Searing Steak Equals Flavor
A rule of thumb that separates professional chefs from many home cooks is that chefs sear their steaks for more time. This is because professionals understand that you can lock in flavors and aromas on the surface of steak by searing it, so they let their steaks sizzle over direct heat until the surfaces are dark, dark brown. Dont believe that searing locks in the juices. Its a myth. But searing sure does make a steak a whole lot tastier.
Let The Steak Rest Briefly Then Serve
“You always want to account for carryover cooking in the time that it takes to get the steak off of the grill and on the table,” says Epi Food Director Rhoda Boone. Let the meat rest for about 5 minutes, and it’ll be ready to slice or serve whole so that your hungry guests can attack it with their own knives.
Now that you’ve learned how to grill the perfect steak, dress it up and add variety with delicious sauces, marinades, and spices. And don’t forget the sides!
Selecting The Right Cut
First, a definition. Steaks are basically any piece of meat that falls under the category of “fast-cooking” cutscuts that are low enough in connective tissue that they don’t require the long cooking times that “slow-cooking” cuts require. The difference between a steak and roast essentially comes down to size. Any good roast can be cut into individual steaks .
You May Like: Grand Western Steaks Promo Code
Is Reverse Searing Better Than Forward Searing
Well thats the question, isnt it? There are some hard-core opinions out there about a reverse sear vs normal sear. Still, you wouldnt use the same method to cook a potato every time, so it would be nearsighted to make a blanket statement about meat and which grilling method is best in all instances.
It comes down to the three Ps: precision, preference, and palate. When I decided we needed to experience the Snake River Farms American Wagyu Black and Gold Ribeye, my preference was the reverse sear method, and my palate said it was perfection! *You can check out my full Snake River Farms review here!
I know many folks out there prefer the reverse sear vs regular sear, but for certain cuts, the forward sear is the better method, in my opinion. Especially when you have a gorgeous 32 oz thick cut steak, controlling your cooking temperature with precision is important.
Dont Forget To Let It Rest
As with all large cuts of meat, you should let your steaks rest before slicing into them. You want those juices to redistribute within the meat instead of spilling out onto the cutting board! A good rule of thumb is to let it rest for 5 minutes per inch of thickness . For most steaks, that means anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. Dont worry I promise it wont get cold while it rests!
Since a thick steak takes a bit longer to grill than a thinner steak, go ahead and prepare one of these grilled appetizers while you wait to keep everyone from getting hangry!
Don’t Miss: Bed Bath And Beyond Steak Knives
How To Grill Steak Perfectly Every Time
Learn how to grill steak perfectly every single time with this easy to follow recipe where steak is seared on a hot grill and cooked to perfection. Grilling steak doesn’t have to be complicated! Grades of Steak There are three…
Learn how to grill steak perfectly every single time with this easy to follow recipe where steak is seared on a hot grill and cooked to perfection. Grilling steak doesnt have to be complicated!
Can You Cook A Steak In The Oven Without Searing It
You want to cook the steak in the broiler, as it gets so hot, its enough to roast the steak without the need to sear. And the process is straightforward Place the steak on the counter to cool at room temperature and preheat the broiler. After 45 minutes, season the steak with olive oil, black pepper, and kosher salt.
Don’t Miss: Are Serrated Steak Knives Better
Grill Times And Temperature For Steak
Rare: 120 to 130 F 5 then 3 minutes per side pull off grill at max 125 F
Medium-Rare: 130 to 135 F 5 then 4 minutes per side pull off grill at max 130 F
Medium 140 to 150 F 6 then 4 minutes per side pull off grill at max 145 F
Medium-Well 155 to 165 F 7 then 5 minutes per side pull off grill at max 160 F
Well-Done 170 F or more 12 then 10 minutes per side pull off grill at max 165 F
How To Grill Thick Steak
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article’s instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 13,777 times.Learn more…
Thick steaks are great for serving a small crowd, but they can be a challenge to cook. Set your thick steaks out at room temperature and salt them generously while your grill heats up. Grill the steaks over indirect heat so they cook evenly in the center. Flip the steaks frequently as they cook and then put them directly over the heat to finish charring. Remove and rest your juicy steaks before serving them with your favorite sides.
Read Also: Omaha Steaks In Store Specials
Why Is My Steak Tough And Chewy
Undercooked steaks fail to melt the fat in the beef and are quite chewy. Additionally, undercooked beef might cause an upset stomach or even food poisoning. Overcooked steaks burn through all the fat and end up being hard, dry, and chewy.
