Top Round Steak
Top round steak, often sold as London Broil, comes from the rump of the animal. The muscles are used heavily for locomotion, so this is one of the least tender and leanest cuts sold by butchers. While it can be broiled, slow cooking to fork-tender is a better method.
Other Common Names
- London Broil
- Top Round London Broil
Primal Cut
- Round Primal
Top Round Steak Cooking Methods and Tips
Typical Cooking Methods & Tips
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Braising
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Slow Cooking
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Broiling
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Grilling
General Cooking Recommendations
This very lean cut will be best if you slow simmer it in a broth until tender. If you decide to broil or grill top round steak, marinate for 24 hours or more before cooking to add tenderness.
How To Cook Top Round Steak On The Traeger
Our smoked pot roast technique is an excellent way to use this cut. But if you want to cook over high heat, we'd suggest marinating for 24 hours or more, then smoking on your Traeger for one hour before finishing over high heat.
Serving with a sauce will add moisture to this lean cut.
Top Round Steak Internal Temperatures
- For rare, aim for 120-130 °F internally.
- For medium-rare, aim for 130-135 °F internally.
- For medium, aim for 135-145 °F internally.
- For medium-well, aim for 145-155 °F internally.
- For well-done, aim for 155-165 °F internally.
Interesting Facts About Top Round Steak
The term London Broil doesn't seem to have originated in London at all and is a purely North American invention. In Canada, the term refers to something completely different: A flank steak wrapped around ground or minced meat.
In the United States, the term also originally referred to a preparation for flank steak — which is an excellent cut for marinating and grilling. But in the 1960s and 1970s, London Broil got so popular that butchers started labeling all sorts of cuts as "London Broil."
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association identifies the top round steak with UPC number 1153. You may see this number in the UPC code on the beef package label at the supermarket.
Top Round Steak Nutritional Facts
According to the USDA, one broiled top round steak contains 665 calories, 100 grams of protein, and 29.3 grams of fat.
Best Top Round Steak Recipes
Now that you know everything about this lean piece of meat, make sure to cook it on your pellet grill. Explore these recipes:
London Broil With Blue Cheese Butter
London Broil (also known as a top round steak), is a delicious steak to cook on your pellet grill. Before you get to grilling though, make sure to marinade it for 6 hours and pair it with a creamy blue cheese compound butter.
Grilled Balsamic & Blue Steak
Blue cheese is back in this recipe as well. Top round steak is notoriously lean, so make sure to pair it with a zesty balsamic marinade and creamy blue cheese on top to make this steak pop.
Top Round Steak FAQ's
IS TOP ROUND STEAK A GOOD CUT?
It's not a very good cut. The meat is rather tough and lacks the intramuscular fat that would give it flavor.
HOW MUCH DOES TOP ROUND STEAK COST?
You'll pay between $5 and $10 per pound for top round steak.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TOP ROUND STEAK IS DONE?
If you braise top round, cook until the meat is tender, at an internal temperature of 204 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook over direct heat, cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees for medium-rare.
WHAT IS A TOP ROUND STEAK BEST FOR?
This cut is best for pot roast.
HOW DOES A ROUND STEAK AND A CUBE STEAK DIFFER?
Cube steak is a round steak, or other steak, that has been tenderized.
CAN TOP ROUND STEAK BE COOKED FROM FROZEN?
We wouldn't recommend cooking this cut from frozen. It tends to be large, and the exterior of the steak could overcook before the interior is safe to eat.
