How To Grill The Perfect Steak According To A Professional Chef
Summer is quickly approaching, which makes it the perfect time to brush up on your grilling skills. Grilled steak is a summer cookout classic, and a delectable one at that, but the process can be a little intimidating. Which cut should you get? How do you know when the steak done? Here, we’ll answer those questions with the help of chef Chris Frothingham of Great Road Kitchena New American restaurant in Littleton, Mass.so that you’re a grill master just in time for barbecue season.
Cooking A Steak On Charcoal Grill
How Long To Cook A Steak On Charcoal Grill? Assuming you have never had a steak arranged over charcoal, you are passing up a great opportunity! There is something about the unpretentious smokey flavour that makes hamburgers stick out.
In this article, you will learn about how long to cook a steak on a charcoal grill.
Steaks Under 1 Inch Thick
Pitmaster, Meathead Goldwyn, came up with an awesome technique: the afterburner grilling method which he calls extreme. I guess its fair to say that anything resembling the afterburner of a jet engine is extreme!
This is about as hot as it gets short of actually throwing the meat into the fire. Were talking intense.
How To
With this method, you take the charcoal chimney that you would usually use to light a charcoal grill, light it up good and hot with coals on the inside and paper underneath, put a grill on top and cook these thin steaks over the chimney for about 2-3 minutes each side. Super hot. Super fast.
The only drawback with this method is you cannot cook many steaks at the same time because your cooking surface is only as big as the opening of the chimney.
Check out this short video for an excellent introduction to the afterburner method of cooking steaks.
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Season The Steak Before Cooking
Cook your steak well before cooking so it will taste better. Season your steak with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika before you cook it. These ingredients will help to give the steak a good flavor and make it more tender.
You know the saying, season your steak before cooking. Its a good rule of thumb because it will help ensure that your steak cooks evenly and doesnt end up tough. You can do this by using a quality steak seasoning kit, or you can season your beef yourself with some spices. But which one is the right way to go?
Do You Close The Grill When Cooking Steak
Grilling with or without a lid If youre searing steaks and need to keep an eye on the situation, leave the lid open. Once youve switched it to indirect heat, you can close the lid and let the smoke do its work for you. Quick-cooking meals can normally be cooked with the lid open the entire time.
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How To Grill A Ribeye Steak On A Gas Grill Charcoal Grill Or Wood Fired Grill
The key is to get the grill very hot before starting. My personal preference is mesquite wood because I like the smoky flavor. If you dont like smokiness, go with charcoal or propane/gas. My preferred grill temperature is 600 degrees because I like a charred exterior and medium rare interior. If you like less charing go with 500 degrees.
Always make sure and clean the grates prior to cooking. You can use a bristle brush, or in my case I make a ball of aluminum foil and scrape the grates. It is easier to clean the grates after the grill is hot just be careful because the aluminum foil ball will get hot quickly so use grilling gloves or tongs to hold the ball of aluminum.
In order to keep the steak from sticking to the grates before the fat has a chance to melt some would recommend oiling the grates of the grill. You can do that, but I would urge you not to. Because we have our grill at a screaming hot 500 600 degrees, any oil you add at directly to the grate at this point will instantly hit the smoke point and oxidize. The best method is to brush a light coat of oil directly onto the steak before seasoning to get a perfect char and help the seasoning stick. I like an oil that is light in flavor with a high smoke point, such as grapeseed oil.
Tools Needed For Perfect Grilled Steak
- Charcoal or Gas Grill that can get hot for the initial sear.
- Instant read digital thermometer, like the Thermoworks Thermapen, to monitor the internal temperature of the meat and avoid overcooking.
- Long tongs to be able to move the steak and avoid flare ups that burn the steak.
Grilling on pellet grills If you have a pellet grill its still possible to sear the steak. The best method is to get the pellet grill as hot as it will go. Use infrared grill grates or a cast iron pan that warms up as the grill warms up to get the sear quickly and avoid overcooking.
