How To Cook The Perfect Steak
Cooking a steak perfectly can seem overwhelming. Which type of steak? How long to cook? What about seasoning and pan heat?Im going to answer all of those questions, and more, to get you cooking steak like a pro!Plus I’ve got some fantastic sauces to serve with your steak.
It took me a long time to figure out how to cook the perfect steak, consistently well, every time.I’ve served up many overcooked, chewy steaks in our early dating days! For something that seems so simple, there are lots of variables, which can be confusing!
Now I’ve got great steak cooking under my belt, I’ve come up a no-fail, step-by-step plan, covering each of those variables, so you can be confident in the kitchen to cook beautiful, juicy steak.
What Do We Need
- Let’s start with the steak of course. I recommend a good quality thick ribeye or sirloin steak with some fat running through it.
- Ribeye tends to have a chunk of fat in the middle and some smaller veins of fat .
- Sirloin just tends to just have the smaller veins of fat.
- We’re going to concentrate on those cuts, but I’ve also got a note on cooking fillet steak in the notes section of the recipe card.
Make It A Steak Night With These Filling Recipes
The Spruce
In this roundup of delicious steak recipes, we’ve collected some of the most tried-and-true ones, sure to yield tender, juicy cuts every time. Whether you’re working on a grill, with a cast-iron skill, or even an Instant Pot, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly dishes here. We’ve also budget-conscious recipes to help you stretch your food budget further as well as our favorite fancy steak recipes for romantic dinners at home.
Recommended Reading: Charlie Palmer Steak Dress Code
It Complements And Balances Out The Flavor
I love steak as much as the next guy, but I have to admit that it can be a bit one-dimensional.
Theres only so much you can do with a medium-rare hunk of meat, and if you serve the same side dish with every steak like mashed potatoes or baked beans you can get bored pretty quickly.
This is why you should always serve a vegetable with your steak.
It complements and balances out the flavor. It also adds color and texture to the plate.
Finally, it gives you another chance to show off your culinary skills and make use of fresh seasonal produce.
What Are The Different Grades Of Beef
There are three grades of beef steak that you will find in a US supermarket: Select, Choice, and Prime. Select is generally the grade of sale-priced, or advertised meat. Select grade is just above what the USDA deems edible. So if you buy Select grade meat, dont be surprised when it isnt that great. It will always be worth it to pay the extra money per pound for the Choice grade. If it is choice grade, it will be advertised as such and marked somewhere on the label or packaging. If your supermarket carries Prime grade, lucky you!
Buy Choice or Prime Grade steaks for best results.
Don’t Miss: Steak And Shake Doordash Promo Code
They Go Perfectly With A Hunk Of Meat
Leah Maroney
Want to serve a homemade steakhouse dinner with all the trimmings for a romantic date night or other special occasions? Take a look at these delicious bistro-inspired side dishes that can make meat even better. From rich and creamy gratins to roasted vegetables and winning salads, these are our favorite side dishes to serve with steak.
Benziger Family Winery 2018 De Coelo Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
This is a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that will pair perfectly with filet mignon. After harvest the grapes were cold soaked in open top fermenters for five days to extract maximum flavor, color and tannin. It was then allowed to go through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels for 10 months, resulting in creamy mouthfeel and voluptuous texture. There are juicy flavors of black cherry, red plum, and cranberry on the palate and a light touch of bright pomegranate in the finish. Only 470 cases were made in 2018.
Read Also: Best Grilled Steak Recipe In The World
Preparing Your Steak And Pan
What Temperature Do You Grill Marinated Steak Tips
Grill-marinated steak tips at different temperatures can vary greatly in taste and texture. Here are three tips to help get the best results:
You May Like: Do Omaha Steaks Come Frozen
Red Cabbage & Fennel Coleslaw
A slightly gourmet take on a traditional slaw, red cabbage and fennel slaw is another fresh, tangy, and cool side dish.
Mix carrots, cabbage, fennel, shallots, and mayonnaise together for a dish thats sure to liven up any plate.
This slaw is easy to make and goes fantastically with any grilled red meat.
Last, there are many delectable sauces that taste divine with cooked meat.
