What Is The Best Wood For Cooking Steak On Pellet Grill
Wood Pellet comes in various flavors, and this will go a long way in affecting the outcome of whatever is grilled with it, especially your steak. Here are some of the best-flavored wood pellets for a steak that you can choose from.
- Mesquite
- Hickory
- Oak
Mesquite and hickory produce a prominent flavor on the steak. Mesquite has more potent smoke than hickory. Because of the beefy nature and strong cut of steak, it can hold up nicely to strong smoke flavor, and this also helps to cook the meat.
If you want to spice things up, then you have Pecan at your service. It is less smoky compared to mesquite and hickory, therefore less appreciated for grilling and smoking. It has this vanilla and nutty finish that just made the steak flavor awesomely complex.
Some people have also testified to using oak wood pellets for their steak and complimented the medium smoky result you can give it a try as well.
Which Wood Pellets Are Best For Steak On The Pellet Grill
When I cook steak, I typically stick to either Hickory, Mesquite, or Pecan. Hickory and Mesquite are on the stronger end in terms of smokiness. Steaks are very beefy and strong cuts of meat though and hold up very nicely to strong smoke flavor.
If Im looking to mix things up Ill go with pecan. Pecan is an under-appreciated wood type for grilling and smoking in my opinion. Its just a tiny bit less strong on the smoke flavor compared to hickory but has a vanilla and nutty finish that adds some fantastic layering and complexity to steaks flavor profile.
I know many people who also use Oak wood pellets for steak and rave about the results. Oak is also a great choice, I just personally dont use it for steak.
Pellet Grill Filet Mignon Recipe
Simply seasoned and wrapped in bacon, this Pellet Grill Filet Mignon is so buttery tender, you can practically cut it with a fork. Its slow cooked in SMOKE mode over apple wood, shifted into SEAR mode for a quick reverse sear and finished with blue cheese butter.
About the cut: Filet mignon are cut from the tenderloin which runs along both sides of the spine. The tenderloin is the most tender cut of beef and arguably the most desirable and the most expensive. Because the muscle is not weight-bearing, it contains less connective tissue, which makes it naturally tender.
We cooked our filet on the Rider DLX Pellet Grill, but you can make this very special meal on your smoker or grill too.
- 6 filet mignon steaks
- 6 bacon strips
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces blue cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
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How To Grill Ribeye Steak
For the best and most evenly cooked steak, youll want to take your steaks out of the refrigerator and allow to reach room temperature for about 30 minutes before you plan on grilling them. This allows the steak to cook more evenly.
Theres no need to pre-season your steaks at this point, but you will want to make sure that the surface is dry before putting them on your grill. So give them a shake of salt and pepper right before they hit the grill but after you pat them dry with a paper towel.
The key to a good sear is high temperature. So get it hot and let the grill do its thing if you are doing a traditional grilled steak.
Im including instructions here for both a traditional grilled steak and a reverse seared steak also. I prefer the reverse sear, but it takes about 3x as long as a regularly grilled steak so if you are pinched for time, either option is totally awesome.
Get my easy Side Dish recipes!
Why Reverse Sear Steak On A Traeger
Here are a few reasons why I recommend reverse searing steaks on a Traeger:
Compared to traditional cooking methods, reverse sear does take some time, regardless of which equipment you use.
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Moisture Is The Enemy
The Maillard reaction gives grilled steak its irresistible aroma.
Thats why we cook it over fire rather than boiling it something thats boiling in water can never get over 212 degrees Fahrenheit, because thats the highest possible temperature of the water.
But some people do effectively boil their steaks on the grill by throwing them on when the surface of the meat is moist with condensation or a marinade.
GRILLING WET STEAK IS LIKE STARTING A RACE GOING UPHILL.
Grilling wet steak is like starting a race going uphill. Your grill cant cook your steak until it first evaporates the water which takes a lot of energy. Your steak cant get past the 212 Fahrenheit marker and toward Maillard levels, until all that water is gone. Meanwhile, the internal temperature of the steak is rising because of the ambient heat around it.
You can end up with the worst of both worlds no browning on the surface of the steak, and overcooked meat within it.
Here are a few ways to banish moisture from your steak:
Just What Makes A Smoked Steak
While smoking steaks may seem like a new age phenomenon, perfected by those TV food stars with loads of BBQ awards and impeccably trimmed beards, it turns out smoking meat is a technique that dates back to ancient times. While in the modern era of refrigerators, smoking steak tends to be less of an exercise in necessity, but the process is still used to impart a host of BIG flavors and nuanced changes in texture to your already delectable cuts of beef.
The technique of smoking refers to the process of burning a variety of woods in an enclosed space over low heat where the meat can cook slowly and take on flavors from the charcoal, fruit or other hard woods.
