How to Cut Steak Properly

Cutting your steak the right way is crucial for achieving the perfect texture and tenderness. In the video below, our chef Ruben Meijboom explains why slicing steak correctly is so important and demonstrates the differences between fine-grained cuts (such as tenderloin) and coarse-grained cuts (such as flank steak).

Want to read through the tips afterwards? No problem! We've clearly outlined everything for you below the video.

How to Cut Steak Properly

Cutting your steak the right way is incredibly important for achieving the perfect texture and tenderness. Even a beautifully cooked, tender steak that has rested for a good 10 minutes can turn into something as tough as shoe leather if you slice it incorrectly. Cutting steak properly is essential, but when it comes to coarse-grained cuts like bavette (flank steak), it's absolutely crucial. Slice your bavette the wrong way, and you'll be chewing forever. Such a waste!

Does the way you slice meat really make that much difference to the final result? Absolutely! You can literally ruin a perfectly cooked steak just by cutting it incorrectly. And that's a shame, because slicing bavette isn't difficult at all. You just need to know how to do it.

Cutting Meat Against the Grain

Meat consists of muscle tissue, and the grain you see in meat is made up of muscle fibers. Before slicing your steak, take a good look at the direction these fibers run. Place your meat on a wooden cutting board and examine the grain carefully. If the fibers run horizontally from left to right, you should slice perpendicular to them, meaning vertically. In other words, always cut against the grain, never along it. NEVER slice with the grain, as this will result in a steak that's incredibly tough to chew. This is especially important when preparing a flavorful but coarse-grained cut like bavette. With a cut like tournedos (filet mignon), the muscle fibers are much finer, so slicing incorrectly won't have quite the same impact. But still, always cut against the grain.

It might sound obvious, but slicing meat incorrectly is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when preparing a delicious steak.