TikTok food trends are often questionable, but the internet was onto something with steak accordion. What an incredible way to prepare a steak!
Have you ever wanted to take an average steak to the next level but didn’t know how? Maybe make it appear more substantial, enhance the flavor, and reduce cook time? Now you can with steak accordion. For those unfamiliar, steak accordion, or waffle steak, involves using an accordion cut, a technique butchers use to extend a thick piece of meat into a thin one. The method is comparable to butterflying but is a lot more fun. For this recipe, I chose to use a New York strip steak. It’s a high-quality, flavorful choice, and I believe New York strips are unmatched. It only needs salt, black pepper, and a ripping hot grill.
Why You’ll Love Steak Accordion
Faster cook time – This technique results in a thinner, longer steak, which means faster cook time. I’m talking 2-3 minutes per side for a perfect medium-rare.
Dramatically increases surface area – This means more crust, flavor, and a stunning presentation.
Seasonings penetrate more easily – In addition to extending the steak, the accordion cut opens the steak up so seasonings aren’t limited to the exterior. Instead, they get everywhere, resulting in a lot of flavor.
The steak seems bigger – This makes the entire dining experience feel more satisfying. Steak accordion is almost double the original length, and although you aren’t getting more steak, it feels like it, which is awesome. So indulgent!
Easier to Chew – The accordion method cuts the muscle fibers short, making the steak easier to chew.
Steak Accordion Ingredients Notes
For steak accordion, you need the following:
- Steak: Realistically, you can use any thick steak you like to grill, but if the budget allows, why not go for the New York strip? It’s delicious and very easy to cook.
- Kosher salt: Kosher salt is the best option for seasoning proteins like steaks due to the size of the grains. There’s no need to measure the salt you use when seasoning steak unless you’re on some restriction. Instead, you want to go in and generously season both sides.
- Black pepper: Every good piece of meat benefits from the mild kick of heat black pepper provides.
How to Make Steak Accordion
You’ll need a cutting board and a sharp chef’s knife to make steak accordion. Furthermore, it would help to freeze the steak for an hour or two because cutting a slightly firm steak is much easier. From there:
- Slice the first side: Make a series of semi-shallow straight slices on one side of the steak.
- Move on to the other side: Slice the steak diagonally on the other side. These series of cuts create the accordion effect. You want to slice at an angle, aiming for about a 20-degree angle.
- Stretch and season: Now comes the fun part! Stretch the steak out, then season both sides.
- Grill: Fire up the grill (ensure your grates are clean and oiled to prevent sticking) and grill the steak accordion hot and fast. Any other method will not produce the desired results.
- Rest and serve: Remove the steak from the grill, allow it to rest, slice it up, and serve.
Variations, Substitutions, and Cooking Tips
Use any steak you like – New York strip is ideal, but ribeye is also a great choice. It’s boneless with beautiful marbling and a ton of flavor.
Use chopsticks or dowels – If you’re concerned about cutting through the steak, place chopsticks on the side to stop the knife from going through.
Consider dry brining – To dry brine, season the steak, then place it on a baking rack and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. This extra step will tenderize and promote an even better crust.
Watch for flare-ups – Since you’re grilling a steak with a relatively thick fat cap that runs along the side over high heat, flare-ups are possible, so always cook cautiously. To efficiently control flare-ups if they do occur, have half of the grill set up for indirect cooking. You can simply move the steak to the indirect side to control the flames.
What to Serve with Steak Accordion
Steak accordion allows you to flex your creative muscles to create an incredible meal. One direction is to serve the steak with a side of accordion potatoes, macaroni salad, or smoked mac and cheese. Grilled vegetable chimichurri salad would also be delicious. Roasted garlic compound butter or cowboy butter are also incredible additions, as are grilled cabbage steaks and smoked cabbage with chili lime butter. Another direction is to simply top with sauce such as this creamy mushroom steak sauce. Let your cravings guide you.
Storage and Freezer Tips
Store any leftovers in a shallow airtight container and refrigerate. Be sure to eat the steak within 4 days. If you wish to keep it longer, freeze it. You can pop leftover steak accordion in a freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, seal, and freeze for up to 3 months. See our easy guide for reheating steak.
Steak Accordion
TikTok food trends are often questionable, but the internet was onto something with steak accordion. What an incredible way to prepare a steak!
Ingredients
- 1 New York strip steak, at least an inch thick
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Pop the steak in the freezer for two hours to firm up. This will make the steak easier to cut.
- Use a sharp knife to make shallow straight cuts across the steak, spacing them about ½-inch apart.
- Flip the steak over and make deeper diagonal cuts, spacing them about ½-inch apart. Stretch the meat to its new extended length.
- Generously season both sides of each steak with salt and black pepper. Alternatively, you can use your favorite dry rub or seasoning.
- Prepare a grill for high-heat cooking. Oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit for the perfect medium rare. Once it has a nice sear, it’s ready to come off the grill.
- Remove the steak from the heat, rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain and serve.
Notes
The 2 hours of prep time is mostly just the freezing process!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 135Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 184mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 11g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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