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Flat iron steak substitutes

Flat iron steak is the traditional name in United States. Elsewhere, butchers sell the same piece — or a close cousin — under a different name.

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Order one of these

Substitutes for Flat iron steak that can be delivered rather than hunted down at a counter.

Paleron

🇫🇷 France · Close substitute

Paleron

Beef chuck roast (paleron)

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Secreto ibérico

🇪🇸 Spain · Approximate

Secreto ibérico

Ibérico secreto steaks (3 lb)

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United States

Denver steakapproximate

Both are tender chuck cuts identified by US butchers in the 2000s — flat iron is from the top blade (above the chuck), Denver is from the under-blade. Comparable in tenderness and flavour.

France

Paleronclose substitute

The same muscle, the infraspinatus. Paleron is the French whole muscle, braised or cut across its gelatinous centre; the flat iron is the US steak cut either side of that tendon. Argentina calls the muscle marucha.

Mexico

Aguja norteñaapproximate

Both are chuck primal steaks; flat iron is from the top blade (infraspinatus) while aguja norteña is from the chuck eye roll

Spain

Secreto ibéricoapproximate

Both are hidden, unexpectedly tender and well-marbled cuts — secreto from the pork shoulder blade and flat iron from the beef chuck blade — suited to quick, high-heat cooking.

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