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How To Grill Tri
Tri-tip steak is a triangular cut that’s on the leaner side, which means it’s best marinated for a while before it hits the grill. For a slightly more affordable steak that still satisfies your craving for the richness of beef, tri-tip fits the bill. Chef Frothingham likes a miso marinade with yellow miso paste, honey, sesame oil, sriracha, canola oil, and rice wine vinegar.
How To Grill Filet Mignon
Widely considered the most tender piece of steak, filet mignon has a fine-grained texture that melts in your mouth when cooked. Filet mignon doesn’t have much fat, so it’s important not to overcook it. Chef Frothingham likes cooking a filet in a cast iron skillet on the grill. A simple sauce of butter, rosemary, and garlic is a perfect pairing.
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Grill The Steak On The Indirect Heat Setting
Grill steak on the indirect heat setting to get that amazing, juicy and delicious flavor. This method of cooking is known as seared steak and its a popular way to cook meat. When you seared steak, your goal is to cook it over medium-high heat, covered, for about 8 minutes per side, until the steak is evenly browned and cooked through. You can also grill steak on the direct heat setting, which will cause it to over-cook and be tough. steer clear of this option if you want to enjoy great steak every time.
When youre cooking for a large crowd, its important to choose the right charcoal grill. Not all grills are created equal, and there are a lot of them on the market. With so many models and features to choose from, it can be hard to know which one is the best for your needs. To help make the decision easier, weve put together a list of the best charcoal grills for steak.
How To Grill Medium Steak On A Charcoal Grill: Step
3 . Lay 2-3 fist-sized pieces of dry wood chips on top of the hot coals. If you do not have wood chips simply substitute them with dry branches or other items that achieve a similar effect. The type of wood does not matter as much as the fact that it is dry and untreated by chemicals.
6 . Take two large handfuls of dry wood chips and place them directly on top of the coals you just moved. Use your tongs to position the steak near this newly created flame and close the lid once more. Cook it for 4 minutes or until medium-rare, flipping it over halfway through so that both sides become browned and crusty.
Notes:
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Are Steaks Better On Gas Grill Or Charcoal Grill
Charcoal grills give off a more traditional grilling taste and texture to your food.
Gas grills are great since they produce consistent heat but they do not reach enough searing power.
There are gas grills that can sear your steaks properly but they do not do as well as charcoal grills.
Charcoal grills provide better sear on the steaks and cook them with even heat.
The advantage of a gas grill is that it can produce more steam than charcoal grills, which does not dry the steaks.
However, I would still recommend going with charcoal grills for a better steak!
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Different Technique For Different Thickness
It doesnt matter how great a steak you have, cook it the wrong way over the wrong heat, and it will be ruined.
The best thickness for steak is 1.5 inches, but you can find them at thicknesses anywhere between half an inch, up to 3 inches or more!
So lets talk about the thickness of a steak and how this will determine how long the steak cooks for and what cooking method to use. This is simple:
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How To Grill The Perfect Steak On A Gas Grill
In the world of backyard grilling, nothing tastes better than a grilled steak. There is a lot of controversy over the best way to grill, i.e., using charcoal, wood pellets, or gas. All three will deliver heat, the pellet and gas maintain a constant temperature, and the charcoal and pellet add smoke. You can also add smoke with a gas grill by making a smoking packet and placing it above the burners or by using a smoke tube. But there are some things that you can do with a gas grill that you cannot do with the pellet grill, and you can do it with a charcoal grill with some tools to move the charcoal.
Is Ribeye The Same As Rib Steak
In the United States, the word rib eye steak refers to a rib steak that has had the bone removed nevertheless, in other parts of the world, including some parts of Europe, the terms are frequently used interchangeably. When describing a bone-in rib eye, the term cowboy ribeye or cowboy cut is frequently used in American restaurants.
