Sirloin steak is a cut that comes from the lower part of beef ribs. It continues from the tenderloin (the place where the most prized steaks come from) and is a high quality cut with a lot of flavor, since these muscles still do a reasonable amount of work. Sirloin has more flavor than a number of other steaks, and is divided into several different subcategories.
The top sirloin is the most prized of all the sirloin steaks, and you are unlikely to find it unless you look for it specifically. Most sirloin steak is really bottom sirloin, a tougher, larger piece of steak that can be more readily available and cost less. Bottom sirloin is also connected to what is called the sirloin tip roast, a good, if somewhat tough roast that should not be eaten as a steak.
Tri-tip steak is a strongly flavored part of the bottom sirloin, and is very lean, causing it to overcook if not paid proper attention. Sirloin pin bone steak is one that is cut from the front part of the sirloin. There is an oval pin bone inside that gives it its name. Sirloin flat bone steaks have flat back and hipbone pieces inside, as well.
Sirloin round bone steaks contain less bone than most other sirloin steaks, and are rather less fatty. Sirloin wedge bone steaks come from the rear of the sirloin, and contain a small wedge shaped bone. All these different types of sirloin steaks should be available at your local market.
Sirloin cuts are usually leaner and not as tender and buttery as some of the higher end steaks, but their low price and deep flavor makes up for a lot. Prepare them with dry heat, such as pan-frying, grilling, broiling, or a similar high heat method. Remember to treat different parts of the sirloin appropriately – cooking perfect steak will depend a lot on what part of the sirloin you are trying to prepare.
Make sure you decide to buy sirloin steaks that have a clear, red color. This color comes from exposure to oxygen – steak is usually purple before the air touches it. Sirloin steak should be cold and neatly packaged, with firm meat that is ready to eat. Store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for only a few days. External fat can be trimmed before or after cooking.
At 145 degrees Fahrenheit, a steak is medium rare. At 165 degrees, it is well done. A meat thermometer can tell you these temperatures. Use tongs, not a fork, to turn steak, since piercing it will cause the juices to be lost. Let the steaks rest for five to ten minutes to keep this from happening when the steak is cut.
Broil steak in a pan two to four inches from the heat source for eight to ten minutes. Grill brushed lightly with oil and placed over the heat source for six to eight minutes, or pan broil on a stovetop for thirteen to fifteen minutes.
