How To Cook Steak In A Cast Iron Skillet
Want a big ol juicy steak without the hassle of starting your grill? Learn how to cook steak in a cast iron skillet for next time a craving hits and youre out of charcoal!
My wife NEVER orders steak at a restaurant. Its not because shes a cheapskate , its because she knows that I can make better at home. Im not be cocky, I swear Thats what she tells everyone herself.
Why would I spend $30 on a steak dinner when my husband can make me a better steak at home for 10 bucks?!
And shes rightstill not being cocky
As a former Executive Chef at a high-end steakhouse, Im used to cooking all cuts of meat over an open flame. But sometimes Im just feeling plain lazy, and I dont want to fire up the grill.
A perfectly cooked steak doesnt HAVE to come from the grill! You can cook steak in a cast iron skillet to rival any steakhouse! Just be sure to follow these easy steps and youll be eating your favorite cut of meat in no time even if the wind is blowing 80 mph outside and grilling just isnt an option
Why You’re Going To Love This Recipe
- Cooking with cast-iron is a true game changer. These pans are just so awesome on every level. Once they’re hot, they stay hot, they can go in the oven , and they never wear out. My dad has one that’s been used for close to 100 years!).
- They create a fantastic sear/crust on the steak. That means we’re big into the flavor.
- Being able to cook the steak at a high temperature, and quickly, means you’re less likely to overcook it.
- You can use the fat and pan drippings left over to create a beautiful sauce, right in the pan, while you’re steak is resting.
Best Cast Iron Skillet For Steaks
The best cast iron size for a skillet depends on how big your stove top burner radius is. For the average American household, the best would be around 10 inch. Once you get past 12 inch, the heat will have a difficult time reaching the outer edge of the pan. Meaning, you will have cold spots in the pan. Another factor to consider is how many steaks you will be cooking also. If you are frequently cooking two large steaks, a 12 inch cast iron skillet might be better. Just be aware that you need to preheat the skillet for a long longer. If you plan on cooking steak for one, a 10 inch cast iron skillet is best. You can also do a trick that I do with the excess space. If you want that extra sear, move the steak around to the untouched pan to absorb all the heat.
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Best Wide Stainless Steel Pan For Steak: Hestan Probond Stainless Steel Skillet
The Hestan ProBond Stainless Steel Skillet is perfectly weighted, heats quickly and features flared rims for clean pouring. Its wide surface area makes it one of the best pans for browning steak, sautéing and more. The ergonomic handles complete the streamlined, functional cooking experience youll enjoy while using the Hestan ProBond skillet.
Why This Product Is Cozymeal-Approved
This product stands out for its wide surface area and functional, beautiful design. Youll find its one of the best pans for frying steak, cooking pancakes and more.
Reasons Why You Should Consider Using A Cast Iron Skillet To Cook Steaks
Cast iron skillets are an excellent choice to aim for in order to cook a perfectly seared steak. This material helps to retain the heat longer than any other type of materials while securing an even distribution to create a juicy browned steak. Also, this type of skillets are enhanced to provide high resistance against corrosion and rust thanks to the enameled surface which usually can be either ceramic or porcelain.
Cast iron skillets are versatile and can be used almost everywhere whether over firewood, grills or gas stoves, etc. Here are 8 reasons why you should start using cast iron skillets:
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How Can You Find The Information You’re Seeking In Your Best Cast Iron Skillet For Steak
It can be difficult to determine which aspects are essential to consider when choosing the right product.
A variety of factors can be the best indicator of the product’s quality and whether it will meet your requirements. In the following section, we’ll discuss the various aspects to take into consideration when searching for the best product on the market.
How To Make It
Coat the meat. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and coat both sides with 1/2 the olive oil.
Rest. Sprinkle with kosher salt and allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Heat the skillet. Preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes.
Add oil. Add the remaining oil to the pan.
Pat dry. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and place the steaks in the skillet.
Cook. Cook the steak for 3-4 minutes until a golden brown crust has formed.
Make it buttery! Flip the steak and top each with 1/2 tablespoon butter.
Cook. Continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the desired degree of doneness.
Cover. Remove the steaks from the pan to a plate or platter and cover with foil.
Rest, then enjoy. Rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Why do I need to let the steak rest before slicing and serving?
This rest period is important for two big reasons! The first being just that the meat will be hot and you dont want to burn your mouth. Secondly, the juices in the meat need time to spread throughout the steak. If you slice into the meat too soon, youll lose the majority of the juices on the cutting board and your meat will be dry.
What should I serve this seared New York strip steak with?
