What cut of beef is best for fajitas?

Rump, skirt or flank steak are the best cuts for fajitas! I prefer skirt steak (pictured). It’s more tender and flavourful than flank and can be cooked well done (for those who prefer well) without getting tough and chewy. Flank steak is a leaner cut and is better cooked rare — medium.

How do you tenderize beef fajita meat?

Marinating the flank steak is a crucial part of the fajita recipe. A marinade adds more flavor to the meat and makes it more tender, because the acid in the marinade helps to break down the muscle and proteins in the meat before cooking.

What is the best meat to use for fajitas?

What Is the Best Cut of Beef to Use for Steak Fajitas? You can use either skirt steak or flank steak for fajitas. Although the two cuts come from different parts of the cow, both skirt and flank steak soak up marinades well, cook quickly, and, when sliced thinly against the grain, taste tender and flavorful.

How do you make fajitas not chewy?

Opt for equal parts oil to acid — for oil, use vegetable, olive or grapeseed. The oil helps the spices and garlic in the marinade adhere to the beef and promotes even cooking. Add a splash of soy sauce, instead of salt, to the marinade because it contains enzymes that help make the meat more tender.

What kind of steak do Mexican restaurants use?

Meat selection The most common cut of beef used for carne asada is skirt steak or flank steak. The skirt steak is from the underside plate of the cow, often known as arrachera in Mexican cuisine.

Should I cut fajita meat before cooking?

While it’s possible to cook the steak as a whole strip, I find it better to slice it with the grain into five- to six-inch pieces, which are easier to handle on the grill.

Why is my fajita meat tough?

To ensure tender fajitas, make sure to cut the meat across the grain. Otherwise, this beautiful piece of fajita meat will be tough. There’s a scientific reason behind this: cutting across the grain results in chewing the meat with the grain.

How much meat do I need for 10 fajitas?

How much fajita meat do you need per person? You should account for 4 oz of raw meat per person when served with vegetables, rice, and beans. If there are no sides, you should estimate 8 oz of steak per person.

What kind of onions are best for fajitas?

White, yellow, or red onions are all great in fajitas. I tend to grab the red onion because I love that it’s a bit sweeter than the others and the color is so pretty with the other ingredients.

What’s another name for skirt steak?

Other names for flank steak include London broil and skirt steak, which is actually a different cut (more on that in a moment). This cut of steak comes from the abdominal muscles of the animal, right behind its chest. As you’d expect from that muscle-y area, the meat can be somewhat chewier than other steaks.

How do you make beef strips less chewy?

Cut Thin Slices Make thin cuts about 1/4 inch or thinner. Thin strips of beef are best because they won’t take long to cook. The thinner the beef, the more tender it will taste and the less chewy it will be.

How do you tenderize skirt steak for fajitas?

Try a little tenderness. There are two additional ways to tenderize skirt steak: chemical and mechanical. The chemical method involves marinating the skirt steak in some sort of acid, like lime juice or vinegar, for several hours or overnight. This helps break down some of the meat fibers.

Why are my fajitas watery?

Why are my fajitas watery? If you do find your fajita mix is watery, it’s easy to cook off any excess liquid. A frying pan with a large surface area should help a lot as an overcrowded pan will boil more than fry and cook away the liquid more slowly.