Cut from the plate section of a cow, skirt steak is long and thin compared to other steaks. You might hear it compared to a hanger steak or flank steak because their appearances are similar. Skirt steak can be tough if not cooked properly, but its strong beef flavor is what keeps people coming back to this unique cut.
Grilling skirt steak can be especially tricky for first-timers, but our guide is designed to help you learn all the right techniques so that you can learn how to grill skirt steak at home.
Before grilling skirt steak, spend a few minutes preparing the grill. Whether you have a gas or charcoal grill, the right preparation can prevent skirt steak from sticking and ensure that your steak cooks at the right temperature.
About 15 minutes before you’re ready to start grilling, brush the grill grates with a little bit of olive oil. Then, preheat the grill to 450 degrees or high heat, whichever temperature gauge your grill offers. If you prefer your steak cooked to medium or medium-well, also prepare a low-heat side of the grill, if possible.
Brush the grill grates with olive oil to prevent sticking. Charcoal grills usually need about 15-20 minutes to preheat thoroughly, which happens when the coals turn white and become ashy. First, place the coals in a pile in the center of the grill’s bottom and use lighter fluid to help them light. Or, use a chimney starter if you prefer. Once they turn white and ashy, spread the coals evenly on the bottom of the grill.
Expect skirt steak to cook for about 10-15 minutes on the grill, depending on your desired level of doneness. You’ll also need 5-10 minutes for the steak to rest and about 45 minutes to prepare the steak with a dry brine. Alternatively, you can use a marinade to tenderize the steak before grilling, which can add at least two hours to the full cooking process.
While we suggest cooking skirt steak to medium-rare to keep it tender and juicy on the grill, we know that not everyone prefers this level of doneness. Refer to the table below to find the temperature ranges for your preferred doneness level.
Grilling Skirt Steak Instructions
Now, we’re ready to start grilling! Follow these instructions to grill skirt steak or use the recipe below.
Step 3: Grill Skirt Steak
Remove the steaks from the marinade, allowing as much marinade as possible to drip off them. Transfer steaks to the grill. Let sear on one side for 3-5 minutes. Flip with tongs and sear on the other side for another 3-5 minutes.
How to grill a skirt steak
Can You Grill skirt steak too long?
If there’s one thing to avoid when grilling skirt steak, it’s cooking it for too long. To reach medium-rare, you’ll probably need no more than 10 minutes. Cooking longer can cause those naturally tough fibers to tighten even more, making the steak chewy. For best results, leave some pink in the middle.
Skirt steak vs Flank steak: Which is healthier?
Both the steak variants have similar amount of energy and proteins as both are cut from a similar animal. Moreover, skirt steak is cut from the lower portion of the animal, just behind the fore limbs. Flank steak is also cut from the lower part but behind the skirt steak or before the hind limbs. Both the meat variants have characteristic flavor but are not very tender. Thus, they can be used for grilling, roasting, sautéing or broiling. However, the steak should not be cut thickly or over cooked to avoid toughness and dryness.
How do you cook skirt steak on a grill?
To grill skirt steak to medium-rare, make sure your grill is thoroughly preheated with a high-heat area of 450-500 degrees. Transfer the steak to the grill and let sear on one side for 3-5 minutes. Flip with a pair of tongs and sear the other side for 3-5 minutes.
How long should skirt steak sit out before cooking?
Season your steak on both sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Usually, you’d let a thick steak sit out at room temperature for about an hour before cooking to take the chill off, but since the skirt steak is so thin, it only needs to sit for about 15 minutes before it’s good to go.