How To Season Your Steak
You see it mentioned in every steak recipe: Use seasoning on your steak before you cook it. Usually, that seasoning is kosher salt and black pepper, but some recipes call for a steak rub, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme, and other herbs and spices.
But does a delicious steak require a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and salt to turn out amazing? We say Yes! and we think youll agree if you experiment with a seasoned steak versus a non-seasoned steak. Heres everything you need to know about steak seasoning and how to season steak properly.
When To Season Steak Heavily And When To Cut It Back
You might notice that most steak recipes have one thing in common: they tell you to season steak generously. But you might wonder just how generous you need to be to avoid overseasoning your steak. Its a common conundrum, but were here to help.
Generally, the amount of steak seasoning you need depends on how thick your steak is. The seasoning sits only on the outer side of the steak, so the middle of the steak doesnt get seasoned. Therefore, thicker steaks require more seasoning to ensure that you get a flavorful bite, whereas thinner steaks dont need as much because you wont be eating as large of an unseasoned portion in each bite.
So, strip steak, filet mignon, ribeye, and other thick steaks typically call for a generous amount of seasoning. But flank steak and flat iron popular thinner steaks may not need as much to achieve the same taste result.
What Is The Best Way To Season A Steak
In addition to a great steak seasoning, there is always the combination of freshly cracked black pepper and kosher salt. In order to emphasize the finishing effect, use f black pepper and kosher salt. finishing salts such as flaky sea salt and can be applied at the Make your steaks flavor more interesting with a salt that contains fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage.
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What Is The Best Cut Of Beef For Tacos
A Skirt Steak is one of the most common ingredients for fajitas and tacos, with great reason. They offer a unique, beefy flavor, are fairly affordable, and are available outside of grocery stores. The unique flavor, ease of cooking, delicious leanness, and perfect match for good marinades also make them an excellent marinade ingredient.
How Do You Season Steak
Steak should always be seasoned generouslyreally generously. Youre going to need to sprinkle on more salt than you think is appropriate because you want it to completely cover the steak. Sprinkle the salt from above for more even coverage. Its going to seem like overkill, but seriously just keep salting. Once youve salted your steak, gently press the crystals into the meat with your hands to help them adhere. If youre making a really thin cut of steak, like skirt steak, dont salt as heavily, but if youre making a 2-inch-thick, bone-in porterhouse , then keep salting. You want the salt to flavor the whole thing.
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Smoky Sweet Homemade Steak Seasoning
When smoking beef, we all tend to gravitate towards sweet and savory blends. The smoky sweet rub is the ideal homemade steak seasoning for just that! Try this combo of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and brown sugar on most smoked beef recipes like chuck roast, beef back ribs, prime rib, brisket or beef cheeks. This is such a simple seasoning to use on simple cuts too like filet mignon or ribeyes.
Ingredients: Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder and Brown Sugar.
Ideal Steaks: Brisket, Chuck Roast and Beef Ribs.
Recipe Idea: Smoked Wagyu Beef Back Ribs
A post shared by Derek Wolf on Aug 26, 2019 at 1:59pm PDT
How To Make The Best Steak Seasoning Recipe
ONE: Mix all the ingredients together and store in a glass jar in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
TWO: Season and cook the steak when ready!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
I started making my own steak seasoning so it is free of non-caking additives, and other such abominations, and I could control the amount of each spice added to it.
I can be picky and I like mine spicier than they make it so that means my home version contains more red pepper flakes than is humanly necessary!
This recipe for all-purpose steak seasoning makes a good amount so make sure that you store it in a cool, dry place until you have used the last crumb! In my house, it doesnt take long!
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Is It Gluten Free Paleo Keto And Whole 30 Compliant
This recipe is! Some recipes add sugar or bouillon. If you add these they will not be. Check out all these other spice mixes if you are looking to spice up some diet food!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below , and be sure to help me share on facebook!
I cant wait for you to try this spice mix on your next grilled steak! Send me a pic or tag me on social media!
What Seasonings To Use On Steak
There are countless options to choose from when it comes to applying seasoning to steak, but we have the favorites below. These go great with different types of cuts.
1. Cinnamon- Cinnamon used on steak helps keep the meat moist by increasing blood flow to the surface area. This allows the meat to stay tender throughout the entire cooking process.
2. Rosemary- Rosemary contains volatile oils that impart a rich flavor to food. It blends well with other seasonings yet works best as an independent meat ingredient. One word of caution rosemary has a strong odor, so make sure not to overdo it.