Smoked steak recipes usually begin with a dedicated meat smoker, a piece of equipment you can buy online or at your local BBQ specialty store. A charcoal grill can also be adapted to smoke meat using items found in your local home improvement store, like a special grill grate and hickory chips. While both of these methods will result in authentic, delicious and flavorful meat, when it comes to how to smoke a steak at home from the comfort of your kitchen, we have a few handy shortcuts up our sleeves.
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Can You Smoke Ribeye Steak
Smoking a ribeye steak adds a unique flavor to this already killer cut of meat. When smoking a ribeye steak, we recommend first dry brining your steak, seasoning it, smoking it at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes, letting it sit while you increase your grill temperature to 500 degrees, then searing it until its cooked to medium-rare.
How Long Do I Cook A Ribeye Steak On The Grill
How to Cook Ribeye Steak on the Grill. Bring the meat to room temperature. Remove your steak from the refrigerator 30-40 minutes before cooking. For the perfect medium-rare ribeye steak, grill for 9-12 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 12-15 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point.
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How To Cook Steak On Pellet Grill: Tips And Tricks
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You probably just purchased your first pellet grill, and youre wondering how you can use it to satisfy your hunger for a lip-smacking steak. No matter what cut of beef you like, learning how to cook steak on pellet grills can yield you a delectable meal.
While were here to give you a rundown of the most basic procedures, well also throw in some tips and tricks to help you cook the steak you so desire.
What Spices Go Well With Steak
When cooking beef, opt for spices and herbs that have a strong flavor on their own, and will complement the strong flavor of beef.
Every cut of steak is different, but many of the herbs that go well with steak are:
- Thyme
- Sage
- Yellow mustard powder
If youre not sure what to season your beef with, then stick with plain ole kosher salt, olive oil, and black pepper.
Its what I always use whenever I cook my steaks.
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Finish Your Steaks With Butter
To take your pellet grill steaks to the next level, finish them with a pat of butter as soon as they come off the grill. Butter adds richness without pulling any attention away from your masterpiece.
Now, all thats left to do is get ready for the most delicious steak of your entire life. If you havent had a pellet grill yet, explore the Z Grills pellet grill lineup. All of our grills are built to last and are exactly what you need to take your steaks to the next level. Plus, our grills are the best value in the pellet grill market.
Cooking Tips On Pellet Grill
- You need to know what you are cooking. For example, knowing the cut of meat is important for cooking a steak.
That is because every cut requires a different treatment. Also, it is the same as other meats and veggies.
- Always offering the good quality of weed pellets. You have been explained about the best choice of products for the fuel.
Importantly, pay attention to the wood that matches the flavor you desired. Simply find out the pellets that go well with the dish
- Using a pellet grill like an oven is the simplest trick to learn. Thus, you can set the right time and temperature of cooking just like while using the oven.
- Importantly, use a thermometer to know that the cooking is done. It is one of the best steak tips on pellet grill.
After it reaches the cooking time, you have to check the internal temperature before taking it out of the grill.
- The upper racks have extra space inside the grill. This part will give you a more even cook since it is cooked by convection, not radiant heat.
- You should choose the reverse searing method. It is obviously the best method for cooking for this smoker.
A sirloin steak on pellet grill? It is going to be perfect.
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What Is The Best Wood Flavor For Ribeye Steak
For the perfect ribeye steak, you need the perfect pellets. Though you may want to experiment with different types of woods and different blends depending on your recipe, were big fans of the bold flavor of hickory, the mesquite, oak, and pecan mix of our Texas Beef Blend, or the hickory and red and white oak flavors of our Big Game Blend.
- Other recommended flavors are:
Pellet Grill To Make Perfect Steak
Are pellet grills good for steaks? Well, it is not a question that needs an answer.
It is something you need to prove. As we know, the steak will taste amazing when the meat is juicy and mouth-watering.
The Pellet grill can lead the dish to that condition.
A pellet grill has some great features that give efficiency and less mess in cooking. In addition, this grill does not run on charcoal.
So, there will not be a bitter taste of charcoal on your dish. Hence, this is perfect for cooking steak.
Further, you can make a perfect steak with a pellet grill. Mainly, it is because this cooker will showcase the steak with its natural flavor.
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Can You Cook Burgers On A Pellet Grill
Yes, you can cook just about anything on a pellet grill. However, if cooking burgers on your pellet grill we recommend cooking the patties for around 3 minutes per side in order to prevent any burning or overcooking.
You can also use two burger patties instead of one large patty in order reduce grilling time even more!
How Does Pellet Grill Work
Pellet grills are quite different from conventional charcoal, gas, or Propane smokers because they use a variety of wood pellets to produce smoke.
