Sirloin Steak

History of sirloin steak

The word Sirloin derives from the French term “surlonge” — sur for 'above' and longe for 'loin'. There’s also a long history of urban myths surrounding the origins of the beef sirloin name! The most popular of these is that in the 1600s, King James I knighted a loin of beef after falling head-over-heels in love with its taste during a meal; “Arise, Sirloin”, he said! 

Choosing the perfect sirloin steak

Grass-fed

The first priority for selecting sirloin steak should always, always be to make sure it comes from a cow that was grass-fed. Briefly, this firstly ensures your sirloin is healthy to eat (grass-fed cows produce beef with higher amount of vitamins, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids), and second, significantly finer in taste. Check out our grass-fed beef cheat sheet to learn more important info on the benefits of grass-fed beef. 

Grass-fed Sirloin steak can be easily spotted by the dark, rich red colour of its meat and it’s ‘orangey’ fat colour. Don’t be alarmed by the latter — it’s like that because the cow that produced this steak had a very, very healthy beta-carotene level; an antioxidant vitamin (Vitamin A) it got from the healthy, natural and unadulterated grass it ate throughout its life. 

Ageing

You’ve probably seen the term “aged” dotted around the sirloin steak you buy — whether in the local supermarket or on a dinner menu. Without diving too deeply here, the ageing of meat is crucial for the development of its taste and tenderness. 

There are two main strands of ageing practices: Dry-ageing and Wet-ageing. While you can read all about their differences and make your own judgement in our ultimate guide to ageing beef, for a balance of both premium taste and texture we recommend a mix of both! In terms of time, Sirloin steak should always, always be aged for 21 days at a minimum. That's when the Sirloin really hits it’s the sweet spot when it comes to taste! 

Nutritional value of sirloin steak

Although no two steaks were made equal, we love the awesome overview of the nutritional facts of the standard beef sirloin steak that the team at VeryWellFit have put together! Have a look at an excerpt below: 

Sirloin steak nutritional facts
Serving size of 85g
Calories	181.3
Per Serving	% Daily Value
TOTAL FAT 8.5g	13%
Saturated Fat	16%
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat	3.2g
Cholesterol 71mg	24%
Sodium 54mg	2%
Potassium 356.15mg	10%
Carbohydrates 0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Sugars	0g
Protein	24g
Vitamin A	0%
Vitamin C	0%
Calcium	1%
Iron	17%

Storing Sirloin Steak

How long a sirloin steak can be stored before going bad depends on two factors: firstly, whether it’s being stored fresh or frozen temperatures, and second, how the meat is packaged. Sirloin steak that is being stored in a standard fridge, using standard packaging (paper wrap, plastic bag or tray) will likely last between 1 - 2 days or up to 2 weeks if vacuum packed. 

If you’re storing your sirloin steak in the freezer, however, expect it to last very well for between 6 - 12 months if it’s been packaged conventionally. However, if your sirloin steak has been packaged in a vacuum-sealed pack, it can last up to 2 - 3 years, without losing any of its flavour! 

To learn more about what vacuum packing is and understand its wider benefits, check out this page

Cooking the perfect sirloin steak

There are a plethora of different ways to cook sirloin steak. These include: frying, grilling, sous vide sirloin steak, BBQ, boiling and slow cooking. Here’s a snippet from our how to cook sirloin steak master class on a skillet. We encourage you to read our specialist guide for a simple cheat sheet on how to get melt-in-the-mouth results, every time! 

1. In a pan over a medium-high temperature, pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 
2. When the pan starts to smoke, throw steak into the pan and let it cook for 2 and a half minutes 
3. Flip over and cook for another 2 and a half minutes 
4. During the second turn, throw in a knob of butter, thyme leaves and 2 garlic cloves. 
5. Turn the Sirloin Steak for the third time and Baste with all the mouthwatering juices for 1 minute. 
6. Finally, place steak in the oven for 3 minutes 
7. Take Sirloin Steak out of the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes 
8. Serve! 

What to serve with Sirloin Steak

We recommend serving sirloin steak with fat cut chips and grilled asparagus! Yummmm! Enjoy!