Moisture Is The Enemy
The Maillard reaction gives grilled steak its irresistible aroma.
That’s why we cook it over fire rather than boiling it something that’s boiling in water can never get over 212 degrees Fahrenheit, because that’s the highest possible temperature of the water.
But some people do effectively boil their steaks on the grill by throwing them on when the surface of the meat is moist with condensation or a marinade.
GRILLING WET STEAK IS LIKE STARTING A RACE GOING UPHILL.
Grilling wet steak is like starting a race going uphill. Your grill can’t cook your steak until it first evaporates the water which takes a lot of energy. Your steak can’t get past the 212 Fahrenheit marker and toward Maillard levels, until all that water is gone. Meanwhile, the internal temperature of the steak is rising because of the ambient heat around it.
You can end up with the worst of both worlds no browning on the surface of the steak, and overcooked meat within it.
Here are a few ways to banish moisture from your steak:
How To Grill Steak On A Charcoal Grill
Nothing beats the subtle smokey flavor of steak grilled on charcoal. If you own a charcoal grill, you dont have to visit a fancy restaurant every time you crave a scrumptious medium-rare steak. You only need to learn how to grill steak on a charcoal grill, then you can cook any kind of steak on your patio, from t-bone and striploin to good old porterhouse and ribeye.
Plus, all you need is a sturdy charcoal grill and a few ingredients. It is the ingredients, the technique, and the quality of meat you pick from the grocery store that will determine how good your steak tastes. Also, there are different types of steaks, and it would help if you could tell their differences when you go shopping at the grocers. The bottom line is, with a few tips, anyone can cook some delicious steak from home on their charcoal grill.
There Are A Few Variables That Need To Be Considered When Using The Rule Of Threes For Cooking Your Steak The Variables Are:
1. Thickness of steak3. Temperature of steak before grilling4. Time5. How done you like your steak
These variables are dependent on one another. For example, if the grill temperature is not hot enough, then the time needs to be increased.
If the steaks are really thick then the grilling time needs to be increased. If you want a steak rare you need to decrease the grilling time and perhaps reduce the temperature of the steak before grilling.
The steaks above are about 1 inch thick. This is perfect for the rule of threes. Beware: Most grocery stores sell steaks that are a bit smaller than 1 inch.
These came from Costco and are routinely 1 inch thick. The rule of threes is meant for 1 inch thick steaks.
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How Long To Grill A Steak
The rule of threes is pretty simple. This method is based on direct and then indirect grilling so I’ll start here.
Direct heat grilling is when the steak is placed directly on the grates directly over top of the heat source. The dome is normally closed.
Indirect heat is grilling on the side of the grill opposite of the heat source. The dome is always closed for indirect heat grilling.
Sometimes direct heat and then indirect heat grilling is referred to as “two zone grilling.” See the picture below:
When cooking with direct heat for the rule of threes the dome should be closed.
Always Use A Meat Thermometer
Judging meat doneness only by its color is one of the most common food handling mistakes home cooks make. According to Massip, all home cooks should invest in a meat thermometer.
“Its important to not judge meat doneness only by color because it can vary based on the type of meat you are cooking, or the process you are using to cook it,” Massip told TODAY Food. Another reason to use a thermometer instead of your subjective eyesight? Steak usually isn’t a cheap cut of meat and since it can be less forgiving, cooking it requires more precision.
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Preparing The Steak Cut
After you have selected a piece of meat comes the crucial step of cutting the meat. Thats right you can not just chop it and pop it over the grill. To ensure that your steak is tender, you need to cut the meat perpendicular to the grain. Cutting parallel will not give you a tender steak.
After cutting the meat, you need to season it properly or marinate it. Marinating the meat ensures a more flavorful taste hence it is the best option. Another important thing is the duration of marination. For a more delicious taste, a minimum of 4 hours of marination is required.
How Do You Cook The Perfect Medium Rare Steak
HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT STEAK Rub the steak all over with a good lug of olive oil and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Add the steak to a hot pan, then cook for 6 minutes for medium rare, or to your liking, turning every minute. For more flavour, try one or a combination of the following
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Cooking Steak On The Grill
Once the meat fillet has spent a few good hours in the , it is time to pop it over the grill. The duration of cooking a steak on the grill is totally dependent on two factors the first is the thickness of the meat fillet. Another factor is the type of steak that you want. The different types include rare, medium-rare, and well done.