Internal Temp Of Steak
To check the internal temp of steak use an instant-read thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the steak. Here are the temperature ranges to look for :
- Rare : 120 130 degrees
- Medium-Rare : 130 140 degrees
- Medium : 140 145 degrees
- Medium-Well : 145 155 degrees
- Well-Done : 160 degrees
Don’t Miss: Mccormick Montreal Steak Seasoning Nutrition Facts
Taking Off The Chill Speeds Up Cooking
The goal of grilling a steak is to brown and lightly char the surface while also cooking the interior to a perfectly juicy doneness, right? If the steak is too cold, the interior might require so much cooking time to reach that perfect doneness that the steak overcooks deep below the surface, turning gray and dry.
Let your steaks stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before grilling. They will cook faster all the way to the center and stay juicer.
How To Grill A Porterhouse Steak
The porterhouse is two steaks in one: The large side is the New York strip while the smaller mild-tasting tenderloin. It’s a good option for a family, as 2 1/2 pounds will serve four. Cut slices off the bone so everyone can have a little of both. To cook a 1 1/2-inch-thick porterhouse, grill for seven to nine minutes per side.
You May Like: Omaha Steaks Meals For One
What’s The Best Cut For Grilling
While personal preference is certainly a big factor when choosing the right cut, steaks with significant fat marbling are always going to be preferable for grilling because when it comes to steak, fat equals flavor.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the thickness of the steak. Thicker steaks about 1 ½ to 2 inches are the best choice for beginners because they’re harder to overcook. Thick, well-marbled cuts recommended for grilling include ribeye, strip , and filet mignon .
Cheaper cuts like skirt and hanger steaks are also good for grilling, but there’s more room for error with these, as they are thinner cuts. For best results, marinate overnight and use a meat tenderizer to break down the muscle fibers.
Related:8 Different Types of Steak and How to Cook Them
How To Buy A Good Steak
Q: Prime, Choice, or Select. What do they mean?
Cattle are graded after slaughter according to the degree of marbling, as well as the cow’s age.
All beef that’s sold in the U.S. is graded by the United States Department of Agriculture on a scale according to its tenderness and degree of marbling. At the top of the heap is Prime, which denotes an abundant degree of marbling in a cow under 42 months of age. Only about 2% of the beef sold in this country is designated Prime, and most of it goes to restaurants, specialty butchers, and high end supermarkets. Below that is Choice, followed by Select, which are the two grades you’ll find in most supermarkets.
The grades continue to go down all the way to Canner, which generally comes from very old cows with little fat in their tough meat. Luckily for us, you won’t find that grade in stores .
While checking the grade is a quick and easy indicator of the quality of the meat, what you should really be checking for is the degree of marblingthat’s the interstitial fat that shows up in white spiderwebs throughout the meat.
Why, you might ask, is marbling important? Two reasons: moisture and flavor. As well-marbled meat cooks, the fat will slowly melt, adding juiciness built right into the meat. Non-marbled meat might have plenty of fat on the exterior, but it doesn’t enhance the steak in the same way. Sort of like the difference between drinking a glass of chocolate milk or drinking the milk then shooting the chocolate syrup.
Recommended Reading: Chipotle Steak Keto Bowl Nutrition
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.
- Looking to upgrade? Check out our list of The Best Grills.
Salting Early Pays Off
You might have heard the warning that you shouldnt salt meat too far in advance of cooking because it can draw out moisture. Its true that salt draws moisture towards itself, but over the course of 20 to 30 minutes thats a good thing, because the salt begins to dissolve into that little bit of moisture.
When the steak hits the hot cooking grate, the sugars and proteins in the moisture combine with the salt and other seasonings to create a delicious crust. Any moisture you might lose is well worth the flavor of that crust.
Also Check: Where To Buy Calamari Steak
How Can I Make My Steak Juicy And Tender
8 Simple Ways to Make Tough Meat Tender
26 . 2018 .
Grilling The Perfect Steak: A Simple Grilled Steak Recipe
Want a recipe for grilling the perfect steak that you can try out for dinner tonight? You can do this with rib eye, porterhouse steaks, boneless strip, or whatever other cut delights you the most. You can also use a steak marinade overnight and grill the steaks the next day. This recipe serves four.
Recommended Reading: Canada Steak Burger Chula Vista
How To Use A Meat Thermometer
Since the best way to determine when a steak is done is by checking the internal temperature of the meat, using an instant-read thermometer is key. To test for the correct temperature, stick the thermometer probe in the thickest part, away from fat, bone, or gristle. It’s important to keep in mind that the meat will continue cooking with residual heat even after it’s removed from the grill, by about 5 degrees. So if you’re going for a final internal temperature of 160 F, remove the steak from the heat at about 155 F, give or take.
