Why Youll Love This Recipe
Steak Cooking Time & Temperature
A key element in learning how to BBQ steak flawlessly is knowing the finished temperature depending on personal preference when it comes to your meats doneness. Heres a quick list of cooking temperature per steak doneness and key indicators to help you determine when the meat is ready to be taken out of the grill.
-
Rare: 120-125°F internal temperature red, shiny, and soft when touched
-
Medium-rare: 130-135°F internal temperature deep red to pink, soft but firm
-
Medium: 140-145°F internal temperature pinkish color in the center part, a bit firmer
-
Medium-well: 150-155°F internal temperature very light pink center with slight graying on the edges firm but tender meat
-
Well-done: 160°F+ internal temperature no hint of pink color anywhere meat is very firm
To check the internal temperature precisely and conveniently, we recommend using a digital BBQ thermometer or meat thermometer. This stops you from opening the lid. To ensure your steak remains juicy and tender, never cut into it to check doneness and use tongs to prevent the meat from being pierced. Remember that when the lid is closed, the grill will be able to maintain optimal cooking temperature, resulting in beautifully and evenly cooked steak. When youve taken it off of the fire, allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Also Check: Mcdonalds Steak Egg And Cheese Bagel Nutrition
The Best Cuts For Grilling
First, let’s talk beef: rib-eye, strip and tenderloin are all great cuts for the grill. If you choose bone-in steaks, keep in mind that they take longer to cook. Look for good marbling to guarantee a juicy and tender cut. And ideally, steaks should be at 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick to form a nice charred crust without overcooking.
Flank, skirt and hanger steaks are also great on the grill. These thinner cuts are best marinated, grilled quickly over high heat and sliced against the grain to serve.
Also Check: Prime Rib Steaks On Sale
Charcoal Or Gas Grill For Steak
Charcoal or wood-fired grills are always the best choice for grilling steaks because of the additional flavor and charring they provide. If you have a charcoal grill, you also can add different kinds of wood to the fire to contribute smokiness and enhance the overall flavor of the meat.
Dont worryyou can still cook a great steak on a gas grill. If using gas, open the lid, turn on the gas, and light the grill. Dont light the grill with the lid closed gas can build up inside the grill and create an explosion.
How Do You Grill A Frozen Steak
Never grill a frozen steak. Frozen steak must be defrosted before cooking.
Grilling a steak while fully frozen is a health risk because bacteria can form while the steak lingers at low temperatures. Also, the surface of the steak is likely to burn while the inside is raw.
To defrost frozen steak, put it in a dish in the refrigerator. Most cuts will fully defrost overnight.
If you need to defrost frozen steak in a hurry, put it under cold running water.
Read Also: Steak And Shake Gunbarrel Road
How To Grill Flat Iron Steaks
Also known as top blade steak, flat iron steaks are very similar to flank steaks. This is one of the best steaks for grilling and is at its best when you season with a sprinkle of spices and serve with plenty of zippy sauce .
- Season or marinate steaks as desired.
- For a charcoal grill: Grill steaks on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals 7 to 9 minutes for medium rare or 10 to 12 minutes for medium doneness , turning once halfway through grilling.
- For a gas grill: Preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place steaks on grill rack. Cover and grill as directed above.
- Serve steaks with desired sauce.
This grilling season, put your steak skills to work and get ready for rave reviews. Don’t forget about the barbecue sides: A grilled steak is amazing, but it gets even better with the right accompaniment for a complete meal.
How To Grill A Steak
Note: if you properly season your steaks with a little salt and pepper or our famous steak marinade, you shouldnt need any steak sauce or bbq sauce for serving because the beefy flavor is so delicious.
Read Also: What Kind Of Wine Goes With Steak
Is A Medium Rare Steak Safe To Eat
A lot of people get concerned about seeing pink in their steak. Doesnt that mean its not fully cooked? Wont bacteria grow in there? Unfortunately, medium-rare often gets confused with rare steak, which has an easily identifiable red color. Its important to know that medium rare steak is not the same as raw steak or rare meat. A medium rare rib eye wont hurt you if its a quality piece of meat thats cooked properly and stored safely before and after its cooked.
Medium rare steak gets cooked to a safe temperature. You usually stop cooking it between 135 and 140 degrees and then allow it to sit and rest for a few minutes. During this time, its temperature continues to rise slightly because the heat keeps it cooking. When all is said and done, your medium-rare steak should be at 145 degrees, which is considered safe to eat.
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.
Also Check: Holy Grail Steak Company Reviews
How To Make Grilled Steaks
How To Make Grilled Steaks. While steaks are typically cooked on the stove top, you can also cook them on the grill. A grill is a great tool for cooking larger cuts of meat like beef, pork, and lamb. However, its important to make sure that you buy a quality grill, as cheaper models will not hold up as well. If you are planning to grill steaks, make sure to choose the right grill and grilling surface. When buying a grill, check the cooking surface that you plan to use. Choose a grill thats made for searing steaks, as you will need to cook the steaks quickly. When buying a grilling surface, its important that you choose one made from stainless steel or other materials that will not react with food, and can withstand high temperatures. You can cook steaks on the grill on a flat surface, or on one of the sides.
How To Grill Steak On A Charcoal Grill
SmokedBBQSource is supported by its readers. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through a link on this page. Learn more.
