How to Sous Vide Flank Steak

Chances are you’ve never heard of flank steak, however, if you’ve ever ordered fajitas from a food cart or a restaurant it’s likely you’ve already enjoyed this underappreciated and affordable cut. This thin and lean cut of meat comes from the abdominal region of cattle. While prized for its meaty flavor, flank is a well-used muscle and as a result it can be very tough and chewy. That’s where sous vide comes in. Flank steak cooked using Suvie or sous vide is wonderfully tender and packed full of beefy flavor.

Follow this simple guide to learn how to cook flank steak using Suvie and sous vide.

Temperature and cooking times for flank steak

Like most sous vide meats, the longer you cook, the more tender your meat will become. Leaving the steak in the water bath for longer than 40 minutes won’t cook the meat far beyond the desired doneness but it will affect the texture. Flank is a fairly fibrous and tough beef cut so it might benefit from a longer cook time.

In terms of timing, our recommended cook times are based on a 1-inch thick steak. Flank is a thin muscle so it’s rare to find any steaks thicker than 1 inch.

Follow this link to find out more information about Suvie cooking times and temperatures. 

Ingredients and Tools

• Flank Steak (at least 1 inch thick)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Vegetable oil
• Herbs or additions

Equipment

• Suvie or sous vide wand
• A large pot (if using a sous vide wand)
• Vacuum sealer and bags or Freezer safe recloseable bags
• A heavy, preferably cast iron, pan

Directions

If you’re using a sous vide wand, pre-heat your water bath to the desired temperature.

Season the steak generously on all sides with salt and pepper. Place the steak into the plastic bag along with any herbs or additions and vacuum seal. If you’re using a recloseable bag, follow our guide on the water displacement method. 

Lower the bag into the water bath and leave until cooked.

If you are using Suvie place the bag into a Suvie pan and cover completely with water. Place in Suvie and use the following settings:

Suvie Cook Settings

Bottom Zone: Sous Vide at 125-150°F for 40 minutes-3 hours (based on desired doneness)

Top Zone: Sous Vide at 125-150°F for 40 minutes-3 hours (based on desired doneness)

Once the cook is done remove the bag from your Suvie or water bath. 

Finishing

Remove the steak from the bag and pat dry with paper towels. 

Pan Sear

Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a cast-iron pan over high heat. Avoid using olive oil as it has a low smoke point.

Once the oil begins to smoke and shimmer, add the steak. and cook without moving for 15 seconds.

Flip steaks and repeat on the opposite side for 15 seconds. Continue flipping steaks in 15-second intervals until both sides are well browned.

Remove from heat and serve.

Grill

The large surface area of flank steak makes it an ideal cut to finish over a hot grill.

Simply sear on a hot grill for between 1-2 minutes on each side, flipping often.

Remove from heat and serve.

Recipes to try

Carne Asada

Chimichurri Steak

Steak au Poivre with Smashed Potatoes

Seared Steak with Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, and Romesco Sauce

FAQs

Where can I find flank steak

While it’s definitely become more ubiquitous in recent years, depending on where you live, you make find it difficult to find flank steak at your local grocery store. If this is the case try your local butcher.

Should I marinade the steak?

Flank steak is a fairly fibrous and tough cut of beef and benefits from a pre-cook marinade to soften the texture and add an extra layer of flavor.

Are the cooking temperatures safe?

Our recommended cooking temperatures for Sous vide and Suvie are lower than what the USDA recommends, however, cooking times and temperatures are long enough and high enough for “pasteurization” to make your food safe. The USDA recommendations indicate the temperature needed to instantly kill food pathogens. By cooking for a longer time at a lower temperature we are able to achieve the same effect. However, high-risk populations should use extra caution when preparing foods below the USDA recommended temperatures.

Where can I get vacuum sealed proteins?

If you don’t want to fuss with vacuum sealers and recloseable bags you can skip the store and order the Suvie Protein Box. Just put together your ideal combination of preseasoned, portioned, and vacuum-packed high-quality meat, poultry, or fish. We deliver it to you frozen in a carefully-packed box.

Can I use any type of plastic bag?

You can, however, make sure that they are made from polyethylene. Brand name recloseable bags are made using polyethylene which is a BPA and dioxin free plastic that can safely handle sous vide cooking temperatures up to 190°F. Some generic branded plastic bags are made using cheaper polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which cannot handle high temps and contains chemicals that can leach into food.

Should I leave my steak to rest before serving? 

Nope! One of the great things about cooking with Suvie and sous vide is the evenness of temperature. While the outer edges will be hotter from the sear, the interior of the steak will be cooked to the same temperature throughout. This means no resting time is necessary. 

I forgot to defrost my steak, what now?

No problem! You can sous vide steak directly from frozen. Just add 1 hour to the cooking time. 

Can I cool my steak after the sous vide process and sear it later?

For food safety and general food quality reasons, we don’t recommend it. Steak should be seared and eaten soon after the sous vide step.

Can I leave my steak in the water bath indefinitely? 

You can, but you shouldn’t. While leaving steak in sous vide for long periods of time won’t result in overcooking, it will have a negative effect on the overall texture of the meat.