How Can I Make My Steak Juicy And Tender
8 Simple Ways to Make Tough Meat TenderPhysically tenderize the meat. For tough cuts like chuck steak, a meat mallet can be a surprisingly effective way to break down those tough muscle fibers. Use a marinade. Dont forget the salt. Let it come up to room temperature. Cook it low-and-slow. Hit the right internal temperature. Rest your meat. Slice against the grain.
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How To Grill A Perfect Steak
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE SALES LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY AFFILIATE NOTICE FOR DETAILS.
How to Grill a Perfect Steak is your go-to grilled steak guide! Every step is broken down to make the process of grilling steak easy and approachable!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY:This post is sponsored by Country Natural Beef, the opinions are my own.
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!
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Do You Cut Steak Tips Before Cooking
Just marinate, pat dry, and sear to your preferred doneness using your favorite high-temperature cooking oil. Slow Cooker/Instant Pot: Because theyre pre-cut, steak tips make a super convenient addition to the soups and stews youd normally prep in your slow cooker or Instant Pot.
How To Cook Medium Rare Steak
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Chefs know exactly how long to cook a steak in order to bring out the natural juiciness. Cooking a restaurant-worthy porterhouse, T-bone or fillet requires perfect timing and heat. Medium rare is often considered the best compromise between the natural taste of the meat and a seared crust.
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Bring The Steaks To Room Temperature
Too many people take their steaks directly from the chilly fridge to the hot fire. You will not get an evenly cooked steak this waythe outside of the meat will cook faster than the inside. It is best to take the steaks out of the fridge about half an hour before you plan to cook them remove the wrapping, place on a plate, and let them come up to room temperature on the kitchen counter.
A good piece of meat doesn’t need a lot of seasoning and will be quite delicious with a generous sprinkling of kosher salt. Once the steaks are at room temperature, sprinkle with salt or another seasoning of your choice.
Cooking Steak In A Sous Vide
Your sous vide will get your steak exactly to your desired doneness temperature. However, it takes a lot longer than cooking on a grill probably about an hour.
MAILLARD REACTION CAN’T HAPPEN IN A SOUS VIDE AS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER ISN’T HIGH ENOUGH
Also, that important Maillard reaction above can’t happen in a sous vide as the temperature of the water isn’t high enough. Experienced sous vide cooks recommend searing the steak first, then beginning the sous vide process.
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The Expert Level Touch Technique
The final technique when it comes to grilling the perfect steak to medium-rare perfection can require a bit of trial and error. In the long run, however, mastering the touch technique to steak doneness can not only create a perfect medium-rare cut every time, but it also looks pretty darn impressive to friends and family.
When it comes to execution, a medium-rare steak will have some squish or give when lightly pressed on with your finger. If a steak is rare, it will be all squish and will hold an indent from where its been pressed. A medium steak, or one cooked even longer, wont give at all, or only minimally. It may take some time, trial and error to perfect the touch method, but weve found this is undoubtedly the best for ensuring the perfect level of medium rare doneness time in and out.
You can use this method as you cook steak to gauge doneness. First, hold your hand up and touch the tip of your middle finger to your thumb. With your other hand, poke the fleshy part of your palm underneath the thumb. What you feel is how your steak should feel for medium-rare.
After youre done searing steak, hold the steak with a pair of tongs. Then, poke the thickest part of the meat with one finger. Does it feel like the fleshy part of your palm did in your test? If so, your steak should be medium rare!
The Wrap Up
How Do I Cook A Steak Medium Rare
HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT STEAK Rub the steak all over with a good lug of olive oil and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Add the steak to a hot pan, then cook for 6 minutes for medium rare, or to your liking, turning every minute. For more flavour, try one or a combination of the following
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Cooking Steak On A Charcoal Grill
Grilling steak over charcoal can be tricky. It’s difficult to know the exact temperature of the cooking surface, and that temperature can vary depending on the type of charcoal you used and how evenly you spread the charcoal.
Briquette charcoal can give you temperatures of around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Lump charcoal may be able to generate higher temperatures. You can check for a high temperature on your charcoal grill using the hand test. Hold your hand at grate level, and if you can only keep it there for 2 to 3 seconds before it gets too hot, you have a 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit surface to grill.