I love my charcoal grills. Like, I really, really love them. I love them so much that I own 4 different kinds of charcoal grills.
While I do most of my outdoor cooking on them, my favorite thing to cook over flame would definitely be a nice thick medium rare steak.
If youve never had a steak prepared over charcoal, man are you missing out! There is something about the subtle smokey flavor that really makes beef stand out.
In this article, were going to run down what you need to know to be able to grill an awesome steak over charcoal.
Don’t Miss: Where Can I Get Omaha Steak Gift Cards
Fourth Position And Testing For Doneness
As you prepare to turn the steak for the last time, it’s time to start checking for doneness. The steak should show no red around the side and the top side should have a rich brown color. As you pick the steak up to rotate it 45 degrees , feel the density of the steak. A medium-rare steak should be firm but still have a good amount of give. Close the lid of the barbecue and continue grilling.
After this last position, turn down the heat on your grill and, if needed, test the temperature of the steak. The internal temperatures for different levels of doneness are:
- Rare: 120 to 130 F
- Medium Rare: 130 to 135 F
- Medium: 140 to 150 F
- Medium Well: 155 to 165 F
- Well: 170 F or higher
If your steak needs more cook time, leave it where it is and continue grilling on medium heat until done.
The Best Charcoal Grilled Steak
This post is sponsored by Home Depot. All text and opinions are my own.
Theres nothing like a beautiful summer day, your family enjoying the outdoors with you and firing up your grill for the ultimate dinner!
What makes it even better is when that dinner includes these delicious Charcoal Grilled Steaks.
Theres is nothing better than a steak thats piping hot off of a charcoal grill.
The flavor is absolutely amazing!
If you are new to grilling a steak on a charcoal grill dont worry!
We will give you the ultimate guide to getting a delicious, juicy steak off your charcoal grill.
It might take a little extra work compared to a gas grill, but once you taste the difference you wont mind the extra few minutes of work!
Trust us, its totally worth it!
One of our favorite tricks to getting the ultimate charcoal grilled steak is using our favorite Kingsford Hardwood Charocal Briquettes found at Home Depot!
We love them because the are made of all natural hardwood and create low amounts of ash during use.
Plus, they create a high heat which is perfect for searing these delicious steaks!
You can use them on your charcoal grill, smoker or ceramic grill.
Did I mention that they give your steaks the ultimate smoky flavor which is the secret of why our steaks taste better than anyones!
Shhhh, dont tell anyone our secret oh wait, maybe you should!
Also Check: Reed And Barton Steak Knife Set
How To Grill Skirt Steak
Chef Frothingham’s favorite cut, skirt steak, is long and thin with a slightly chewy texture that pairs well with marinades.
The 4 Positions For Grilling Steaks On A Gas Grill
If you are grilling your steaks on a gas grill, let the grill become as hot as possible. When your gas grill reaches its peak temperature, place your steaks on it.
Do you want to prepare a rare, medium rare, or medium steak? If you do, let the temperature go as high as it can. For a medium-well and well-done steak, heat your gas grill to its highest temperature and then lower it a little.
If you do not lower the temperature, it can burn the surface of the steak, drying out before the middle hits the higher temperature. You can make the perfectly cooked juicy steaks on a gas grill by understanding the four different grilling positions.
Cooking steaks demand your full attention on a gas grill. Make sure to close the gas grill, so it can hold as much heat as possible. You need to inspect the steaks before placing them on the barbecue grill. Decide which side of the steak you want to label as the top. You can then grill the steaks in four different positions and change their position with time. Here are the four positions:
You May Like: Dominic’s Philly Cheese Steak Seasoning
Dont Flip Your Steak More Than Once
“Keep away from overturning your steak,” says Eric Schlicht, chef at Ocean Resort Casino’s American Cut in Atlantic City, New Jersey. “Let the Maillard reaction do its thing.”
Ideally, Prentiss says you should turn the steak once on each side to get those crosshatch grill marks, and only flip it once.
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.”
Don’t Miss: Omaha Steaks Customer Service Jobs
How To Check For Medium
Now that you are armed with the what and why of a medium-rare perfectly cooked steak, its time to talk application. If you dont know how to check the level of doneness of a steak, you might end up with a medium cooked or a medium well steak, despite your best intentions of cooking a steak to medium-rare.
Because cutting into a steak while cooking to assess the appearance of its insides will allow juices to escape and leave you with something resembling steak tartare, we recommend checking doneness in other ways to preserve your steaks texture and flavor. When it comes to knowing how to cook steak or grill a steak medium-rare, there are a few tried and true techniques to choose from.
How To Serve Steak
After you let the steak rest for at least five minutes, you have a decision to make: to slice or not to slice. You can certainly serve steak whole with a steak knife and let the eater cut it themselves. We often prefer to slice the steak before it makes its way to the plate. This allows you to portion one steak to multiple eaters, cutting down on the cost of dinner without making it obvious that each person didnt get their own steak. It also ensures that the meat will be sliced against the grain, creating the juiciest, most tender bite.
To identify the grain, look for the long strands of muscle fibers running parallel to each other. Position your knife in a T to the fibers, creating slices perpendicular to the grain. Then, plate the steak with a killer side dish. Drizzle the slices with your favorite steak sauce if you like garlic butter or chimichurri are always good choices.
You May Like: T Bone Steak Price Per Pound
