How to Cook Flank Steak in an Instant Pot

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Photo by bour3 licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

As one of the more affordable cuts of beef, Flank steak is versatile and easy to use as the centerpiece of any weekday or weekend meal. If you’re looking for a new way to cook this kind of steak so it turns out tender and full of flavor, consider the Instant Pot or any other similar pressure cooker. High pressure forces moisture into the meat, ensuring a juicy and tender finished product. Similar to results produced by hours in the slow cooker, cooking Flank steak in an Instant Pot results in a meal that’s ready in under 20 minutes. Get the best results from pressure cooking your favorite steak with these tips.

The Benefits of Cooking Beef in an Instant Pot


Pressure cooking with a small amount of liquid acts like a concentrated form of braising. Braising, or roasting meat with liquids, adds moisture and tenderizes beef as it cooks. The Instant Pot keeps the liquid from evaporating, ensuring it penetrates even denser cuts like this one. When you cook Flank steak in a pressure cooker or slow cooker, the meat softens while you enjoy a largely hands-off cooking experience.

Appliances like the Instant Pot help shorten the cooking time for fast meals when you’re busy as well. Even a Flank steak can take under 20 minutes to cook, helping you get dinner on the table in less than an hour in total with resting time. Despite the speed of the cooking method, you get tender meat with a rich flavor. Depending on the spices you rub on the surface and the liquids you choose to add to the Instant Pot, you have practically endless flavoring options.

Why Flank Steak Works in the Pressure Cooker and Slow Cooker

The pressure cooker applies both heat and pressure to the meat, cooking it in a relatively short amount of time. The intense cooking method and addition of moisture for braising help give the dense Flank steak a more tender texture. Slow cooking also works well to help break down the connective tissue in this steak so it’s easy to eat even without a knife. However, you’ll find the slow cooker method takes up to 8 hours longer to cook the same steak than a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot. A crock pot can easily cook potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables at the same time.

Prepping the Flank Steak

Marinating the Flank steak is a good way to introduce more flavor to the meat while further tenderizing it. However, it’s not strictly necessary when using a cooking method like the Instant Pot. You can simply let the meat come to room temperature, add some dry seasoning to the surface, and sear the meat right in the pot for good results. Make sure to dab the surface of the meat with paper towels before adding a little oil and your seasonings. This helps produce a better crust when searing the meat. If you’re using a marinade, skip the drying and oiling step since the marinade will provide seasoning and promote browning. You can also replace other cooking liquids with the same amount of the marinade you used on the Flank steak.

Tips & Suggestions

Use a neutral oil so that the flavor of the seasoning or marinade isn’t affected. Don’t clean the Instant Pot between searing and pressure cooking since the liquid will release the browning on the pot and add to the flavor of the dish. Try mixing a number of liquids that match your seasoning choices to infuse different flavor profiles into the finished steak. This method also works well for thicker cuts like the Top Sirloin steak.

Instant Pot Flank Steak Recipe

Starting with a clean and empty Instant Pot, you can have Flank steak cooked and on the table within 20 minutes after letting it come to room temperature. For shredded beef you can use for sandwiches and much more, try doubling the pressure cooking time.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs of Flank steak in 1 to 2 pieces
  • 2 tablespoons of a neutral high-heat oil
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • Cracked black pepper to taste
  • Other seasonings or steak rubs
  • ½ cup of flavorful liquid like a marinade, soy sauce, red wine/apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even orange juice
  • ½ cup of cold water

Instructions

1. Take the Flank steak out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you plan to cook it. Let it come to room temperature and oil and season it if it was not marinated.

2. Set the Instant Pot to the Saute mode and let it come to temperature. Place the Flank steak directly on the bottom of the pot, adding any extra oil that wasn’t applied to the steak. Let the steak sear for about 2 minutes on each side, or until evenly browned.

3. Remove the steak from the Instant Pot. Reset the appliance and switch to Pressure Cooking mode. Add the trivet to the bottom of the pot and pour in the combined 1 cup of liquid. Place the steak or steaks on the trivet. Put the lid in place, lock it, and check the vent. Start the pressure cooking mode and set it for 15 minutes for rare steak or 20 minutes for medium done.

4. When the cooking cycle is finished, let the pressure levels drop naturally. Then open the pot and check the steak’s doneness. If it needs a little more time, try running it on a brief Saute cycle with the liquid in the pot to steam the steak gently until it’s done.

Notes

You can toss in halved mushrooms or sliced onions with the cooking liquid from the start for an instant steak topping.

Conclusion

The Instant Pot can create delicious, tender steak that you’ll love reusing in other dishes as much as you enjoy it freshly cooked. Find your new favorite way to use the most versatile cuts of beef from the Chicago Steak Company.

Flank Steak in Instant Pot FAQs

flank steak in instant pot with vegetables

Instant Pot Flank Steak

Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs flank steak in 1-2 pieces
  • 2 tbsp neutral high-heat oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • cracked black pepper, to taste
  • other seasonings or steak rubs
  • 1/2 cup flavorful liquid like a marinade, soy sauce, red wine/apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even orange juice
  • 1/2 cup cold water

Instructions
 

  • Take the Flank steak out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you plan to cook it. Let it come to room temperature and oil and season it if it was not marinated
  • Set the Instant Pot to the Saute mode and let it come to temperature
  • Place the Flank steak directly on the bottom of the pot, adding any extra oil that wasn’t applied to the steak.
  • Let the steak sear for about 2 minutes on each side, or until evenly browned
  • Remove the steak from the Instant Pot. Reset the appliance and switch to Pressure Cooking mode. Add the trivet to the bottom of the pot and pour in the combined 1 cup of liquid. Place the steak or steaks on the trivet. Put the lid in place, lock it, and check the vent. Start the pressure cooking mode and set it for 15 minutes for rare steak or 20 minutes for medium done
  • When the cooking cycle is finished, let the pressure levels drop naturally. Then open the pot and check the steak’s doneness. If it needs a little more time, try running it on a brief Saute cycle with the liquid in the pot to steam the steak gently until it’s done
  • Remove steak from instant pot and enjoy!

Notes

You can toss in halved mushrooms or sliced onions with the cooking liquid from the start for an instant steak topping
*Photo by bour3 licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0