Learning about new cuts of beef is one of the favorite pastimes among red meat lovers. This post will answer all your burning questions about bottom round steak. Including where this cut comes from, its other names, nutrition facts, how it tastes, and where to buy it.
What Is Bottom Round Steak?
You can find the bottom round steak in the round primal at the top of the cow’s rear legs or hip and buttocks, near the sirloin tip. The cut comes from the bottom round roast found in the round primal’s center at the latter end of the biceps femoris.
Similar to top round steak, this cut has good taste. Bottom round steak is best for braising or slow cooking, giving you a worthy, beefy flavor.
Is bottom round steak tender? It is one of the toughest steaks. It has a tight grain; for this reason, Bottom round steaks tend to be tough, needing careful preparation if you are to get the best from your meal.
Other Names for Bottom Round Steak
It is easy to confuse the bottom round steak with some of the other many cuts the round primal offers. If that wasn’t enough, its alternate names don’t make it easier either.
To help avoid this, we felt it necessary to list some of the common alternate names for bottom round steak floating around, such as:
- Western Steak or Western Griller,
- Outside Round Steak (This name is incorrect since the outside round is a different cut, some still use it),
- Bottom Round London Broil.
What Does Bottom Round Steak Taste Like?
Since the bottom round steak has a tight grain, it is tough and will never be super tender, even with pot roasting or grilling at intense heat. However, with the proper cooking method, you can achieve steak of medium tenderness and full of flavor.
The bottom round steak is a lean cut of beef that goes well with a marinade. This way, you can tenderize the meat and give it new flavors. For maximum tenderness, cut the cooked steak into thin strips.
What to Make with Bottom Round Steak?
Due to their lean state, bottom round steaks work well with moist-heat cooking methods like braising. You could also cook them using the sous-vide method or make popular dishes like Swiss steak.
Three Example Recipes for Bottom Round Steak
Here are three examples of recipes you can experiment on, taking full advantage of the versatility your steak and grill have.
- Epicurious Filipino London Broil: If you are after a simple recipe, this is it. Keeping it simple allows you to get a natural feel for what kind of steak the bottom round is, especially when consumed alone. Pay close attention to the marinade because it is what gets the absolute best out of your meat.
- Deep South Dish Barbecue: This slow cooker recipe is another excellent way to enjoy your steak’s full potential. Remember to brown the steak before braising it.
- Lebanese London Broil: Test your steak against intense spices like sumac, cumin, and cinnamon, and enjoy a unique and incredibly-tasting medium-rare cut.
Bottom Round Steak Nutrition Facts
The nutritional value you are likely to get from a three-ounce service of a cooked bottom round steak:
| Nutrition | Portion size: 3 oz = 85 g |
|---|---|
| Calories | 190 |
| Protein | 28.6 g |
| Total Fat | 7.53 g |
| Sodium | 37.4 mg |
| Iron | 2.31 mg |
| Zinc | 4.76 mg |
| Magnesium | 18.7 mg |
Last thoughts, is Bottom Round Steak Good?
Bottom round steak is an inexpensive cut that is good for long and slow cooking (best for braising). It is not a typical steak you throw on a hot grill for a few minutes; a bottom round steak cooked this way will definitely be very tough. This cut is best used in recipes like beef stew or chili.