Always Let The Meat Rest
Perhaps the most important step that most people don’t do is allowing the steaks to sit once they are taken off of the grill. The steaks need to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving or cutting them. This gives the juices a chance to redistribute throughout the steak, which both helps it finish cooking evenly and keeps the meat moister and more flavorful. Place the cooked steaks on a cutting board or platter and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Once rested, either slice or serve the steaks whole.
What To Look For In A Steak
The main thing that you should look for when choosing a steak is marbling.
If the meat has good marbling, it will be softer when it is cooked and it hardly dries up despite cooking it over direct heat, which you will when you use a gas grill to cook it.
Experts tell you that steaks with more marbling are better. If to buy high-quality steaks online then I recommend that you check out the Snake River Farms as they have the best quality.
When you cook meat with good marbling over direct heat, the fats will melt and produce a buttery texture.
The melted fats will make the steak juicy and start to coat the lean meat that you need to tenderize. From there, the steak will start to become juicier and more tender.
How To Grill Steak Using The 2
2-zone grilling is key to getting juicy, meltingly tender steaks on the grill. Fun fact! I recipe tested two steaks side-by-side, one with a 2-zone approach & one cooked solely over direct heat. Even with the same doneness & flavor, the grilled steak that started over indirect heat was much more tender. TL DR? 2-zone grilling is definitely the best way to grill steak!
Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.
Before you begin! Take a moment to clean the grillgrates so no other charred flavors interfere. At this point, take the steaks out of the fridge so they can come up to room temperature, too. Room temp steak is also essential for getting a perfect char.
Light the grill with 2 zones of heat. The best grill temp for steak is actually 2 temperature zones! Preheat your grill with one zone of low indirect heat & one zone of high direct heat. If you have a gas grill, simply light half of its burners to the highest setting. If you have a charcoal grill, distribute the lit charcoal to one side of the grill. The half of the grill over the heat source is in the direct high heat zone, while the other half is in the indirect heat zone. Related Reading!Learn all about 2-Zone Grilling.
Read Also: How Many Calories In A Ribeye Steak
Amp Up The Flavor With Butter Sauce
When I first began work on this recipe, I tried dry rubs, oil, and simple salt and pepper. All of these are wonderful things to put on steaks, but I felt like it needed more.
I settled on basting the steak with an herbed butter sauce. First, because butter. Second, because I have an extensive herb garden and it didnt require a trip to the store. I was worried that the butter might burn on the grill, and leave an acrid flavor, but it didnt.
It was pure deliciousness. The herbs added complexity without masking the meatiness of the steak.
How To Know When Steak Is Done
The time needed to cook a steak varies depending on its thickness, and how you like it. Dont be tempted to cut into a steak to see if its done. This allows the precious juices to escape, making the meat tough. Instead, press the centre of the steak with the back of your tongs if its medium the meat will spring back. Use this guide for cooking times and to tell when its ready.
Read Also: Dry Aged Prime Steaks Online
From The Right Temperature To Resting Time
It seems that people approach grilling steak one of two ways: either in a casual manner or paying perhaps too much attention. Some will heat the grill with abandon, throw the steaks on, flip once, then pull them off, and serve others will fret and worry, cutting into the meat every two seconds wringing their hands over whether the meat is done or not. Both techniques do have some merits but a method somewhere in the middle is ideal.
Grilling a delicious steak is easy, as long as you follow a few simple steps. As with anything, a bit of practice always helps, too. Follow some advice, grill a few steaks, and you’ll be serving up perfectly cooked juicy steaks in no time.
The Best Steaks For Grilling
There is no one “best” cut for grilled steak — it’s all about personal preference. Good cuts for grilling range from leaner, more tender cuts, to cuts that pack fat and flavor.
Filet mignon or tenderloin: The most tender cut of steak, it’s ideal for those who prefer their meat rare. A smaller cut so it cooks fast.
Flank steak: A thin, inexpensive cut. Flank steak doesn’t have as much fat or natural flavor as some of the other cuts, so it should be marinated before cooking to add flavor and tenderize the meat. Because it is thin, it cooks fast over high heat. Learn more in our Flank Steak Cooking Guide.
Hanger steak: A flat steak, similar to flank steak, but usually with more fat content throughout. Hanger can be marinated before cooking but will also be tasty with a simple salt and pepper seasoning. Cooks fast over direct heat and should not be overcooked.
New York strip: A leaner cut that is relatively thick and firm like ribeye, but with less fat. Does not need to be marinated. A good candidate for reverse searing.
Porterhouse: A massive cut that’s actually two steaks in one. A filet mignon and a New York strip. The Porterhouse tends to contain more of the tenderloin than its cousin cut, the T-bone. Porterhouse is usually cut quite thick, so reverse-searing can help you avoid an overcooked exterior and raw middle. There’s no need to marinate before cooking. Salt and pepper is all you need.
