Instant Pot Flank Steak

This Instant Pot Flank Steak is so simple to cook and it’s an incredibly tender cut of steak that can be served with almost any side dish.

Flank steak is usually cooked on the grill, but that’s not the only way to cook it. If you don’t want to use the grill or stove top, or you’re away from your kitchen and the Instant Pot is the only appliance you have, it’s just as easy to do.

With the Instant Pot, you can decide if you want to cook the flank steak quickly to achieve a medium to well-done temperature. 

Instant Pot flank steak can be enjoyed as is with a side salad, but it can also be used in many other recipes. Slice the steak up and add it to tacos, fajitas, or classic steak sandwich. There are so many ways you can go with this recipe, so give it a try!

Why You’ll Love It

• Tenderization: Instant Pot flank steak results in a tender and juicy texture, thanks to the pressure cooking method.
• Consistent Results: With the Instant Pot, you can achieve consistent results with your flank steak every time you cook it. You can confidently serve perfectly cooked flank steak to your family and guests without any guesswork.
• Minimal Cleanup: Cooking flank steak in the Instant Pot means less mess and cleanup compared to traditional cooking methods. Since everything cooks in one pot, there are fewer dishes to wash afterward.

Howey says: Absolutely delicious! The steak was perfectly cooked.

mamma mia says: So good! I made steak tacos from the meat.

» You may also like Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs.

Ingredients You Need

• Flank steak – This is a lean cut of beef that is best cooked quickly for a medium to medium-well temperature. You can also use other similar cuts like Flat Iron or Bavette.
• Salt & Ground Black Pepper – These are essential seasonings to bring out the flavor of the meat.
• Cooking Oil – Oils with high smoke points will work best (i.e. canola or avocado oil).
• Beef Broth – The addition of beef broth will give the flank steak a richer flavor while locking in the moisture. You can use water, but for me the added flavor is worth it.

Equipment Information

• Instant Pot: This recipe uses a 6 qt. Instant Pot. If you’re using a different size pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid. For instance, an 8-quart Instant Pot requires more liquid to pressurize.
• Meat Thermometer – You’ll want to use a meat thermometer to make sure the steak has reached the proper internal temperature.

Helpful Tips

• Let the steak rest for a few minutes before slicing it. This will give you a juicier cut of flank steak. 
• Add an extra layer of flavor with our meat marinade or homemade dry rub.
• I cooked this in the 6 quart Instant Pot. If you cook in an 8 quart pot, use 1 1/2 cups water. If you cook in a 3 quart pot, you might need to cut the steak in half to fit. Use the same amount of water.
• The meat will be medium to well-done in 5 minutes. If you want to cook it to well done, add 2 more minutes to the cook time. It’s difficult to get medium-rare in the Instant Pot because the steak is cooking in water, but I use 3 minutes for medium-rare.

How to Make Instant Pot Flank Steak

Step 1: Season & sauté

Season the steak with salt and pepper on both sides. Be generous as some of it will come off during the sear.

Heat the Instant Pot on sauté mode then add the cooking oil. When it’s hot, place the steak in the pot and sear for about 1 minute per side. Don’t go any longer or you will risk overcooking it.

Remove the steak from the Instant Pot and set it aside. Turn off sauté mode.

Step 2: Deglaze the pot

Pour in the beef broth. It’s best to add hot broth, instead of cold. Adding it hot will ensure that the Instant Pot doesn’t need any additional time to come up to pressure. It will very quickly come up to pressure and start cooking. This is important because you need to quickly cook the steak, particularly if you want it to be medium or medium rare.

Deglaze the pot with a whisk to remove the browned bits. This will add lots of extra flavor to the broth that will be infused into the meat as it cooks.

Step 3: Pressure cook

Add the steak back into the pot. You don’t need the trivet for this. You can put the meat right into the broth.

