Eye of Round Steak: What Is It and How to Cook It 

The eye of round steak is one of the leanest cuts from the back leg of cattle.

Despite having a reputation for being tough if cooked improperly, the eye of round cut is great for roasting and grilling because it cooks quickly and evenly without drying out like other cuts such as sirloin or chuck roasts.

Keep reading to learn how to get the best out of the eye of round steak cut.

What is the eye of round steak?

Eye of round steak, also known as eyelet or eye-round roast, is a cut of beef from the round primal, or large hindquarters of the cow.

Not to be confused with the chuck eye steak, which is cut from the fifth rib.

It is a lean, tender cut of beef that can be tough if not cooked properly because it comes from a large working muscle.

It is sometimes considered a “lesser” cut of meat, but eye round steak has many benefits that make it worth the purchase.

Why the bad reputation?

Steak cuts are often chosen for their fatty marbling, which makes them naturally tender and flavorful. The eye of round steak is a very lean cut with little marbling, which can make it tough if not cooked properly or paired with the right sauce to keep things moist.

Another reason eye round has been overlooked as a top-notch beef cut is that it is often turned into cubed or diced beef for dishes like Swiss steak or meatloaf.

These dishes are typically made by cutting the eye round into small pieces and braising, which can quickly dry out the eye of round if it is not properly prepared ahead of time.

What does the eye of round taste like?

The flavor profile for the eye of round steak varies slightly depending on how it’s cooked. If the eye of round is prepared as a roast, it has a mild yet somewhat beefy flavor.

However, eye of round steak can also be cut into thin slices and grilled or pan-fried for fajitas, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, burritos, or kebabs, and eye of round will pick up the flavors from other ingredients such as onions, bell peppers, or spices.

Eye of round steak nutrition Facts (based on 100gram weight)

Calories:	142kcal
Carbohydrates:	0g
Protein:	26g
Fat:	0g
Cholesterol:	76mg
Sodium:	51mg
Potassium:	204 mg
Phosphorus:	26mcg
Vitamin B-12:	0.45ug
Iron:	20%

How to cook eye of round steak

The most common methods for cooking the eye of round steak include pan-frying, broiling, grilling, and roasting.

How to pan-fry eye of round steak

To pan-fry eye of round steak:

1. Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until the surface appears wavy.
2. Add eye of round steak to hot oil, cooking for one minute on each side or until browned.
3. Cook eye of round steak to your desired degree of doneness.

You can find an excellent recipe for marinated and pan-fried eye of round here.

How to broil eye of round steak

To broil the eye of round steak:

1. Preheat the oven’s broiler and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Place the eye of round steak on the prepared baking sheet, cooking for five minutes per side or until browned.
3. Cook eye of round steak to your desired degree of doneness.

You can find a delicious recipe for Broiled Eye of Round Steak & Garlic Mashed Potatoes here.

How to grill eye of round steak

To grill eye of round steak:

1. Heat a grill to medium-high heat.
2. Lightly brush the eye of round steak with oil and place it on the hot grill rack.
3. Cook eye of round steak for five minutes per side or until browned, turning once at halfway through the cooking process.
4. Cook eye of round steak to your desired degree of doneness.

Or try this amazing recipe for Spiced Lime-Marinated Eye of Round Steaks

How to roast eye of round steak

To roast the eye of round:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix together the salt, thyme, and pepper.
3. Rub the eye of round with oil then rub and herb mixture until the eye of round is evenly seasoned on all sides.
4. Place the eye of round in a roasting pan and add broth or water so that it comes one-quarter inch up side of eye of round.
5. Cover eye of round with a lid or aluminum foil and roast in the oven for two hours, then remove from oven and allow to stand ten minutes before carving into thin slices across the grain.

Or check out this recipe for a great traditional eye of round roast.

Where to buy eye of round

Eye of round can commonly be found at your local butcher or at gourmet grocery stores. You can also buy eye of round and have it delivered to your door through a good online butcher.

You might also be able to find eye of round steak at the butcher’s counter of your local supermarket, although it is becoming harder to find in most large superstores as it is commonly cut up for cubed beef.

Wrapping it up

Eye of round is a great, lean, inexpensive cut that’s bad reputation comes mostly from people cooking it incorrectly. Cooked properly, using our instructions and recipes above, it can make for a flavorful addition to your grilling repertoire.