How Do I Slice And Serve Grilled Steak
Conventional wisdom is to rest a steak before you slice it, but Id argue that a steak hot from the grill is the best, juiciest steak you can have. With that in mind, remove the steaks from the grill and slice across their grain immediately. Top the warm steak with slices of the compound butter and enjoy immediately.
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
What Is The Ideal Resting Temperature Of A Steak
The ideal resting temperature for your steak will, of course, depend on how much you like it cooked. However, it is important to remember that the internal temperature will continue to rise for a few degrees after you remove the steak from the heat. Since there is only a small window between a medium rare and a medium steak, for example, its essential to pull the steak before it reaches the desired temperature in anticipation of this rise in temperature.
Pulling the steak two-to-four degrees before it reaches its final cooking temperature is a good rule of thumb. This means pulling your steak at about 123 degrees for a rare steak, 128 degrees for medium rare, 138 degrees for medium, 148 degrees for medium well and 158 degrees for a well-done steak.
Keep in mind that the longer you cook your steak, the longer it will continue to cook when you pull it. You may wish to pull your steak a few degrees earlier if youre cooking it to medium or more. Some cooks recommend pulling the steak up to 10 degrees before it reaches your desired cooking temperature.
In my experience, this is a little excessive, but it will all depend on how hot your cooking environment is and how quickly the meat got up to resting temperature. You may need to experiment and adjust your technique to meet the needs of your cooking environment and tastes.
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How To Cook Medium Well Steak
This level of doneness is for those who don’t want a lot of pink in their meat. A medium well steak should have just a hint of pink in the very middle of the steak with a dark brown surface and good charring on the top and bottom. The steak will be very stiff but still have a little squish in the center.;
For a 1-inch steak, place steak on a hot grill for 7 minutes. Turn and continue grilling for another 5 minutes. Cook to an internal temperature of 155 to 165 F .
How To Make My Steak Juicy And Tender
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How To Grill Steak Step By Step
- 125°F for rare
- 130 to 135°F for medium-rare
- 140°F for medium
Your steak should be medium-rare after about eight minutes total cook time. If you feel like your steak is getting too browned, reduce the heat to medium.
What Are The Best Types Of Steaks For Grilling
Out of all proteins, steak is particularly well-suited to the grill. The high heat delivers a gorgeous sear, caramelizing the exterior and quickly heating the interior. That said, each kind of steak requires a slightly different method.
This particular recipe works best with boneless strip steaks that are at least 1 inch thick, but 1 1/2 inches is even better. Strip steaks are a great starter steak because they are well-marbled, meaning theyll cook up juicy every time, but not be full of fat that you have to worry about flare-ups. Plus, theres no bone to work around.
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How Do I Season A Steak For The Grill
The best grilled steaks are seasoned two ways: with salt, before cooking, and with butter, added to the steaks while they rest.
Youll start by generously seasoning each steak on all sides with kosher salt before you even light the grill. Plan on at least 1/2 teaspoon per half pound of steak. For thick strip steaks that weigh in about 12 ounces each, thats roughly 3/4 teaspoon per steak, but dont fuss too much over exact measurements just salt generously. Once salted, return the steaks to the fridge, uncovered, for at least 2 hours or overnight if needed. As they sit, the salt permeates the steak, making them juicy. It also draws some of the proteins and sugars to the surface of the steak, giving it that crave-worthy crust youre after.
Getting The Grill Ready
Before you add the steak to the grill, make sure you get it as hot as possible. There should always be a good-sized gap between the grates and the heat source. The size of this gap can be dependent on the make and model of the grill. Make sure all of the vents are left open and allow the top grate to heat up. Pour some vegetable oil on a folded up paper towel. Using your tongs to hold the paper towel, wipe down the grate.
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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.
Rare Steak Temperature And Cooking Tips
For those who like their steak just barely cooked, rare is a go-to order. The steak will be charred on the outside and just warmed through on the inside with a ruby-red color. Cooking your steak rare really allows the flavor of the meat to shine, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
To cook a rare steak, place it on a hot grill for approximately 5 minutes. Flip, rotate, and move to another spot on the grill. Cook an additional 3 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 125 degrees F . Let rest for 3 minutes, slice and serve.
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Gas Grill Temperature For 15 Inch Steak
The best gas grill temperature for 1.5 Inch steak is between 110°F to 120°F, and it should be cooked for about 3 minutes per side. The temperature range above is for rare filet mignon steaks. However, ribeye or sirloin steaks should be grilled between 130°F to 140°F for 6 minutes per side.
Regardless of the steaks size, you need to preheat your gas grill to a temperature of about 450°F to 500°F before grilling. Turn on your gas grill and turn the knob to a high setting. Close the lid and allow the grill to heat up for about 20 to 30 minutes. Also, let your steak defrost and warm up before placing it on the grill.;;
How To Cook Top Sirloin Steak
How to cook steak depends very much upon the cut you choose. Top Sirloin steak is always a favorite steak choice, prized for its hearty beef flavor. The best way to cook top sirloin steak is on the grill. But pan-seared top sirloin steak is also exceptional, and you can broil top sirloin steak in the oven as well. No matter which method you choose, our cooking instructions and video will deliver the tender and juicy steak you crave. Use a meat thermometer and you can be sure your steaks are cooked to perfection!
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Now We’re Ready To Cook
Season your steak with salt on one side. The salt protects the steak from the heat so seasoning on one side only at least keeps the flip side at the mercy of the hot grill. In addition, don’t be tempted to season with pepper until after the cooking because the pepper will scorch during the cooking.
Use tongs to turn and remove steak from the grill. Never press down on it whilst cooking or use a fork to turn it, all either of these will do is to let the juices run out leaving your steak dry.
Timing is tricky though because whether you like it rare, medium or well done is dependent on two things:-
This latter point is more easily addressed if you have a controllable gas grill but if youre on charcoal it makes it a little more difficult but in essence, the hotter the better.
The flavor that’s added of food when it cooks is down to a chemical transition called the Maillard reaction and this reaction takes place when temperatures exceed 300°F or 150°C. In short, the hotter you can sear your steak the more flavor you are going to add. It’s at this point though that I differentiate between how to grill steaks on gas and how to grill steaks over charcoal.
With charcoal it is difficult to really get that same level of heat that comes with direct grill plate contact so I recommend that the best way to get the highest heat for the longest period of time is only to flip the steak once.
Whats The Best Steak For Grilling
Honestly, when it comes to cooking a steak on the grill, you cant really go wrong with any cut you choose. However, getting a perfectly cooked steak from a grill can be tricky if youre new to steak cooking or using a grill. Each cut of steak is a different size, thickness, and texture, so itll be a different process to grill ribeye steak than it would be to grill a much thicker steak, like a filet mignon.
Another issue you might have with the grill lies in the fat content of steak. Although steaks with more fat tend to be more flavorful and tender , they also can be more dangerous to cook on the grill. As fat drips off cut steaks, grill flare-ups can happen. This is especially common with cuts like the rib eye, which are known for their marbling.
That doesnt mean you cant grill them, but youll definitely need to take extra precautions when doing so. Whether you want to cook a rib steak, a T-bone, or flat iron on the grill, you can learn to do it by following our helpful grilling tips for steak.;
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How Do You Cook A Medium
A medium-rare steak has a rich, buttery flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that disappears as soon as its cooked any further. When cooking steak to your desired doneness, a meat thermometer is your best friend.;A thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat should read:
- Medium-rare: 135ºF
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.
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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.;
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Grilling And Searing The Steak
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Additional Tips On How Long To Grill Steak:
