What Is London Broil?

One of the most confusing names in the meat case is London broil because the name is not always one specific cut of beef.

Shoulder London Broil

A shoulder London broil comes from the chuck area and usually has good beef flavor and value.

Top Round London Broil

Top round is lean and fairly firm. It can work well for London-broil-style cooking, especially when marinated and not overcooked.

Bottom Round or Sirloin Tip

These lean, economical cuts may also be sold for London-broil-style preparation.

Flank Steak

Flank steak is closely associated with traditional London broil. It has a very noticeable grain and should be sliced thinly across the grain after cooking.

Why does the cut matter?

Two packages with the same general name may come from different parts of the animal and may not cook exactly the same way.