How To Cook Medium Steak On Grill

How To Cook Steak On A Grill

A perfectly grilled steak is one of life’s great joys. The warm summer air, the laughter of friends, and beautiful cuts of meat cooking to perfection on the grill create some of the best memories and meals.

Of course, if you’re the one cooking for your family or throwing the party, you have to know how to get it just right. It’s just as true if you’re cooking for yourself as a group – you deserve amazing steak all of the time!

Read on to discover how to grill meat just right, every time.

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.

Setting The Temperature To Grill Steak On A Gas Grill

Judging how well a steak is done only by its cooking time is a common mistake. The temperature to grill a steak varies according to the steaks size and thickness, type, and shape of the cut .

To ensure you prepare a perfect BBQ steak, here are the necessary temperature settings to grill your steak on a gas grill. Generally the thicker the steak, the lower the temperature you need to grill a steak.

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Helpful Tips For Grilling To Keep In Mind

Once you have a good grill sear over high heat, you can move your steaks to a lower temperature to make sure they dont dry out quickly. This is known as indirect grilling. To do this, sear both sides over high heat for a couple of minutes on each side, and then move to low heat. Only turn your steaks once the full time for one side has been reached. Flipping too often on the grill can ruin the cooking process and dry out your steaks faster.

Also, always allow your steaks to rest. You should plan to rest your steak for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the juices to move back through the meat for ultimate flavor and tenderness.

If you do use a digital meat thermometer to better gauge your time for steaks on the grill, make sure you remove your steaks when its internal temperature reaches about five degrees below your desired temperature, since it will continue to cook a bit after you remove it from the grill. If you want your steak to cook to 135 degrees, then remove it when it hits about 130 degrees.

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The Best Cuts For Grilling

First, lets talk beef: rib-eye, strip and tenderloin are all great cuts for the grill. If you choose bone-in steaks, keep in mind that they take longer to cook. Look for good marbling to guarantee a juicy and tender cut. And ideally, steaks should be at 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick to form a nice charred crust without overcooking.

Flank, skirt and hanger steaks are also great on the grill. These thinner cuts are best marinated, grilled quickly over high heat and sliced against the grain to serve.

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To Season Before Or To Season After

The age-old question when it comes to cooking steak centers on what seasonings to use if any. Some say marinate. Others have spent years perfecting their spice and herb mixtures. Still, the purists insist the steak go bare or maybe just sprinkle it with a little salt. If you decide to go with a seasoning, you are faced with another question: Should you season the meat before or after cooking?

We decided to conduct our own impromptu experiment and put both methods to the test. It shouldnt come as a surprise that our taste testers enjoyed both ways. But they did come to a conclusion: If you want a stronger burst of flavor from your spices, season after cooking. If you would prefer to taste steak with just a hint of kick, season before cooking.

Becca McMillan supports the agricultural systems research and technology activities at the Noble Research Institute. Beef is frequently on the dinner table at the McMillan household, which includes Becca and her husband, Zeno McMillan, and their 7-year-old daughter, Rory. The family owns and operates a cow-calf ranch northeast of Dickson, Oklahoma. Hear Zenos perspective on raising cattle at The Fruits of Their Labor.

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How Long Do You Cook Steaks On Each Side For Medium

It all comes down to time. Cook for 2 minutes on each side for rare, 3-4 minutes on each side for medium-rare, and 4-6 minutes on each side for medium-well. For a steak 22mm thick, use the same procedure. Cook for 2-4 minutes per side until well done, then reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for another 4-6 minutes.

How Long Do You Preheat An Electric Grill

You are probably going to need about twenty minutes to get your electric grill up to four seventy-five, but this definitely depends on the model. Newer models have a light that shows you when the grill hits its ideal temperature, but you can use a drop of water on the surface of the grill to see when youve reached your cooking temperature on an older grill.

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How To Grill Steak

Grilling steak can be intimidatingespecially when everyone has a different opinion about how cooked it should be . But I promise you that, in reality, it’s easier and faster than grilling chicken. Below is our basic guide for how to grill steak. Follow our rules and cooking times, and you’ll be a grill boss in no time.

Pick your cut.

Our all-time favorite for grilling: the ribeye. Thick and beautiful, with the ideal amount of marbling of fat , it doesnt need a marinade. We also included steps for other insanely tasty cuts like flank steak, skirt steak, filet mignon, sirloin, tri-tip, and strip steak. Each cut boasts a different combo of fattiness and tenderness.

If you’re working with a leaner cut, marinate it!

If you’ve got time , marinate the meat, especially for flank and skirt steak. Our flank steak marinade is perfect, but it’s really, really easy to make your own. Start with olive oil, then whisk in something bold , something fresh , and something sweet . Sirloin also takes well to marinade!

Remove the chill.

Steak right out of the fridge will cook unevenly. Set yours out at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling

Create a crust.

Oil the grill .

Give your grill grates the cast iron treatment for a non-stick start. Use your tongs to brush the clean grill grates with a high smoke point oil on a paper towel. Heat the grill on high heat until the oil starts to smoke, then rub the grates once more, creating a slick coating on the grates.

Be direct.

Flip or don’t.

How To Cook A Medium Steak On The Grill

Place the steaks on the grill and bake for 4 to 5 minutes, until golden brown and lightly charred. Turn the steaks over and bake for 3 to 5 minutes for medium raw , 5 to 7 minutes for medium or 8-10 minutes for half a good .

What is the temperature of a well-roasted steak?

• OkayReady. TO THE Okaydonefilet required trainee temperature 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Let me get to this trainee temperature, you have to leave this filet on the grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side for one inch filet or 8 to 9 minutes each filet Measure 1 3/4 inch.