Don’t Miss: How Long Can You Keep Omaha Steaks In The Freezer
Do You Cook On The Shiny Side Of Aluminum Foil
If not, it might be time to switch to a better product. aluminum foil is known for its ability to emit a harmful residue that can cause skin irritation and other health risks.
If not, it might be time to switch to a better product. aluminum foil is known for its ability to emit a harmful residue that can cause skin irritation and other health risks.
What Do You Eat With Grilled Steak
You can serve sauces to pour over the grilled steak, such as pan sauce, compound butters, chimichurri, or bottled barbecue.
As far as side dishes, it’s nice to have two elements.
A starchy side that can soak up some of the tasty steak juices — mashed potatoes, rice, soft bread, and polenta are all good candidates.
A salad with an acidic dressing to provide a contrast of color and flavor. Consider a green salad or corn salad. The bright colors will make the plate look a little more festive since steak and starches don’t exactly pop. And an acidic dressing will play off the fattiness of the steak, cutting through and even improving the flavor. For leaner cuts that have less fat, choose a less acidic dressing.
Read Also: Steak N Shake Apply Online
How To Store Grilled Steak
If you happen to find yourself with leftovers, store them in an airtight container or wrap the steak tightly with plastic wrap. It should be good for two to three days in the fridge. There are several ways to reheat leftover steak so it turns out juicy and tender: the microwave, the oven or in a skillet with a little beef broth.
Don’t Play With The Steaks
Yes, you should touch the steaks to test for doneness, but that doesn’t mean that you should be flipping and moving and poking a lot. Steaks should only be flipped once, and only moved once from a higher to a lower heat. And don’t poke them with anything but your finger! Put the meat on a hot grillthey should sizzle immediatelyand leave them there until they release on their own accord. If you’re pulling or struggling with them, they are not seared and not ready to flip.
Once ready, flip them once and cook until they feel done. Do not stab them with a fork, which will release their flavorful juices into the flames below. Do not press down on them with a spatula. Just let them cook.
You May Like: What Do You Marinate Steak With
Prepare The Barbecue Grill
The cooking surface must be clean and oiled so your steaks will have good contact with the grill without sticking. Prepare the grill while it’s finishing heating up.
The easiest way to oil the cooking grate is with an oil-soaked paper towel and the metal brush used to clean the grill. Fold a paper towel in half until it is the size of your grill cleaning brush. Soak it with oil that has a high smoke point, like canola or grapeseed oil. Brush this over the cooking grates evenly. It will smoke some, but enough oil will remain on the grates as long as you don’t let the grill sit at its highest temperature for too long before grilling.
How To Prepare Steaks For The Grill
To prepare steaks for the grill you will need to:
Don’t Miss: What’s The Best Seasoning For Steak
Grilling Steak Tips + Q& a
Best grill temp for steak:
We recommend searing your steak at high heat such as 500ºF for a few minutes on each side to sear the steak and then lower it to 400ºF to finish cooking.
How long to grill steak
Depending on the thickness of your steak and how done you want it, grill your steak at around 400ºF for around 15-20 minutes.
Should I use a gas or charcoal grill?
Either a gas grill or a charcoal grill works for grilling steak. Its all about preference. We personally used a gas grill because you can manage temperature better.
How do I know my grilled steak is done?
The most precise way to know if your steak is fully cooked is to check the temperature. Use a meat thermometer and stick it in the thickest part of the steak. It should read at least 135ºF before taking it off the grill to safely consume it.
What Side Up Should The Foil Be
There is no one definitive answer to this question it depends on the specific situation and product. If youre using a foil for cooking your food on the stovetop, its best to use the opposite side up so that heat can reach the food from the bottom.
For baking or baking in a oven, try putting foil on top so that the air space between the foil and the pan is clear.
You May Like: What Is On Philly Cheese Steak Pizza
Dont Use The Wrong Kind Of Salt And When In Doubt Oversalt
“True sea salt is always the way to go when seasoning a steak,” Prentiss says. “We use Jacobsen’s kosher salt from Portland, Oregon. The grains are medium-sized and the pleasant minerality lends itself perfectly to grilled beef. Any true fleur de sel or sel gris-type sea salt will work well for good beef. Avoid table salt, iodized salt, or fine-grain sea salts as they have more weight to volume than larger grain salts, and you can easily over-season with them. Just think medium grain, true sea salt.”
Cervantez is a fan of kosher salt, which is virtually identical to sea salt. He also advocates seasoning with pepper, and recommends combining with salt in equal quantities.
And when you do, “Always overseason your steaks a bit,” adds Christian Ragano, executive chef at Cindy’s rooftop restaurant at the Chicago Athletic Association. “When you think it’s enough, always add a little more. A lot of salt and pepper falls off during the cooking process and doesn’t always penetrate the meat.”