As you can see in the photos here, I always love a classic plating of steak and potatoes! Here are just a few of my favorite potato side dishes to serve with this show-stopping entree.
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Test : Comfort And Ergonomics
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Given how little light was shed on the skillets based on performance, other characteristics like price, comfort, and some design considerations were going to be the primary deciding factors.
During all of the prior testing, we had been taking UX notes, including which skillets were the most uncomfortable to hold and which were just too heavy. We also ran an oil-pouring test, filling each skillet with a half-cup of oil, then pouring it back out into a narrow jar to see which channeled the fluid most effectively.
We learned that the best pour spouts are large and deep, and if you can’t have that, you’re better off having no pour spout at all. The skillets with shallow and small spouts tended to dribble the most. While good to know, We don’t consider small spouts a dealbreaker if the pan otherwise performed well and is well priced.
Things You Should Do With Your Cast Iron Skillet That Aren’t Searing A Steak
ALLENTOWN, Pa., Oct. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — We all know that a piping hot cast iron skillet is the best way to sear a steak, but don’t sleep on these other cast iron essentials.
1. Bake the perfect cornbread.Only cast iron can nail that cornbread crust. Get the skillet good and hot in the oven, throw in some butter and cornbread mix, bake for 20 minutes and drizzle with hot honey if you’re feeling adventurous.
2. Cook Thanksgiving dinner.I’m talking about the bird, the stuffing, the green bean casserole, the hasselback potatoes and even the pecan pie. You may need another skillet for this one.
3. Upgrade pizza night.Pizza stone? We don’t need no stinkin’ pizza stone. Your cast iron skillet retains and radiates heat for a legendary crust. It’ll ruin pizza delivery .
4. Shallow fry.The key to good frying is maintaining a consistent oil temperature. Try latkes, empanadas, egg rolls or battered shrimp and tell me I’m wrong.
5. Use it for serving.One of your cast iron skillet’s superpowers is its ability to retain heat. This comes in handy when dinner is ready but no one’s at the table.
6. Crisp up some tofu.You know what else is better with a good crust? Tofu. Don’t roll your eyes at me.
7. Go camping.Your cast iron feels right at home over the open fire. Try out some campfire classics like walking tacos or throw in some beans to pair with those hot dogs.
About Stargazer Cast Iron
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How Do I Clean A Cast
Go ahead and clean your skillet with dishwashing liquid, hot water, and a sponge, gentle brush, or nonabrasive scrubbing pad. Contrary to popular opinion, using soap will not remove the coating that youve worked so hard to build up.
After all, if youve fried catfish, you certainly want to get rid of any fishy residue before using your skillet to bake an apple crisp. However, using steel wool could remove the seasoning as well as cooking residue so be sure to avoid it during after-dinner cleanup.
Moisture is the arch nemesis of a cast-iron skillet. If you have a lot of stuck-on bits, you can soak your pan briefly but dont leave it filled with soapy water during dinner or overnight.
After youve cleaned the skillet, dry it very thoroughly. Its a good idea to heat it over low heat for a minute to make sure theres no droplets lingering on the surface. Occasionally, use a paper towel to rub a very thin layer of oil into the cast iron. And whatever you do, resist the temptation to put your skillet in the dishwasher.
Test : Measuring Conduction
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Cast iron is not a good heat conductor, but that doesn’t mean all the skillets in our test would conduct heat equally poorly. We needed to assess how quickly and evenly each pan heated on the stovetop.
To find out, we set a stovetop gas burner to what we would describe as a medium flame, then set each pan on top. From the moment each pan was set down, we used an infrared thermometer to record the temperature every 10 seconds for 20 intervals . We allowed all the pans to cool back to room temperature and then repeated the test while measuring each skillet at its edge.
The results here were remarkably different: Some of the skillets still hadn’t hit 200 degrees by the end of the heating cycle, while others were above 400 degrees. Now, there’s no reason to assume a slower-to-heat cast iron skillet is worse than a faster one, nor vice versa. That’s a question the performance tests would have to help answer.
Still, we did see some trends. First, while it doesn’t map perfectly to the mass of each skillet, overall, the fastest to heat were also the lighter-weight ones, while the slowest were the heaviest. This makes sense: The more metal there is to heat up, the longer it will take.
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Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
I definitely recommend a Lodge skillet. It has all of my top preferences, a shorter handle, pre-seasoning, helper handle, pour spouts, and a great price.
It is the most affordable cast iron cookware with the highest quality. It’s also lighter weight by comparison. It has a pretty smooth surface to begin with, but will become even more smooth with use.
There are several different sizes to choose from and they carry all the accessories you can think of.