Bearnaise is a classic French sauce that offers subtle tastes of vinegar and tarragon.
Or you can go with a classic Chimichurri. This South American sauce made with chopped parsley, garlic, and shallots.
It brings a fresh pop of color and flavor to your meal.
Theres a simple choice of shallots and red wine, or an earthy mushroom topping, or the traditional peppercorn.
The options are endless, but any of them will bring your meal to another level of exquisite flavor.
Make your steak dinner a winner with a side of mashed potatoes!
Juicy steak plus creamy mashed potatoes are a match made in heaven.
Mashed potatoes are a rich and buttery side dish, for sure, but the tanginess and garlicky flavor counterbalance the richness well.
As a starchy dish, this pairing makes for a hearty dinner. Its perfect for when youre in the mood to indulge.
How Do I Cook Steak
- First start out by letting the steaks rest at room temperature for 30 minutes .
- Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat . I like to turn on vent fan above stove.
- Dab both sides of steak dry with paper towels then season both sides with salt and pepper .
- Place steaks in skillet and using metal tongs press down across top surface of steaks to ensure the entire bottom surface is making direct contact with skillet.
- Let cook until browned on bottom, about 3 minutes.
- Flip and continue to cook until steak is about 10 degrees away from desired doneness approximately 3 minutes longer.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, add butter, garlic and thyme. Using an oven mitt grasp pan and tilt pan so butter pools to one side, spoon butter over steaks and continue to cook until steaks registers temperature of desired doneness, about 1 minute longer.
- Transfer to a plates, let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Read Also: What Is The Best Omaha Steak Deal
Via Sastre Regina Vides 2016 Ribera Del Duero Spain
Grapes for this stunning wine are grown on 90-year-old vines planted at an altitude of 840 meters. It is aged for 18 months in new French oak and undergoes malolactic fermentation in the barrel. It is bright cherry in color with aromas of black fruits, red currant and toasted hazelnuts. It is generous and round in the mouth with flavors of ripe fruits, sweet brown baking spices and vanilla. It has soft suede-like tannins and great persistence in the finish. Only 6,000 bottles were produced in this vintage.
Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks
A baked zucchini stick is a great veggie option to serve alongside your steak dinner.
If youre looking for something extra special, then you can make them extra crispy by frying them in a pan before baking!
To do this, cut each zucchini into long sticks, brush with a little olive oil, and then sprinkle with salt.
Read Also: Crosse And Blackwell Steak Sauce
Grilled Skirt Steak Tacos
The Spruce / Regarding BBQ Inc
Grilled steak tacos flavored with a zesty lime juice and chipotle marinade and topped with cilantro and corn salsa are great for Taco Tuesday or any day of the week. Grill them up on the barbecue or use your oven broiler for a yummy, Tex-Mex meal that comes together in minutes and tastes even more fantastic with an added scoop of guacamole.
How To Cook Marinated Steak Tips In The Oven
Answer
If youre looking to cook some delicious steak in the oven, here are a few tips to help get the job done.
First, Marinate the steak in a mixture of soy sauce and water for at least four hours. Second, Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the steak on a baking sheet. Finally, bake the steak for about 25 minutes or until its cooked through.
You May Like: Old Town Steak And Seafood
What Ingredients Do You Need For Garlic Butter Steak Bites
If the name doesnt say it all for you, heres what youll need:
- Garlic the more the better. If you know me you know I love my garlic so go nuts!
- Butter I always use unsalted because this way I can control the salt in all my recipes.
- Steak I love using a sirloin steak in this recipe and cut it into small pieces. Sirloin packs a lot of flavor and its pretty tender, but still affordable.
- Olive Oil extra virgin.
- Salt & Pepper to season to your liking.
- Red Pepper Flakes for a little bit of heat, so if you want it mild, just skip the pepper flakes.
- Parsley I always love to garnish everything with a little bit of parsley because it makes the dish look so much better. We eat with our eyes first!
Sadie Family Wines 2018 Columella Swartland South Africa
Aficionados of South Africa have certainly heard of Eben Sadie and his highly acclaimed wines, and this blend of six grapes including Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache does not disappoint.