Jayawardena, regional executive chef for Radisson Hotel Group Americas, concurs. “Now is not the time to be shy about seasoning,” he says, adding that salt is “the most important ingredient you could ever add to a steak. Do this before you let the steaks rest so the seasoning has time to work its way deep into the meat.”
How Long To Grill Steak
For a 1 1/2-inch thick steak, here are the general cooking times:
- 6 to 8 minutes for rare
- 7 to 10 minutes for medium-rare
- 10 to 12 minutes for medium
- 12 to 15 minutes for well done
Note that the USDA recommends cooking whole cuts of beef to an internal temperature of 145°F.
Keep in mind that the thickness of your steak, the heat of your grill, and your desired level of doneness will all impact the time it takes your steak to grill. Raichlen suggests checking the temperature of the steak by inserting a digital meat thermometer through the side, not top down. You can also use Elises handy dandy guide.
You May Like: Does Chilis Have Chicken Fried Steak
Don’t Forget The Thermometer Even If You’re A Pro
Chef Ragano asserts this is one of the most important things to remember. “Temping a steak by hand can be tricky,” he says. “It takes a ton of practice and a ton of experience. Thomas Keller once said, ‘You have to cook a steak a thousand times just to suck at it.'”
Don’t have a meat thermometer on hand? Ted Hopson, chef-owner of Los Angeles’s now-shuttered The Bellwether, recommends using metal cake testers. “People are always looking for secrets on how to get the perfect steak doneness,” he says. “Metal cake testers are the best tool you can use for this. Insert the metal tester into the steak, leave it for five seconds, then pull it out and touch it to your lips or inner wrist. The internal temp of the steak will tell you how done it is. If it’s cold, your steak is rare if it’s just warm, medium-rare slightly hot, medium, etc. No more pushing on it to test it what happens when you hit a muscle knot? Plus, cake testers are less than a dollar and you can get them in baking sections or on Amazon.”
Chef Prentiss offers these steak doneness guidelines:
Rare: 120-130°F
What Temperature Do You Sear Steak On A Pellet Grill
If the steak is directly heated, it can be cooked at 400F or 204C on the pellet grill. It is best to cook your steak on a pellet grill with 225 F or 107 C as the temperature of the pellet grill. After one hour, you can change it back to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Its a combination of convenience and temperature control that makes a pellet grill similar to a gas grill. Wood pellets, which serve as the primary heating fuel, are used to cook and smoke the food. Pellet grills can be used in the rain and wind because they heat up quickly, cook the food consistently, and are effective when its windy. Pellet grills are ideal for smoking large cuts of meat such as brisket, pork butt, and ribs, as well as maintaining a near perfect temperature. As a result, they cant withstand high heat, similar to how coal is heated over direct coals or propane is heated over propane gas. You should also consider combining some Grill Grates with your pellet grill. A grate is a piece of wood that sits directly above the grates on your pellet grill.
Also Check: Best Tomahawk Steak In Dallas
Tips For Grilling The Perfect Steak:
Set the steaks out about an hour before grilling so they can come to room temperature.
Pour olive oil over steaks and season with your favorite spices.
Use a fork to tenderize the meat and rub the olive oil and spices down into the steaks.
Even if you have a great steak, like a t-bone or ribeye, it just makes for a super tender steak. Plus it gets all of that wonderful olive oil and spices down into the meat.
Add the steaks to the grill and sear on both sides.
Turn steaks frequently to ensure even cooking.
Remove steaks and allow to rest 5-10 minutes before slicing or serving. Upon resting, internal temperatures will rise another 5 degrees.
Read Also: Gifts For A Steak Lover
Pit Boss Pellet Grill
The Pit Boss Pellet Grill is the perfect way to cook a delicious meal for your family and friends. It is a wood-fired grill that uses 100% natural hardwood pellets for fuel, giving your food the delicious smoky flavor of a wood-fired grill. The Pit Boss Pellet Grill also offers precision temperature control, meaning you can cook anything from low-and-slow BBQ to high-temperature searing. This grill also has an 8-in-1 feature that allows you to grill, bake, smoke, roast, braise, char-grill, barbecue, or even sear. With its large cooking surface, you can easily cook up a feast for the entire family. The Pit Boss Pellet Grill is the perfect way to bring the flavor of wood-fired cooking to your next meal.
Pellet grills are the most dependable and time-tested outdoor cookers on the market. Traeger is unquestionably the market leader in this category. Pit Boss is one of the top competitors, and we frequently get questions about it and Traeger. Pellet grills and smokers come standard with a digital controller that allows temperature and fuel management. One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a wood pellet smoker is how it can maintain a steady temperature. Traeger has an advantage in temperature control and heat management over other brands due to its smaller increment settings and more precise heat management for cooking duration. You must determine how much cooking space you need based on the number of people you intend to cook for.
Read Also: Steak And Shake Doordash Promo Code