For steak, a 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet is the ideal size. I use mine for all sorts of things and have a large family, so I prefer the 12 inch.
Lodge has been in business since 1896. They are an American company and create products that are durable and easy to use. You cant go wrong with Lodge!
The Best Budget Stainless Steel Skillet
This 12-inch skillet relies on a bonded stainless steel base to heat up quickly and evenly. The cast stainless steel handle makes for easy maneuvering and the helper handle makes it even easier.Plus, you can slide this baby into an oven up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This model is also safe for broiling and works on induction stovetops. It comes with a glass lid increasing its versatility for thoseless steak-centric dishes too. The skillet is dishwasher safe and comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Helpful Review: Wow, this is the frying pan of frying pans. Plenty of room for steaks and also meats you want to cook in sauces. Love the higher sides and lid for slower cooking. Its a heavy pan but I like that. Plenty of room for a meal for 6. This pan will outlive me!
Available Sizes: 10 inches, 12 inches | Material: Stainless Steel
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How To Cook Amazing Steak In A Cast Iron Skillet
Sharing is caring!
Learning how to cook steak in a cast-iron skillet is an essential life skill, in my opinion. It’s quick, so delicious, so satisfying, and once you know what you’re doing, very easy.
The best part is – you don’t need a grill! YAY! But seriously, there are so many benefits to cooking steak in a cast-iron skillet including, but not limited to:
- So much control over heat and temperature .
- It’s so quick! Depending on the thickness of the steak, it can take between 5-10 minutes. And, if it’s really thick, you can finish it off in the oven.
- Pan drippings! Cooking a steak in a cast-iron skillet means that you can use the amazing caramelized bits on the bottom of the to make an epic sauce.
Steak in a cast-iron skillet is the meal that keeps on giving. It’s quick, easy, satisfying and impressive.
How To Measure Cast Iron Skillet Size
Some cast iron skillets have a number on the handle indicating the size. Sometimes this number describes the diameter as measured on the bottom of the pan and sometimes its the measurement on the top. Take a look at the manufacturers information to determine how your skillet is measured.
So, have you decided what size cast iron skillet you want to buy? Just remember:
- 8 serves one person
Good luck finding a cast iron skillet that works for you!
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Seasoning A Cast Iron Skillet
New cooks in particular can be a little nervous about using cast iron, because of the need to keep it well-seasoned. Its essential for maintaining a non-stick surface, but dont be intimidated!
Just follow these instructions when you buy a new cast iron pan, so you break it in properly:
- Pre-heat your oven to 350F / 177C.
- Add a few drops of vegetable oil to the cleaned and dried surface of your cast iron skillet.
- Work it into the cooking surface using a piece of kitchen towel. It should look glossy, but not feel sticky to the touch.
- Turn the skillet upside down and place it in the oven for 45 minutes. You might like to add a baking tray underneath to catch any oil drips.
- Turn the oven off and wait for the skillet to cool completely before taking it out.
Find Out More About The Return Policy
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Reliable return policies shouldn’t restrict the time or duration on the types of items that can be returned. They should also offer quick reimbursements to customers who want to return their goods in good faith.
The information on our website is authentic and is not blocked. The website has access information that is authorized on products from top brands we’ve selected. Therefore, the information about product attributes or characteristics is reliable and reliable.
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Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan
The Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan is the perfect hybrid between cast iron and stainless steel.
With its lighter weight and incredible durability, it can handle anything you throw at it from searing a single steak on the stovetop to grilling outdoors.
Whether youre a beginner or a pro, this pan is sure to become your go-to for all your cooking needs. So dont wait any longer get your hands on the Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan today!
Jim Beam Jb0159 Heavy Duty Construction Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Wooden Base And Mitt Blacksmall
Features :
- RIDGED SURFACE : The ridged surface allows you to get those perfect grill marks while draining the excess fat away.
- FOOD PREPARE AND SERVE : The Jim Beam skillet lets you prepare your food, like steak, or chicken or fish, over the stove or in an oven or on a BBQ, and the wood trivet helps you serve your delicious masterpiece, the pan is big enough to serve a meal for 2.
- Durability: Cast iron is incredibly durable. In fact, its not unusual for a cast iron pan to be used for decades without showing much wear or tear.
- Nonstick: Another benefit of Jim Beam cast iron is that when its seasoned and used regularly, its fairly nonstick, for cooks who prefer to avoid potentially harmful nonstick substances, the nonstick properties of cast iron are a huge plus.
- Imparts Iron: The Jim Beam Cast iron even has a health benefit: uncoated cast iron tends to leach small amounts of iron into food as it cooks.
- Item shape: Oval
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