U.S. Wellness initially utilized meat cutting
services by PM Beef in 2000 - 2003. We made
the sojourn to Richmond, Virginia to meet
with the plant manager who told us about
recently introduced flatiron
steak. It had been
developed by research dollars
generated by the National Cattlemen's Beef
Association.
Research teams the University of Nebraska and
University of Florida led the break through.
Dr. Chris R. Calkins from the University of
Nebraska describes the naming process below:
"I am the scientist who led the project that
characterized beef muscles and led to the
development of the flatiron steak. It was
developed through a cooperative effort with a
national meat processor and a local
restaurant chain. The name is an old
industry term that has proven to have a lot
of charisma with consumers. We have been
unable to trace the source of the name. In
its current use, it refers to a particular
piece of meat cut in a specific way. This
new form in no way resembles "an old flat
iron" in shape or in taste. It's one of the
two most tender muscles in the beef carcass
and has a rich, succulent flavor that most
consumers appreciate."
The flatiron
can also be referred to a top
blade steak as it is a smaller cut from the
top blade roast. The names top blade and
flatiron can be interchanged. The tell tale
sign of the flatiron is the seem of gristle
right down central. This will not show up on
a chuck eye steak for example.
The following list are the same cuts as
described under the flatiron
or top blade
steak nomenclature above:
- Blade Steak
- Book Steak
- Butler Steak
- Lifter Steak
- Petite Steak
- Top Boneless Chuck Steak
Simple Flatiron Recipe
- 2 lbs. flatiron
steaks
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 cup of favorite wine for beef cooking
Mix all ingredients and marinate flatiron for
one hour. Grill to rare to medium rare status
for most robust flavor and tenderness.
Northeast Missouri is only 2 weeks away from
the changing of the colors and a pertinent
reminder that the long hot dry summer of 2007
will soon be recorded history. We hope your
family is in an area of the country where the
changing of seasons is pronounced. However,
living in southern Florida certainly has its
advantages in January and February!
