Which Cut with the Grain?

Directions. When it comes to flat iron, flank, hanger, and skirt steaks, the grain is apparent because it is a tougher cut of meat with less fat. These steaks have very long muscle fibers known as "the grain."

Do you cut with the grain or against the grain?

Cutting Steak Incorrectly Can Ruin a Meal

With any steak cut, you should always slice against the grain, which means against the direction that the muscle fibers run. This is true of all different cuts of meats.

How do you cut across the grain?

By cutting against the grain, we want to cut through the fibers and shorten them, rather than cut in the same direction that they run. This makes it easier to chew through, since a lot of the hard work of breaking up the muscle fibers has already been done for you.