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Tips to Elevate Your Table With Wagyu Inside Skirt Steak

Opposite the outside skirt steak is the inside skirt steak, a cut that’s also known as arrachera, fajita meat, fajita steak, or simply as skirt steak. With a robust, beefy flavor profile and ample marbling, this cut is a natural pick for high-heat methods like grilling and searing.

General Cooking Tips

The Best Ways to Prepare American Wagyu Inside Skirt Steak

Once your inside skirt steak has been marinated to perfection, it’s time to cook it quickly over high heat. This thin cut cooks fast, and with its abundant fat content, creates a browned crust and smoky, charred edges.

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Pan-Frying
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Grill
Recommended preparations

Your Wagyu, Your Way

Essential Techniques for Cooking American Wagyu Inside Skirt Steak

  • Slicing against the grain is essential for the skirt steak. Find the way the grain runs and slice perpendicularly, or against, that grain.
  • Because the inside skirt steak is coarser than other cuts, we recommend marinating it. The flavors of your marinade will infuse your beef with flavor while ingredients like acid will tenderize the cut.
  • Pick bright and spicy seasonings, ingredients, and side dishes that will complement skirt steak’s intense, beefy flavor and sumptuous marbling. The New York Times’ skirt steak recipe uses basil, scallions, lemon, thyme, garlic, pepperoncino, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
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Temperature Guide

Cooking Temperatures for American Wagyu Inside Skirt Steak

For best results, use temperature over cooking times to determine desired doneness.

Doneness Internal Temperature
Rare 120°F - 129°F
Medium Rare 130°F - 139°F
Medium 140°F - 149°F
Medium Well 150°F - 159°F
Well Done 160°F+

For optimal food safety, cook beef steaks to a minimum of 145°F.


Smoky, Rich & Robust

How to Grill American Wagyu Inside Skirt Steak

Marinate and grill your inside skirt steak, then savor the flavor all on its own or slice it thin for tacos with a little chimichurri on top.

instructions:
  1. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours.
  2. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
  3. Pat steak dry with paper towel, absorbing as much of the marinade as possible.
  4. Grill over direct heat until char lines appear, 3-5 minutes per side or until your preferred temperature is reached.
  5. Rest the meat at least 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.

Smoky, Rich & Robust

How to Pan-Fry American Wagyu Inside Skirt Steak

Pressed for time? Pan-fry your inside skirt steak, seared to perfection in minutes, delivering an explosion of flavor with its beautiful char and craveably crisp edges.

instructions:
  1. Pat steak dry with a paper towel.
  2. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet. Once hot, add olive oil.
  4. Add steak to the heated pan, pressing down with your tongs to ensure the surface of the meat is touching the hot pan.
  5. Cook for 2-4 minutes per side, or until the steak reaches your desired doneness.
  6. Rest at least 5 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving.

American Wagyu Skirt vs. Flank Steak

Skirt steaks and flank steaks are similar cuts, but they each have their unique benefits. The inside skirt steak comes from the plate primal, while the flank comes from the flank primal. Flank steaks are typically a bit leaner than inside skirt steak, but both cuts are very beefy and will melt in your mouth like butter.

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featured recipe

Grilled Inside Skirt Steak with Garlic Brown Butter and Peppercorn Crust

Garlic-infused brown butter amplifies Wagyu skirt steak’s natural richness in this recipe, while a piquant peppercorn crust adds heat and a satisfying crunch.

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