3. Chili powder- This fiery kick adds a nice flavor to any dish that uses chili powder, especially beef. The color of the powder also makes it easy to see if youve added enough spices to suit your taste.
4. Cumin- Cumin goes well with most dishes. When applied on the surface of the steak, it imparts a rich aroma that complements the natural flavor of beef. Just be careful not to add too much since excess cumin can become overly spicy.
5. Red pepper flakes- If you enjoy Asian flavors in your food, red pepper flakes are a must-have. They give a nice burst of flavor to many foods and pair very well with beef.
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Don’t Use Old Herbs And Spices
Old herbs and spices mean less flavor. And for this spice blend, we definitely want newer dried herbs and spices!
Dried spices and herbs have a shelf life of about two years when properly stored, depending on the spice or herb. To test potency, crumble some of the herb or spice into the palm of your hand with your fingers. If you can barely smell it or its dusty smelling, its time to get some new stuff!
Pro tip: Use an airtight glass jar to mix the ingredients together and youll save on cleanup!
Seasoning Your Steaks In Advance
If you’re ok with starting early and want to give this method a try, here’s how: Pat the meat dry with paper towels and sprinkle both sides of the steaks generously with Kosher salt. Be sure to get the salt on the edges of the steaks as well. That’s 1½ inches of surface you definitely want to cover. Press the salt crystals into the meat with your hands.
Transfer the steaks to cooling racks with a sheet pan or cookie sheet underneath, cover the whole tray with plastic wrap and stick them in the fridge, for up to 24 hours. Take them out about 30 minutes before cooking, pat them dry again with paper towels , season with freshly ground black pepper , and then grill as you normally would. The reason to pat them is that a dry steak will form a browner crust when it’s cooked.
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Freshly Ground Black Pepper
There’s another debate about seasoning steaks, which relates to black pepper. One school of thought suggests that applying the pepper before cooking can cause the pepper to burn while you cook it, imparting a bitter flavor. Followers of this school suggest grinding pepper onto the steaks after searing them or right before serving. The other school simply seasons their steaks with freshly ground black pepper before cooking and doesn’t give it a second thought.
Who’s right? It’s not that the notion of burning pepper is complete nonsense in theory, yes, black pepper could burn. The problem with peppering midway through cooking is that the pepper granules might not stick to the meat. You could pass a pepper grinder at the table, but if you’re cooking outside and eating in an informal style, this may not be feasible. So unless you’ve detected a burnt pepper flavor on your steaks in the past, by all means, season your steaks with freshly ground black pepper before cooking them.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- Yield: This recipe makes ¾ cup seasoning .
- Storage: Store this spice blend covered in the pantry for up to 6 months.
- To make a marinade for 2 pounds of steak, chicken, or pork, whisk together ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup soy sauce, and 4 teaspoons seasoning. Marinade at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour. Pat meat dry before cooking.
- Origin: Montreal Steak Seasoning is based on the pickling spices of Eastern European and Jewish cuisine. The spice blend also goes by the names Montreal Steak Spice, Canadian Steak Spice, and Canadian Steak Seasoning.
With just 3 ingredients and 10 minutes, whip up these easy Balsamic Mushrooms and Onions! A great topping for steak and chicken or an easy side dish. Balsamic Mushrooms and Onions are an easy, savory
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Take Your Steak To The Next Level With This Pre
A good quality steak doesnt need much more than a sprinkling of salt and pepper for seasoning. But if you want to take it to the next level and give your steak that extra punch of flavor, this all-purpose rub will do it.
I bring a zip-top bag of it with me whenever we go camping and plan on grilling steaks at our campsite. It smells so good, Ive had other campers walk over and ask what Im grilling!
The Best Steak Seasoning
This Homemade Steak Seasoning is the perfect blend of spices that will bring your grilled steak to the next level. If you season your steak with salt and pepper the flavor in this steak rub is going to blow your mind. Its the best steak seasoning with a perfect blend of pantry spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion, chili, and black pepper. Add a bit of sweetness from the brown sugar and your mouth will be watering over your steaks seasoned with this steak seasoning!
While its no secret that a delicious steak is always awesome, this steak seasoning can take your steak from good to great!
Plus, its so simple and easy to make! All youll need are a few simple ingredients and just a couple moments of your time.
I love simply recipes like this because if Im entertaining they are easy to make, plus if I want a quick steak on the grill during the weeknight its super simple to whip this up and I dont have to worry about marinating and all of that business.