I love using apple & cherry for most of my meat because it really brings out the flavor in your food. You can try this method on other types of pellets as well! On the way to research more method to cook a perfect pellet grill steaks, we need to know how it works.
Just be sure youre using natural hardwood pellets and not manufactured ones that contain chemicals.
Some popular pellet flavors are hickory, mesquite, pecan, maple, alder or oak.
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Preparing Steaks For The Grill
So now that you have the right tools to go with your grill, its time to start preparing the meat. Remember that the results of your steak will also depend on the quality of the meat that youre grilling. There are basically 8 beef prime cuts although most would opt for the T-bone, rib eye, strip steak, and sirloin steak. If youre a big fan of steaks, then you know that rib eye is the king!
How To Reverse Sear Smoked Steak
Many people love the crispiness of a seared steak and wonder if they can achieve the same results after smoking steak. The good news is that you can, thanks to the reverse sear method. This cooking method allows you to blend the smoky flavor you get from a pellet smoker or charcoal grill with the tasty sear that you get when you pan-sear a ribeye steak.
To reverse sear smoked steak, first season the steak with kosher salt and cook it in the smoker or using the at-home method above. Alternatively, you can use a grill to smoke steak. To do this, place a foil pouch filled with wood chips over direct flames. Add the steak to an area of indirect heat, cooking at around 250 degrees until it comes to your ideal temperature.
Then, use a grill to complete the sear. Turn the grill to a high heat and place the steak directly over the heat. Sear for about 1-2 minutes or until a golden brown crust forms. Then, flip to the other side and sear. Alternatively, you can use a pan with one tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat to sear your perfect steak.
Allow the steak to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Finish with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Now, you have a seared and smoked steak with tons of smoke flavor and a delectably seared crust!
*Can be purchased online or at local specialty BBQ stores
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How To Cut A Steak
If your steak has a bone, the first step is to cut the bone out of the steak. This Kansas City cut had a bone down the one side, it is a quick and easy slice to remove the bone. A porterhouse or T bone steak is a little more complicated, but once the bone is out, the rest is the same.
When slicing a steak, cut it against the grain so that you can showcase the juicy center.
Do You Flip Steaks On A Pellet Grill
Theres a huge debate online as to whether you should flip your steaks or not.
Personally, I flip my steaks after about 6-8 minutes on each side. This allows the steak to get those sear marks everyone loves.
Of course, grill marks arent as important as ensuring your steak has good crusting going on. The nice brown caramelized protein crust is what Im always looking for whenever I grill my steaks.
Its taken me a while to learn how to get that caramelized protein crust.
I recommend flipping the steaks once. Unlike when grilling chicken, I dont think it matters how many times you flip a steak.
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Setting Up The Gas Grill:
When using a gas grill it is important to make sure that you preheat it, and clean and season the grill before placing your steak on the grill to cook. Once it is hot, use a grill brush and clean the grates, then use either some beef fat, or a cloth saturated with oil and brush the grill surface before placing your steak on the grill. This helps with getting great grill marks and helps the meat release from the grill.
Ideally you want your grill near 400F when you place the steak on the grill and once you get the steak grill marked and flipped to the other side, you want to shut off the center burners and turn the outside burners to low. This will help to keep your steak moist and tender.
The thicker the steak, the longer it takes to cook. So if you are cooking a standard steak cut, which is between 1 and 1.5 inches thick, cooking time is about 20 minutes total.
While your grill is heating up, take your steak which should be at room temperature, season it on both sides, and take it to the grill. Once the grill is ready, time to start grilling your steak.
Equipment needed:
Steak
Seasoning
Season your steak on both sides, then take to the grill, I use my own seasoning, but you can use any one you choose.
The Best Cuts Of Meat To Cook On Your Pellet Grill
Steak from the strip loin is a great cut of meat to cook on a pellet grill. The whole strip loin can be harvested from a cow, and it includes part of the back bone, which means that steaks cut from this area have great marbling.
The entire top loin section also provides many different types of steaks for you to enjoy. The most popular types of steaks include porterhouse, T-Bone and New York Strip Steaks.
These types of steak are leaner than other cuts such as ribeye or tenderloin, but they still have excellent flavor when cooked right!
To get the best taste possible when cooking your strip loin steak on a pellet grill we recommend cooking your steak to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium rare or 160 degrees Fahrenheit for medium.
You can also use a touch test to determine when your steak is ready. To perform the touch test, lightly press on the center part of the steak with your index finger and thumb. If it feels soft, its not done yet.
If there is no resistance when pressing down then its ready! This method works great when cooking thicker cuts of steak such as porterhouse or ribeye steaks.
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