Broiling is a versatile cooking method that gives you most of the flavor of grilling with all of the convenience of staying indoors. You can use your oven’s heating element to cook your favorite top sirloin steak with direct heat. The key is flipping the steak at the halfway point to help transmit heat evenly into the steak while also keeping the meat juicy.
Top sirloin is a great cut for broiling because it’s thick enough to benefit from the intense heat but not so thick that the outside will toughen up before the center is cooked. Get the details on how to broil Top Sirloin with the help of Steak University.
Broiling Steak Vs. Grilling Steak
Broiling is a quick and hot method of cooking beef just like grilling. However, you generally use liquid during the broiling process to keep the meat from getting too dry and to help transfer heat. With broiling, you can get well-seared results much like you would from the grill while staying inside where it’s warm and dry. Grilling is great, but it’s not always the quickest or most practical method for cooking dinner. Broiling is easy to do year-round and requires only basic kitchen tools like aluminum foil and baking pans.
Choosing the Right Cut
When it comes to broiling, thinner is better. Thick sirloin steaks belong on the grill instead. If you can find steaks around 1 inch or thinner, you’ll get the best results with this cooking method. Thicker 1.5 and 2-inch steak can be split in half before cooking if you have a sharp chef’s knife.
Look for well-marbled pieces that aren’t too fat-heavy in any one spot. The broiling method goes relatively quickly, so there’s not a lot of time for large fat caps to melt into the meat. You can always trim your top sirloin steaks up before cooking if necessary.
How Long To Broil Sirloin Steaks
Sirloin steaks are thicker than many other cuts popular for broiling, such as skirt steaks. This means they’ll take a little longer to cook, but they’ll also get a good sear with visible browning on the surface of the meat. The right amount of time to broil the steaks is largely determined by the level of doneness you and your guests prefer.
Steak Temperature Guide
- 120 to 125 degrees F: rare with a red interior
- 130 to 135 degrees F: medium rare with a warm red interior
- 140 to 145 degrees F: medium with a pink center
- 150 to 155 degrees F: medium well with a slightly pink center
- 160 degrees F and up: well done with a brown center.
It’ll take about 8 minutes per side for medium rare, with an additional two minutes per side for each additional level of doneness. For example, you can expect to cook the steaks for about 14 minutes per side if you’re aiming for well-done.
Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
You can swap the Top Sirloin used in this recipe for other cuts like the Flat Iron steak, Chuck Eye, Strip steak, or Porterhouse. Even Tri-Tip steaks respond well to broiling, as do affordable Strip and Flank steaks with the addition of some liquid. If you don’t want to use the marinade included with this recipe, simply omit it or substitute your favorite recipe. The main thing you can’t substitute is the amount of time the steak stays under the broiler. Use an accurate instant-read thermometer for the best results
To Marinate Or Not to Marinate: Options for Top Sirloin
Since Top Sirloin is not a thin or very lean cut, it adapts well to broiling without liquid or marinating overnight. However, you can marinate it and add some marinade when broiling to keep the steaks juicy while also getting more even cooking results. It’s all a matter of personal preference.
If you decide to marinate the steaks before cooking, aim for an overnight soak around 8 to 12 hours in length. Consider marinade recipes that rely on ingredients like olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Balsamic vinegar, honey, red wine, or pineapple juice to ensure the results are both flavorful and tender.
Broiled Top Sirloin Steak Recipe
Broiling a thick Top Sirloin steak takes a little more care and time than cooking a thinner cut this way, but the results are worth the effort. It’s still a relatively fast cooking method, with even thicker steaks taking under 30 minutes to reach well done. Get your supplies together before you start so there’s no rush to find your meat tongs when it’s time to flip the steak.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon of cracked black pepper
- 2 pounds of Top Sirloin steak, around 1 inch thick
Instructions
- Mix the liquid and spice ingredients together to make a marinade. Place the steaks in a glass dish with a lid or a plastic gallon-sized bag, then cover with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 hours or so, or for at little as four hours.
- Cover a high-sided baking pan with aluminum foil. Preheat the oven broiler for at least 10 minutes. Place the Top Sirloin steaks on the pan, placing them at least ½ inch apart to encourage even browning. Add a few spoonfuls of the marinade over the steaks if desired to keep the meat juicy while it’s cooking.
- Place the pan on the highest rack setting so the steaks are just a few inches away from the broiling element. Cook for about 8 to 15 minutes per side, flipping once, and check the internal temperature to ensure you’re reaching the desired cooking level. Let the steaks rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
You can slice the broiled steak for other recipes like steak sandwiches, tacos, wraps, and more.
Conclusion
Top Sirloin has the perfect texture and flavor to respond well to broiling both with and without liquid. Give this cooking method a try the next time you realize you’re out of charcoal for the grill.
Broiled Top Sirloin Steak
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon of cracked black pepper
- 2 pounds of Top Sirloin steak around 1 inch thick
Instructions
- Mix the liquid and spice ingredients together to make a marinade. Place the steaks in a glass dish with a lid or a plastic gallon-sized bag, then cover with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 hours or so, or for at little as four hours.
- Cover a high-sided baking pan with aluminum foil. Preheat the oven broiler for at least 10 minutes. Place the Top Sirloin steaks on the pan, placing them at least ½ inch apart to encourage even browning. Add a few spoonfuls of the marinade over the steaks if desired to keep the meat juicy while it’s cooking.
- Place the pan on the highest rack setting so the steaks are just a few inches away from the broiling element. Cook for about 8 to 15 minutes per side, flipping once, and check the internal temperature to ensure you’re reaching the desired cooking level. Let the steaks rest for about 5 minutes before serving.