Lets face it, sometimes Im just not on top of things like I should be and Steak Seasoning is a quick way to make a steak so flavorful!
If youd rather skip my tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas and get straight to this delicious easy Steak Seasoning recipe simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
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How To Make Steak Rub
- Adjust the spice levels: You can use more or less crushed red pepper to adjust the spice level of your seasoning for beef.
- Adjust the sweetness: Use more or less brown sugar to make the steak seasoning a little sweeter or less sweet if you prefer.
- Add more garlic: If you really love garlic , adjust to use more garlic powder for an extra garlicky flavor.
What To Put On Steak Before Seasoning
Steaks dont require so much as a pre-cooking treatment before getting seasoned. As long as your steaks are cut properly, they should be ready for seasoning.
However, if you want something good for your steak before seasoning, you can apply olive oil and sprinkle a little pepper to both sides to keep it from drying out as easily at high temperatures and may help seal in moisture and create a juicier steak.
If you love to get fancier, theres nothing wrong with using a rub first. Rubs are widely known for being great ways to prepare any steak quickly.
You can rub with products that contain spices like black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and coriander which are excellent at enhancing beef flavors.
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Chili Rub Steak Seasoning
Add spicy, smoky flavor to your steak with a simple chili rub. Simply combine a quarter cup of smoked paprika with two tablespoons chili powder and a tablespoon each kosher salt and ground cumin. If you like it spicy, feel free to add cayenne to the mix.
Rub the mixture over the steak and add a tablespoon or so of canola oil to help it stick. Keep an eye out for the mistakes that everyone makes when learning to cook steak.
The Steak Blend Seasoning & Wet Rub
When we started developing our own signature seasoning for steaks, we knew the bar was really high. Our recipe starts with a base of sea salt and cracked black pepper and then adds a unique blend of seasonings including garlic and onion, as well as a hint of crushed red pepper and lemon peel to accent the rich flavor of a great steak. We finished it off with a special mushroom blend that helps bring out the meaty flavors in quality beef. Simply putits the best steak seasoning that we could figure out how to make. And we think youre going to love it, on steakas well as pork, salmon, and more.
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How To Season Steak The Right Way
Ready to make the perfect steak with just the right amount of steak seasoning? Here are some tips to help you:
- Avoid using table salt to season. Instead, choose a Kosher salt with thick granules, which will help you really get the salt flavor in every bite.
- To help your seasonings adhere to the steaks surface, you can brush all sides with a small amount of olive oil first.
- Season steak generously, especially with thicker steaks. Youll want to have the flavor in every bite, and since only the outside gets seasoned, it needs to be enough to achieve that flavor.
- Season your steak just before cooking or about 30-40 minutes before cooking not in between to assist the science that happens when you cook a steak with salt .
What Spices Go Well With Steak
The most common flavoring agents for steak are salt and pepper. While theres nothing wrong with this simple preparation, I find that a blend of herbs and spices really complements the natural flavor of the meat. I recommend using a mix that includes any of the following seasonings.
- Garlic Powder
- Cumin
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Can I Marinate In Olive Oil
Using olive oil in your marinade has the unique ability to help pull the fat-soluble flavors out of some ingredients like garlic and shallots and help impart them into the meat or vegetable you’re marinating. When using extra virgin olive oil, you’ll get the added benefit of even more flavor from the oil itself!
When Should I Season My Steak
As a final recommendation: Dont salt meat too frequently. Be sure to salt it for at least 40 minutes s to spend at least 40 minutes and up to overnight before cooking. The recipe asks for the starter to be seasond immediately before cooking the potatoes. You might still find that necessary if the potatoes arent seasoned after the 40 minutes. If the steak isnt cooked after salting, it should be done in between three and 40 minutes.
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What Cut Of Steak Should I Buy
There are so many cuts of steak out there to choose from and the right cut depends on many factors including your budget, preferred cooking method, cooking time, etc.
The great news is that this versatile steak dry rub works on virtually every cut of steak you can buy. Whether youre opting for a juicy ribeye, a sensible sirloin or the luxurious filet, nothing elevates a nice piece of steak like a perfect blend of seasoning and spices.
As you can see below, I last used this seasoning on a couple of tri tips that we were grilling up over the weekend.
I just sprinkle a generous amount of the seasoning over the top of the meat and then give it a good rub.
Pop the steaks onto the grill and enjoy!
Nothing more delicious!