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The Best Steaks For Grilling

There is no one “best” cut for grilled steak — it’s all about personal preference. Good cuts for grilling range from leaner, more tender cuts, to cuts that pack fat and flavor.

Filet mignon or tenderloin: The most tender cut of steak, it’s ideal for those who prefer their meat rare. A smaller cut so it cooks fast.

Flank steak: A thin, inexpensive cut. Flank steak doesn’t have as much fat or natural flavor as some of the other cuts, so it should be marinated before cooking to add flavor and tenderize the meat. Because it is thin, it cooks fast over high heat. Learn more in our Flank Steak Cooking Guide.

Hanger steak: A flat steak, similar to flank steak, but usually with more fat content throughout. Hanger can be marinated before cooking but will also be tasty with a simple salt and pepper seasoning. Cooks fast over direct heat and should not be overcooked.

New York strip: A leaner cut that is relatively thick and firm like ribeye, but with less fat. Does not need to be marinated. A good candidate for reverse searing.

Porterhouse: A massive cut that’s actually two steaks in one. A filet mignon and a New York strip. The Porterhouse tends to contain more of the tenderloin than its cousin cut, the T-bone. Porterhouse is usually cut quite thick, so reverse-searing can help you avoid an overcooked exterior and raw middle. There’s no need to marinate before cooking. Salt and pepper is all you need.

Should You Put Olive Oil On Steak Before Grilling

Season the steak one hour before cooking, using extra virgin olive oil, fresh ground black pepper, and kosher or sea salt. Leave it at room temperature until cooking. Brush each side with 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. For a rare or medium finish, turn the steak over and finish cooking to the right temperature.

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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

Is Medium Rare Steak Safe To Eat

When you see the pink part in the steak you get concerned about your health. You take it as if it is not properly cooked. The next thing you think after seeing pink meat in steak is that if it is still having bacteria. Medium rare steak is sometimes mistaken with rare steak. It is having an easily identifiable red color. You should know that medium-rare steak is not the same as rare steak or raw meat.

A medium-rare rib rack wont hurt you if it is stored safely before cooking and well cooked. The average medium rare steak is cooked at a safe temperature. It is not further cooked when the temperature reaches 135- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit. Then it is let to sit for few minutes so that juiciness and flavor are distributed properly.

During this time, the temperature of the steak rises slightly because the heat continues to cook the steak. Hence, the average medium-rare steak should be at 145 degrees Fahrenheit. It is then safe to eat.

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How To Cook Strip Steak In The Oven

• Be sure your steak is completely thawed.
• Bring the meat to room temperature. Remove your steak from the refrigerator 30-40 minutes before grilling.
• Set oven for broil and preheat 10 minutes.
• Season steaks as desired we recommend Kansas City Steak Original Steak Seasoning.
• Place steaks on the rack of a broiler pan. Position broiler pan in oven so that the surface of the beef is 3 to 4 inches from the heat. Broil to desired doneness, according to the times listed below.
• For the perfect medium-rare steak, broil in the oven for 10-12 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 12-15 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F.
• Rest your steaks for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the meat will continue to rise for as much as 5°F during this time . The final temperature will read 135°F.
• Resting steak is also important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.

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How Long To Grill Steak

For a 1 1/2-inch thick steak, here are the general cooking times:

• 6 to 8 minutes for rare
• 7 to 10 minutes for medium-rare
• 10 to 12 minutes for medium
• 12 to 15 minutes for well done

Note that the USDA recommends cooking whole cuts of beef to an internal temperature of 145°F.

Keep in mind that the thickness of your steak, the heat of your grill, and your desired level of doneness will all impact the time it takes your steak to grill. Raichlen suggests checking the temperature of the steak by inserting a digital meat thermometer through the side, not top down. You can also use Elises handy dandy guide.

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The Two Best Ways To Grill Steak

The ideal grilled steak has an appetizing browned exterior with tender, still-pink meat inside. The tricky part is making sure that you don’t burn the surface of the meat before the inside gets warm enough to eat, or cooking the inside too much before getting those nice surface grill marks.

There are two ways to go about it.

Ingredients To Grill Steak

• Ribeye or New York Strip Steaks: This recipe uses steaks about 1 to 1 1/2 in thick steaks. The thicker the steak, the longer it will need to cook. These cuts are widely available, have a great balance of tender meat, and enough marbling, i.e., fat, for fantastic flavor.
• Avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high flash point meaning it can be heated to a high temperature before breaking down or burning so it is perfect for grilling. Substitutes include safflower oil or sesame oil. Sesame oil adds sesame flavor. This is great if you are going with Asian flavors for your meal.
• Butter: Butter adds a layer of richness and moisture at the end, but it is optional.
• Salt and pepper: Seasonings contribute to the brown crust that creates so much flavor for a steak. The salt, especially, draws juices to the outside of the meat, helping the crust form. Other spices popular for steak rubs include garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, or oregano. Some rub recipes add brown sugar, but use it sparingly and know that sugar burns easily and can contribute to over-browning and flare-ups.

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What Temperature To Cook Steak On A Grill

You should aim to reach a temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to this kind of meat, high heat is essential.

Fire up your charcoal grill at least half an hour before you plan to put any meat on it. You don’t want the steak to be touching a flame, as this will add an unpleasant burning taste.

If possible, create different sections of heat on your grill – if you’re using charcoal, this means moving the coals around a bit to utilize some indirect heat. The meat needs to cook on high heat to get a good sear. Also, create a low-heat area to let the steak rest once it’s cooked .