a big one by most people’s standards.

It is the perfect size to create large dishes to feed the family. Or as an impeccably sized standalone steak for those that like the steak to take center stage.

It will satiate the biggest of eaters with a hearty side of homemade fries or a crispy-skinned baked potato and a healthy portion of veggies.

How to Prepare Top Round Steak for Grilling or Smoking

The Top Round steak comes well-presented and trimmed of any fat. It will be ready to slice and dice if that’s the plan.

If, however, you want to sample its delights as a standalone steak, then a good marinade is the way to prepare it.

The basis for any steak marinade is simple. Dark balsamic vinegar for the acidity needed to break down the fibers and Worcestershire sauce for added flavor. With a splash of soy sauce, it helps to tenderize and open up the grain to absorb more of the marinade.

Then experiment with a mix of sugar or honey to balance the acidic ingredients and any herbs you wish to compliment the beef.

How to Cook Top Round Steak on a Grill

The Top Round steak is very thin, and it can very easily be overcooked. So you must follow the guidelines carefully and cook it for just the short amount of time that it needs.

A good instant-read thermometer is a Godsend for a steak like this. Once it hits temperature, you remove it and rest it.

For reference, from our guide on steak cooking times, a half-inch steak will need just 2 minutes per side.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Remove your steaks from the refrigerator and remove from the marinade sauce you have them in.
2. Pat them dry, removing any excess marinade. If you don’t, it will burn on the hot grill and not allow the steaks to crust correctly.
3. Preheat your grill to high heat, 500 °F or above.
4. Place the steaks onto the hot grill and cook for 2 – 3 minutes, turning once only. You are looking for an end temperature of 130 °F for medium-rare or 140 °F for medium. So remove them when 5–10 °F lower, because they will continue to cook once removed.
5. Remove steaks, rest for 5 – 7 minutes before slicing across the grain.
6. Savor the flavor and enjoy it.

You can cook steak straight from the freezer if you’re short on time, as detailed in our guide on how to grill frozen steak.

Buying Top Round Steak

Top round steak is in plentiful supply in both butchers and supermarkets, but not so much online due to it being a budget cut.

It offers excellent flavor and great value for many, which is why it is the popular choice for those cooking for a big family.

Just be sure that the butcher or supermarket assistant knows that it is the Top Round steak that you’re after. If there is any confusion, use the industry IDs IMPS/NAMP — 1169, UPC –—1153. This will show them accurately which cut you mean.

Where to Buy Top Round Steak Online

Quality online meat markets are increasingly popular. They let you know precisely what you’re buying and at what quality it is graded. That way, you can make sure it’s in line with your rearing and environmental ethos. And you can set your budget accordingly, with the information laid out for you.

Once you’ve found what you want, you place your order and wait for it to arrive, vacuum packed, and freshly frozen to your doorstep.

As we previously mentioned, online sellers are limited due to it being a budget cut. But here are two online outlets that we have found who stock it:

• Target
• Smiths

Conclusion

The Top Round steak might not be an award winner or a bank-breaking restaurant favorite. But what it lacks it more than makes up for in versatility.

This is the reason it should be a staple in any family’s weekly meal plan. Just having a few Top Round steaks to hand means you can cook pretty much anything you like that features beef.

If you’re a fan of the Top Round steak, show us your tips in the comments below. We are always on the lookout for new marinade recipes and any comments or questions our readers have.