Secure the lid in place and set the valve to sealing. Press the pressure cook or manual button and set the time to 3 minutes for medium rare, 5 minutes for medium, and 7 minutes for medium well. It will take no more than 5 minutes to come up to pressure. In my 6 quart Instant Pot Pro, it took less than 30 seconds to come up to pressure, because I added hot broth to the pot.

Check the Internal Temperature

When the cook time is up, do a quick pressure release. Test the internal temperature of the meat with an instant read meat thermometer. It should reach the temperatures below, depending on how you want it cooked.

• Medium rare – 130° F(50°C) (steak will have warm red center)
• Medium – 140° F(60°C) (steak will have a hot pink center and slightly firmer texture)
• Medium well -150° F(65°C) (steak will have a dull red/brown center and firm texture)

I cooked mine to 135° F(55°C), which produced a center that was between medium rare and medium. For me, that was perfect. I cooked it for 4 minutes to achieve this result.

Please be aware that every situation is different and you might not have the exact same results as me. This is why it’s both important to experiment once or twice to see how your Instant Pot reacts, and to check the internal temperature of the meat before taking it out. I always say to err under and cook it for 1 minute less than you want it to be. Then if it’s under, you can turn it back on for 1 more minute.

Don’t worry that it might take a long time to build back up pressure. It will almost instantly turn back on because the water is already hot and there’s not a lot of volume in the pot.

When you’ve reached the desired temperature, transfer the steak to a plate to rest for 5 minutes. Slice the steak against the grain and serve.

Flank Steak vs Skirt Steak: What’s the Difference?

These two types of steak are so similar that you might not even be able to tell the difference between them in the store. For more information read here.

Flank Steak

Flank steak is a cut of beef that comes from the lower abdominal region. This cut of meat is leaner than skirt steak, and it has a long, flat shape. When cooked properly, flank steak is juicy and flavorful. However, if it’s not cooked properly, it can be tough and chewy.

Flank steak is a delicious cut of beef that can be grilled or pan-fried. It’s a lean, affordable cut of meat that has a long, flat shape. When cooked properly, flank steak is juicy and flavorful. However, if it’s not cooked properly, it can be tough and chewy.

Skirt Steak

Skirt steak is a cut of beef that comes from the diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen. This cut of meat is more tender than flank steak, and it has a curved shape. Skirt steak is also juicier and more flavorful than flank steak. However, it can be difficult to cook evenly because of its curved shape.

What Other Types Of Beef Can You Cook In The Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is so versatile that you can use it to cook just about any cut of beef. There are several benefits to using an Instant Pot. Faster cooking times allow you to achieve tender and flavorful beef in a fraction of the time. The sealed environment helps to retain moisture and break down tough cuts of beef, resulting in juicy, tender, melt-in-your-mouth perfection.

Here are some common types of beef that can be cooked in the Instant Pot:

1. Chuck Roast: This well-marbled and flavorful cut is great for pot roasts, stews, and shredded beef recipes.
2. Brisket: Instant Pot can help you achieve tender and succulent brisket, perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or standalone main dishes.
3. Short Ribs: Instant Pot can quickly tenderize tough short ribs, resulting in tender and flavorful meat that easily falls off the bone.
4. Beef Stew Meat: Cubed beef stew meat is ideal for making hearty stews and braised dishes in the Instant Pot.
5. Beef Shank: This tougher cut of meat benefits from pressure cooking, becoming tender and ideal for dishes like osso buco or beef bone broth.
6. Beef Sirloin: Instant Pot can be used to cook thinly sliced beef sirloin for recipes like stir-fries or beef and broccoli.
7. Ground Beef: While not traditionally pressure cooked, the Instant Pot can be used to cook ground beef for dishes like chili, mini meatloaves, or stuffed peppers.

Remember to adjust the cooking time based on the specific recipe and cut of beef you’re using to achieve the desired level of tenderness and flavor.

Questions About the Recipe

What to Serve it With

• Fajitas
• Traeger baked potatoes
• Honey sriracha brussels sprouts

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