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How Long To Grill A Steak On A Charcoal Grill
For a long time Ive preached theRule of Threesfor explaining how long to grill a steak on a charcoal grill. The method is basically 3-3-3-3. That means:
Ive gotten a lot of positive comments about the method but Ive also caused a bit of confusion. Lets re-examine the method.
Dont Use Lighter Fluid Or Charcoal Briquettes If You Can Avoid It
According to Prentiss, Always avoid lighter fluid if possible, and while convenient, charcoal briquettes can add an unpleasant kerosene flavor to meat grilled meats and should be avoided. If a wood/natural lump charcoal fire is unavailable or too inconvenient, propane grills will ultimately yield a better steak than charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid.
The best way to go, however, is hardwood or hardwood lump charcoal. Natural solid fuels add the most flavor to steaks while complementing their natural flavors instead of overpowering them, says Prentiss. At P+P we use seasoned oak logs and a hardwood lump charcoal made from mesquite, this yields us a consistent fire with minimal smoke that burns around 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
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By Step Grilling Instructions
- Place the steak over direct heat for 3 min.
- Flip the steak over for another 3 min of direct heat.
- Remove the steak from direct heat and place it in indirect heat for 3 min.
- Flip the steak over for another 3 min of indirect heat.
- Continue over indirect heat until you have reached your desired internal temperature
How Do You Cook A Ribeye Steak On A Charcoal Grill
Placing your ribeye steaks immediately above the fire and searing them for two to three minutes each side will ensure a well cooked steak. If you want excellent grill markings on your steak, avoid the temptation to move it while its cooking. Close the lid to keep the flames from igniting.
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Dont Start Without A Super Hot Grill
Be sure to let your charcoal fully catch and heat up before attempting to grill on it, about 20-30 minutes, says Prentiss. Your fire should have a bed of red hot coals, high, even heat across the grill, and minimal flames and smoke.
A hot cooking surface is extremely important to caramelize the outside of the steak and secure in the flavor, says Jayawardena. This method will give you a crispy on the outside, yet moist and tender on the inside steak.
Ingredients To Grill Steak
- Ribeye or New York Strip Steaks: This recipe uses steaks about 1 to 1 1/2 in thick steaks. The thicker the steak, the longer it will need to cook. These cuts are widely available, have a great balance of tender meat, and enough marbling, i.e., fat, for fantastic flavor.
- Avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high flash point meaning it can be heated to a high temperature before breaking down or burning so it is perfect for grilling. Substitutes include safflower oil or sesame oil. Sesame oil adds sesame flavor. This is great if you are going with Asian flavors for your meal.
- Butter: Butter adds a layer of richness and moisture at the end, but it is optional.
- Salt and pepper: Seasonings contribute to the brown crust that creates so much flavor for a steak. The salt, especially, draws juices to the outside of the meat, helping the crust form. Other spices popular for steak rubs include garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, or oregano. Some rub recipes add brown sugar, but use it sparingly and know that sugar burns easily and can contribute to over-browning and flare-ups.
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How Long Does It Take To Cook A 1
Medium-rare steak requires a temperature of 63 degrees. For a medium-rare steak, the internal temperature should be between 140 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit. For a 1-inch thick steak, it takes around 10 minutes on each side to cook through. Allow it to rest for approximately 10 minutes before serving, just like you would a medium-rare steak.
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How To Shop For Steak
Before you go to the butcher or grocery store, you should decide what you’re looking for in a steak. Different cuts have different characteristics, and one might be better suited for your needs than another. For example, if you’re looking for a fast-cooking, affordable cut, flank steak is a great go-to, but if you’re willing to splurge on something luxurious and hefty, you might opt for filet mignon. That said, the general attributes to look out for in steak are an even, vibrant color and as uniform a thickness as possible, which will ensure that every section cooks at the same rate. Another thing to keep in mind when you’re shopping is that steak is an inherently expensive variety of meat. You’ll get what you pay for!
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