How To Cook Round Steak So It Is Tender And Tastes Great

Last Updated on August 8, 2022 by SteakEat

Did you know that cooking round steak is actually not that easy?

This steak is lean and tough – not the best combination if you want to enjoy a mouthwatering piece of tender flavorful beef!

Fortunately, it is possible to make it delicious and tasty. 😉

Here, at Steakeat, I put together a number of different cooking techniques that you can use…

So, what’s your cooking method?

Pick one below! 🙂

How to Cook Round Steak on Stove

This is the most basic method of cooking this lean and pretty tough cut!

In fact, I don’t recommend using it for thicker cuts of round steak because it will dry out before you get it to a more or less cooked state (like medium-rare).

If you have a pretty thick cut, skip to the next cooking method down below – finishing it in oven will help you to keep it juicy and tender.

As of stove top method, you’d need a really good cooking pan (that’s actually the main reason for getting great browning), basic things like kosher salt, pepper and…the steak itself!

How to Cook Round Steak on Stove and Finish It In Oven

Round steak is one of the toughest, leanest cuts that you can still use in order to actually make a delicious steak.

However it requires some proper handling!

I’m talking about the oven finishing…

Cooking it on stove and then finishing it in over will produce an absolute best result – delicious mouth-watering browning on top with still tender insides.

Oh, and you should definitely use this method if the round steak you got is pretty thick because you must use the oven in order to finish it (while still keeping it tender).

How to Cook Round Steak in Cast Iron Skillet

Cast iron is amazing material!

It takes ages to heat it up but once it’s red hot…mmm…it’s just perfect for quickly searing steaks (not just round) in order to develop that rich flavorful bronwing on the surface.

Cast iron, just like any other skillet, takes a bit of practice to master (especially with not getting your entire steak sticking to the pan) so this guide can help you get started…well ahead of the pack!

I like using this method of cooking in a combination with finishing my steaks in oven – I get amazing results that way!

I also encourage you to take proper care of your cast iron skillet and…not wash it!

Round Steak Calories

This cut is very low in fat (which, by the way, affects the flavor).Here is what its nutritional value looks like per 100g/4oz of raw round steak:

• Total calories 133 kcal
• Fat 4.66 g / 0.16 oz
• Carbohydrates 0
• Protein 21.41 g / 0.76 oz

Source: National Nutrient Database (USDA)

Also included:

• How to Marinate
• Round Steak Cooking Times
• How to Tenderize Round Steak
• Marinade Recipes

Also Included…

How to make round steak even better?

Here are a couple of ideas I recommend you check out.

How to Marinate Steak

This 5-minute guide will guide you through the marinating process, making it easy.

It answers a couple of FAQs (e.g. how long marinated steak is good for in the fridge) and gives a couple useful ideas.

Steak Doneness Guide

How long does it take to cook round steak in oven, on the grill or on stove?

This ultimate guide to steak cooking times will help you get exactly what you are looking for, even if you don’t have a meat thermometer!

How to Tenderize Round Steak

Even before starting to prepare round steak in the oven or the stove top, you might consider tenderizing it, especially if the steak itself is big or you prefer softer meat. There are few ways of doing it – so tenderize round steak.

Marinade Recipes

Quick and easy marinade ideas, which do the job.

How to Buy Quality Round Steak

Unlike other more expensive cuts of beef (e.g. rib eye), round steak is relatively leaner and chewier – it comes from the rare part of the animal, which ‘works out’ quite a lot during the lifetime of the cow.

This is why we recommend you look for a round steak that has been matured (a.k.a. dry-aged/hanged) for at least 14 days (try 21- and 28-day matured if you find them too).

Dry aging is the process of natural protein molecule decomposition, which occurs as a result of enzymatic action within the meat itself.

In simple language – maturing softens meat and concentrates flavor (as a result of moisture evaporating).

This is just what we need with chewy and lean round steak.

We also recommend you go organic grass-fed. Not only will you enjoy a better flavor, but you will also gain all the health benefits seen in wild game meat – higher nutrient density and better fatty acid profile (good for cardiovascular health).

Money saving tip: instead of ordering round steaks piece by piece, buy the entire roast (i.e. a larger piece of meat which they cut steaks from) and cut steaks yourself – it works out much cheaper! You can also try cow-pooling as an overall savings strategy.