Eben lets this wine rest on the lees for one year in French oak barrels and then transfers it to large oval casks for an additional year of ageing. The wine is then bottled without fining nor filtration. It is big and bold in the nose with ripe fruit aromas and well balanced on the palate with smooth and silky tannins.
Don’t Miss: Grilling New York Strip Steak On Gas Grill
French Green Vegetable Gratin
Diana Miller/Getty Images
Wondering how to get kids and adults alike to eat green vegetables? Try cooking broccoli, spinach, and zucchini into a rich gratin with a delicious, homemade cheese sauce, and watch as they are devoured. The recipe adds just a hint of poultry seasoning, for a hint of savory flavor that matches well with meat dinners.
Theyre More Nutritious Than Potato Sides
When it comes to a classic steak dinner, nothing accompanies the main event quite like a heaping pile of mashed potatoes or a fluffy baked potato.
But as much as we love these classic side dishes, theres no denying that theyre not the healthiest option out there.
And since steak is already loaded with fat and calories, adding in another high-calorie food isnt the best idea.
Luckily, there are so many other vegetable side dishes that you can serve with steak that arent only delicious but also nutritious and low in calories.
Also Check: Buy Now Pay Later Steaks
How Long To Cook Steak
Our cookery team have outlined what you can expect from each category of steak.
- Blue: Should still be a dark colour, almost purple, and just warm. It will feel spongy with no resistance.
- Rare: Dark red in colour with some red juice flowing. It will feel soft and spongy with slight resistance.
- Medium-rare: Pink in colour with some juice. It will be a bit soft and spongy and slightly springy.
- Medium: Pale pink in the middle with hardly any juice. It will feel firm and springy.
- Well-done: Only a trace of pink colour but not dry. It will feel spongy and soft and slightly springy.
Its very important to consider the size and weight of your steak before calculating the cooking time. If youre unsure, take advantage of the expert eye of your butcher who should be able to tell you how long you need to cook your meat.
More like this
We recommend the following cooking times for a 3.5cm thick fillet steak:
- Blue: 1½ mins each side
- Rare: 2¼ mins each side
- Medium-rare: 3¼ mins each side
- Medium: 4½ mins each side
How Long Do You Broil Marinated Steak Tips
When it comes to grilling steak, there are a few things you can do to maximize the flavor and texture. One of these methods is to marinate it in different spices and flavors. Marinating steak tips in different spices and flavors can give them a unique flavor that will make them taste amazing on your grill.
You May Like: How Long Do I Grill Steak
Favorite Way To Cook Steak
Steak is one of those classic dinners that is perfect for special occasions. My whole family loves it and gets so excited when its on the menu. A few of our other favorite special occasion meals are chicken marsala, spaghetti bolognese and fettuccine alfredo.
If youve never tried cooking steak in the oven, you have to give it a shot! I love to sear it on the stove first, then finish it off in the oven. It creates a caramelized, crisp outside and tender and juicy inside. It tastes great served with either a baked potato, mashed potatoes or green beans.
What Kind Of Steaks Should I Use
Filet mignons are the easiest to cook at home, because theyre the most tender. Ribeye is great too, though. This recipe is great for all steak cuts! If you need to do some steak reading, check out this article that explains the difference in each cut. Its pretty informative and will help you when youre grocery shopping for some beef.
You May Like: Best Indoor Electric Grill For Steaks
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
To keep your leftover steak on hand for up to a week, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. This will lock in the juices and prevent the steak from drying out in the cold temperature. To reheat the steak, wrap it in aluminum foil or place it in a baking dish covered with aluminum foil and reheat it in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
Torbreck 2019 The Factor Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia
This 100 percent Shiraz stunner from Australias Barossa Valley is named for the local colloquialism for estate manager, Factor. It is inky purple in the glass with aromas of black plum, ripe dark cherry, vanilla bean and mocha. In the mouth it is big and bold with ripe fruit flavors and velvety tannins. Perfect with a steak on the barbie. Drink now or throughout the next 20 years.
Recommended Reading: What Sauce On Philly Cheese Steak Pizza