You Cant Put Moisture Back Inside A Steak
As steaks grill over high heat, they lose moisture. Fat and juices are literally pushed out of the meat. Thats the price we pay for making the steaks easier to digest.
Perhaps the most important part of grilling a steak is taking it off the heat before it has lost too much moisture. There is a short window of time, usually just a minute or two, when steaks go from medium rare to medium, or from medium to medium well.
Catching that window requires vigilance. Dont walk away from a steak on the grill. And remember, its always better to take it off when its underdone and then return it to the grill than it is to let a steak overcook.
You May Like: Zwilling Twin Gourmet Steak Knives 8 Piece Riveted Set
Common Grilling Steak Times
So, how long do you cook steak on the grill? That answer largely depends on the thickness of the meat youre cooking. You can cook thin or thick cuts on the grill just fine, but youll definitely want to alter your times to cook your desired cuts to the right doneness, which, again, is a matter of preference.
One good tip to keep in mind is to use a meat thermometer for thick cuts of steak and a timer for thin ones. A steak thats ¾ of an inch thick or less may be difficult to get an accurate temperature reading from, so a timer can help. But a meat thermometer can give you a more precise idea of the doneness of your steak to make sure its right.
For a medium-rare doneness, you typically will need to grill your steak between 4 to 6 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. For medium cooks, shoot for closer to 5 to 8 minutes on each side. Its always best, though, to start with the lower grilling steak time and check with your finger to see if it might need a bit more time, instead of allowing it to cook for a couple of extra minutes. You can always cook it a bit longer if required, but you cant get back tenderness you lose from overcooking.
When you touch the center of your steaks, a medium rare cook will spring back slightly, yet still feel squishy. A medium cook will be more springy than squishy. If all else fails, you can always cut a small slit in the center of your steak to check its color, but this should only be used as a last resort.
Too Thick Is Better Than Too Thin
There is nothing more frustrating than throwing a well-colored, well-marbled steak on the grill, then finding out its overdone before youve built up a good sear.
If this frequently happens to you, the thickness of your steak might be to blame. The thinner your steak, the worse your chance of achieving a nice rare to medium center, depending on your preference.
The reason for this is pretty simple. When you sear a steaks surface, some of that heat penetrates into the steak, toward the center. With thin steaks, the heat has to travel less to reach the steaks center, making thin steaks easy to overcook.
Because of this, the bare minimum for recommended steak thickness is 1 inch . Supermarkets and discount butchers often sell their steaks at one-inch thickness or less. The thinner their steaks, the more steaks they can sell. So always be careful that youre not being cheated on steak thickness.
Recommended Reading: How Much Is A Porterhouse Steak
How To Cook A Perfect Steak Indoors
The barbecue may be hibernating, but that doesn’t mean you have to take a break from grilled steak.
By Kristen EppichUpdatedFebruary 13, 2019
Ill be the first to sport a parka and boots and face the elements on a cold winter night if it means a juicy steak for dinner. However, there are times when you just want steak without having to bundle up.
The classic method of pan-cooking a steak involves searing it for about two minutes per side in a hot pan, then sliding that pan into a hot oven to continue cooking. This method works reasonably well, but when dealing with thicker cuts they tend to cook unevenly dry on the outer edges and undercooked in the centre. In order to correct this, its time for a little rethink.
The method below begins in the oven and finishes in the pan. Slow-roasting the steak first allows heat to evenly penetrate the meat, giving the interior a chance to begin cooking without overcooking the outside. Its crucial that the meat is roasted on a rack, allowing all the surfaces to be exposed to air. This helps to dry the surface in preparation for pan-searing, which will result in an unbelievably delicious crust on the steak. Give it a try, youll love it. And who knows maybe next summer you wont even bother dragging the barbecue back out again.
Tips For Grilling Steaks:
- Choose the cut thats right for you. There are many good cuts of steak to choose from, depending on your preference. I love rib-eyes, strip steaks and T-bone steaks. If you prefer a thin steak they cook faster and youre not dealing with a big thick piece of meat when you eat. If you cant find the thin cut youre looking for, purchase a thicker cut of meat and ask the butcher at the store to slice it in half, horizontally.
- Choose high quality steak. The quality of the meat you purchase plays a huge factor in how good your steaks will turn out! Steaks are given different grades based on the marbling and the age the animal was at slaughter. The highest quality meat is younger beef that has the most marbling. At most grocery stores, youll have your choice of the following three grades:
- Select: cheaper, or sale priced meat.
- Choice: The best choice for your local grocery store. Higher quality and widely available.
- Prime: the best of the best. Not found at most supermarkets but you can find prime cuts of meat at Costco!
Recommended Reading: Knife Block Set With Steak Knives
