How Do You Say "Skirt Steak" in English?

 I can't find skirt steak in my grocery store. Is there another name for it?

 You are kidding, right? There are other names for every cut of beef. It's how butchers and grocers keep us guessing.

Below is a listing of most of the names of only the steaks. We'll have to tackle roasts, ribs, and other cuts when we get a second wind.

Now it is possible that you can't find a skirt steak (or Philadelphia steak or fajita meat ) because it is a somewhat unusual cut, and perhaps not every grocery carries it, or all the fajita meat goes to Applebee's. It comes from the plate or chest of the cow, and is flavorful, but not particularly tender. It is best marinated for at least eight hours, then sautéed, broiled, stir- or pan-fried, or grilled.

The meat cutters and butchers in our nearby grocery stores like nothing more than to chat about their inventory. They'll tell you in half a second whether or not they carry skirt steaks (under whatever name), and, if they're as helpful as ours are, they'll offer to order if for you and tell you exactly when it will be available.

Here is a list of the most common names of the cuts of steaks in the United States, and from what part of the cow they come. We cannot guarantee that it is comprehensive, since we often stumble over names we have not heard previously.

From the Short Loin:

• T-Bone/Porterhouse
• Tenderloin Steak, Filet Mignon, Filet de Boeuf, Fillet Steak, Chateaubriand
• Boneless Top Loin Steak, Ambassador Steak, Strip Steak, Boneless Club Steak, Hotel-Style Steak, New York Strip Steak, Kansas City Steak, Veiny Steak
• Bone-In Top Loin Steak, Delmonico Steak, Shell Steak, Sirloin Strip Steak, Strip Steak, Chip Club Steak, Club Steak, Country Club Steak

• Rib Steak
• Rib-Eye Steak, Beauty Steak, Delmonico Steak, Market Steak, Spencer Steak

• Boneless Top Blade Steak, Flatiron Steak, Book Steak, Butler Steak, Lifter Steak, Petite Steak, Boneless Top Chuck Steak, Blade Steak
• Boneless Shoulder Steak, Clod Steak, English Steak, London Broil, Shoulder Steak Half Cut
• Chuck Arm Steak, Arm Swiss Steak, Chuck Steak for Swissing, Round Bone Steak
• Boneless Chuck-Eye Steak, Boneless Chuck Fillet Steak, Boneless Steak, Bottom Chuck, Boneless Chuck Slices
• Chuck Mock Tender Steak, Chuck-Eye Steak, Chuck Fillet Steak, Fish Steak, Chuck Tender Steak
• Chuck 7-Bone Steak, Center Chuck Steak

• Skirt Steak, Fajita Meat, Inside Skirt Steak, Outside Skirt Steak, Philadelphia Steak
• Hanger Steak, Hanging Tenderloin, Butcher's Steak, Hanging Tender

• Flank Steak, Flank Fillet, Jiffy Steak, London Broil

• Thin-Cut Round Tip Steak, Ball Tip Steak, Beef Sirloin Tip Steak, Breakfast Steak, Knuckle Steak, Sandwich Steak, Minute Steak
• Round Steak, Full-Cut Round Steak
• Top Round Steak, Top Round London Broil
• Eye Round Steak

• Sirloin Steak, Flat-Bone Steak, Pin-Bone Steak, Round-Bone Steak, Wedge-Bone Steak
• Boneless Top Sirloin Steak, Sirloin Butt Steak, London Broil
• Tri-Tip Steak, Culotte, Triangle Steak

You will notice that London Broil falls into about 27 different categories, but since we have discussed that elsewhere, we'll also let that go for now.

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