Flat iron steak

flat iron steak

About flat iron steak

Flat iron steak is the American name for the cut known as Butlers' steak in the UK and oyster blade steak in Australia and New Zealand. This cut of steak is from the shoulder of a beef animal. The steak encompasses the teres minor and infraspinatus muscles of beef, and one may see this displayed in some butcher shops and meat markets as a "top blade" roast. Steaks that are cross cut from this muscle are called top blade steaks or patio steaks. As a whole cut of meat, it usually weighs around 2 to 3 lbs, is located adjacent to the heart of the shoulder clod, under the seven or paddle bone, which is analogous to the shoulder blade in a human. The entire top blade usually yields 4 steaks, between 8 to 12oz. each. Flat iron steaks usually have a significant amount of marbling. Anatomically, the muscle forms the dorsal part of the rotator cuff of the steer. This cut is anatomically distinct from the shoulder tender which lies directly below it and which is analogous to the teres major in a human.