If you’ve got that heat, you can grill using the timing instructions above. But beware your charcoal grill may have hot or cool spots that can affect the cooking time. You’ll have to keep a close watch and you won’t be able to set it and forget it like you can with a Traeger.
For wood smoke flavor, you can use wood chips. Typically, you add wood chips directly to charcoals, but this can affect the heat you’re generating.
If you add dry wood chips, they could flare up and burn your steak. If you add soaked wood chips, they will cool down the charcoal. A foil pack added before cooking is probably your best bet.
Clean And Oil Your Grill
No matter what you are grilling, you should always begin with clean grill grates. Not only does this make it easier to flip and remove the food from the grill but it also does not impart any flavors from previous grilled meals, such as barbecued chicken, into the steaks. Make sure to clean your cooking grate using a stiff wire brush. It is best to do this after you’ve finished grilling while the grates are still warm, but you can also clean the grill while it is preheating if you discover caked on residue. Taking the time to brush off old bits of cooked-on food will pay off handsomely when your steaks release from the cooking grate with ease.
You also want to coat the grates with vegetable or canola oil before heating the grill. Pour a little bit of oil on a paper towel and rub onto the clean, cold grill grates.
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Place Your Meat On The Grill And Keep An Eye On It
The cut of meat you choose, its weight and the temperature you desire will determine how long you grill it. Use your meat thermometer to check the temperature, and remove the steaks when they are within 5 to 10 degrees of the desired doneness. They will continue to cook after they are removed from the grill.
Use these temperatures to determine doneness:
-
Rare: 120°F
-
Medium-well: 150°F
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Well done: 160°F
Many grill enthusiasts like to baste their meat. To baste, simply add your favorite sauces to a bowl and brush the meat with a basting brush each time you flip it.
Cooking Steak On A Gas Grill
If you’re using a gas/propane grill, the instructions are essentially the same. Set the grill to a high temperature , and follow the timing guidelines above.
You’ll need to work a little harder to replicate the kiss of wood smoke flavor delivered by Traeger wood pellets, though. Wood chips, in either a foil pack or smoking box, are the best method.
However, your chips can’t sit directly over a flame, or they’ll flare. So using wood chips may mean you don’t have as much cooking surface for your steak, or that you can’t get your grill quite as hot.
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What Temperature Do You Cook Steak On A Gas Grill
For a gas grill, the ideal temperature for cooking a steak ranges between 450°F to 500°F. The duration of the cooking time depends on the thickness of the steak. However, make sure to close the lid of the grill once you have added the meat to it. Open the lid after a few minutes, flip the meat, and then close the lid again.
How To Grill Steak 101
Everyone needs to learn how to grill a steak properly!! I know it can be intimidating, but it truly is something everyone can master. The first step is to pick out high-quality meat, which is why I am so excited to partner with Country Natural Beef on this tutorial!
Country Natural Beef is 100% owned by family ranchers and is G.A.P. Step 4 Animal Welfare Certified which means that their animals are pasture-raised, fed a vegetarian diet, provided a safe and enriched environment and never receive antibiotics or added hormones. They also happen to be a Whole30-Approved partner! And I have to say, this is honestly the best beef I have ever tasted. You truly can tell the difference and I am so proud to be partnering with them today!
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Tips For Grilling The Perfect Steak
- Season, then chill: I apply the same technique I use for getting crispy chicken and turkey skin to grilling this steak: season, then let it chill in the fridge uncovered for up to 48 hours. This essentially dry brines the steak while also letting it air-dry. This approach allows the surface moisture to evaporate while the seasoning has time to penetrate the meat resulting in deeply flavored steak that sears beautifully and develops a nice crust on the grill.
- Start with clean grates: Just like you use a clean skillet with a little oil to cook dinner on the stovetop, you want to start with clean and oiled grill grates.
- To flip or not to flip? Flip your steak to your hearts content. Harold McGee, food science writer and author of On Food and Cooking, discovered that frequent flipping creates a steak that cooks more evenly and quickly than those flipped only once.
- Grilling directly on coals: Raichlen seemingly knows an infinite number of ways to grill meat, and theres one in his new book, Project Fire , that I particularly like: he cooks steak directly on hot coalsno grill grates necessary. I love the idea, and its on my list of things to try in the near future.
Potassium 1129mg | 24% |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |