How To Cook Steak
Get steakhouse-quality steaks at home.
Cooking steak can be intimidating, especially because there’s no one “right way” to do it. Learn these methods for cooking steak, and decide which option is best for you. Here are four ways to cook the perfect steaks: on the grill, in the oven, on the stove, or cooked sous vide.
Top Tips For Barbecued Steak:
- Preheat the barbecue to the correct temperature before adding the steak. As a general guide, you should be able to hear a sizzle as the steak hits the hot surface. The heat seals the surface, trapping the juices inside.
- Bring steak to room temperature just before cooking. The meat can become tough if it goes straight from the fridge to the barbecue.
- Drain any marinade from the steak before placing it on the barbecue to cook. Excess liquid can ignite on the barbecue and cause a flare-up. Plus, if youre cooking steak on a flatplate, the liquid can boil around the meat and make it tough.
- Limit the number of steaks cooking on the barbecue at any one time. Overcrowding reduces the heat, which can prevent the steaks from cooking evenly and cause them to release juices, making the meat tough.
- Use tongs to turn your steak. Sharp forks can pierce the surface, which allows the juices to escape.
- Cover the steak loosely with foil before resting to keep it warm. If you cover it tightly, the meat will sweat and lose its moisture.
- Clean your barbecue grill or flatplate with a stiff wire brush or scraper while its still warm. This leaves it ready for your next barbie.
How To Grill A Tomahawk Steak Presentation
Now at this point, youve got an incredibly tasty piece of meat on your hands. I always like to take things a step further though and wow everybody with the presentation.
All you have to do for a steakhouse style presentation is to cut the steak along the bone line, detaching the meat from the bone.; From there, cut the steak into 1/2 inch wide strips this is the perfect size for your audience to grab and share!
After you cut all of the strips, press the strips against each other, recreating the shape of the original, whole steak, and place the meat back up against the bone on the cutting board.
Enjoy, and happy grilling!
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Thicker Steaks Should Slide Over
Most steaks grill beautifully over direct high heat alone. The only time you might need to move them is if/when they cause flare-ups. However, some steaks are so thick that if you left them over direct heat alone, they would burn on the outside before they reached the internal doneness you like.
If your steaks are much thicker than an inch, consider the sear and slide approach. After you have seared both sides nicely over direct high heat, slide the steaks to a part of the grill that is not so hot, perhaps over indirect heat, and finish cooking them safely there.
How To Grill A Steak:
Ok, you bought a great steak and you prepared it well! Now, lets cook it!
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How To Tell When Steak Is Done
How long steaks take to cook depends on many factors like the cut, thickness, grill temperature and preferred doneness. The best way to see whether or not your steaks are ready is to check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the center and make sure not to touch any bones.
Meat Doneness Temperatures:
Always Let The Meat Rest
Perhaps the most important step that most people don’t do is allowing the steaks to sit once they are taken off of the grill. The steaks need to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving or cutting them. This gives the juices a chance to redistribute throughout the steak, which both helps it finish cooking evenly and keeps the meat moister and more flavorful. Place the cooked steaks on a cutting board or platter and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Once rested, either slice or serve the steaks whole.
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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.;
Tips For Grilling The Perfect Ny Strip Steak
Know your steaks temperature: Grilling the perfect steak with consistency is impossible without using a reliable meat thermometer. Trust me, this is the one tool I talk about most, and its a must-have for anyone who cooks.;
Be Careful: We are cooking at extremely high temperatures on this one so use a long set of tongs to flip your steak.
Be Patient: Because of the extremely high temperatures used for grilling this steak, the meat will be very tight coming off the grill. The rest period is a must; youll lose all the meats juices if you slice it too early.;;
Make use of the hot grill: Dont forget the sides when planning this steak. Plan for some that benefit from high direct heat like this grilled broccolini or grilled baby bok choy.
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How Do You Cook A Filet Mignon On An Electric Grill
Cooking a filet mignon on an electric grill is definitely possible, even if it might be a challenge because of the thickness of the cut. Youll want to start by seasoning and marinating your steak. After two to four hours, youll take the steak out of the refrigerator and pre-heat your grill to about four seventy-five. From here, youll want to cook the steak for at least six minutes, flipping it once about halfway through. Check the temperature with a digital meat thermometer to determine when it is done.;
Season Your Steak And Refrigerate
You’ll want to season the steak with salt a few hours before grilling. Follow this simple rule of thumb from grilling expert Meathead Goldwyn: Season the steak with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of meat and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. “You do not need to rinse off excess salt. It will all be sucked into the meat.” The salt acts as a dry brine, helping the meat stay juicy throughout the cooking process.
For thinner, tougher cuts like skirt, hanger, or flank steak that come from muscular parts of the cow, you can also use a instead. Consider adding sugar into the mixit’s a secret trick for tenderizing tougher cuts.
Make sure to remove steaks from the refrigerator about 20 minutes prior to grilling so they don’t have a chill on them before you throw them on the grill.
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How To Grill The Perfect Steak
Making the perfect steak on the grill is easier than you think, but it requires a little practice and good timing.;
Given the differences between grills, cooking surfaces, and cuts of steak, there aren’t specific cook times for grilling steak. Meat changes in texture and density as it cooks, so it helps to know how each steak feels before it hits the grill. A meat thermometer is also helpful when checking doneness.
Take note of the thickness of the steak since it will affect the cooking time.;
You’ll need:
- Salt and pepper
- Very hot grill
- Timer that shows seconds
How To Grill A Thin Steak
When grilling steak that is 1 ½ inches in thickness or less, the best way to get the perfect char on the outside and desired doneness in the center is to sear over direct heat. You simply grill. the steak over the direct heat until it reaches the desired temperature, flipping it about every minute. This will ensure that the surface gets nice and golden brown and that the middle wont cook too quickly. Take the steak off of the grill once it reaches the desired temperature and let it rest 5 minutes before serving.
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How Do You Reverse Sear A Tomahawk Steak On A Gas Grill
One of the nicest finishes for a steak is a reverse sear, and the same thing applies to tomahawk steaks. But, knowing how to reverse sear a steak of this size is often difficult, so heres what you need to do.
To begin the reverse sear, you should cook your tomahawk steak at an indirect temperature of 250 degrees. Do this until the internal temperature of the steak reaches around 110/115 degrees. Then take your steak off the grill and crank up the temperature on your grill until it reaches 600 degrees.
Once the grill reaches said temperature, you should then place your steak onto it, searing each side of the steak for roughly 5 minutes each. You will know that your steak is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees. Set aside for 10 minutes, before eating, if you want a medium finish.
The Six Inexpensive Steaks You Should Know
These are the steaks that butchers and chefs love to use because not only are they more inexpensive, but they’ve got character. Many of them are whole muscles that must be trimmed by the butcher just-so if you want them to be tender and large enough to cook as steaks. There are also not many of them on a steer. For every 20 pounds of ribeyes and T-bones you can get off a steer, you get two hanger steaks. That ain’t much.
These butcher’s cuts tend to be more packed with flavor because of the work they do, yet because they’re not as marketable to the general public and require a bit more skill to cook and serve correctly, they remain much cheaper than their mainstream counterparts. This is good news for you if you want to maximize your flavor and your dollar.
The Hanger
Also Sold As: Butcher’s steak, hangar , arrachera , fajitas arracheras , bistro steak, onglet .
Where It’s Cut From: From the plate section of the cow , it “hangs” off of the cow’s diaphragm, hence the name. U.S. meat-cutting classification of NAMP 140.
The Skirt
Also Sold As: Fajita meat, Roumanian Strip .
Where It’s Cut From: The outside skirt is the diaphragm muscle of the cow, cut from the plate. It is the traditional cut for fajitas, and is generally sold to restaurants. Inside skirt is part of the flank, and is the more widely available form of skirt.
The Short Rib
Also Sold As:Kalbi , Jacob’s Ladder , asado de tira
The Flap
The Flank Steak
The Tri-Tip
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How To Grill A Tomahawk Steak Overview
A tomahawk ribeye is a giant cut of steak still on the rib bone, typically 2.5 to 3.5 pounds in weight.; Its a sight to behold, and youll want to make sure you do it justice on the grill.
First things first, youll want to get your beef seasoned.; Ive always been a fan of keeping things simple when it comes to seasoning quality pieces of meat all you really want to do is bring out the delicious flavor within your tomahawk ribeye.
I like to use a seasoning mixture of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, but you can feel free to use your favorite steak seasoning as a substitute.
A tomahawk steak is a HUGE piece of meat, so you want to make sure to be liberal when it comes to applying your seasoning.; Make sure you coat the entire thing, including sides and even the fatty parts.
From there, let your steak rest at room temperature for about 45 minutes.; During this time, the beef will absorb the seasoning and flavor will begin to sink in.; Also, the seasoning will absorb some of the moisture inside of the steak which will help create a beautiful crust when we sear later in the process.
While the steak rests, go ahead and get your grill fired up.; If you are using a gas grill, you might only need 5-10 minutes to get heated up.; If youre working on a charcoal grill, you may need a little more time to get your fire right.; Either way, this is a great time to get your grill heated up in preparation to sear your steak.
How Long Do You Cook A Tomahawk Steak In The Oven
If you dont want to grill your tomahawk, you might instead choose to cook it in the oven. To do this, you will need to begin by setting your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit before leaving it to pre-heat.
When your steak is prepared and the oven has preheated, you can then place your tomahawk in the oven. To do this, you should place the steak on a cooling rack, and then place the cooling rack in a baking sheet. You might choose to cover your baking sheet with foil to make cleaning up easier.
Then, all you need to do is cook your steak in the oven for around 45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature will give you a medium steak, so if you prefer your steak cooked differently, you will need to leave it in the oven for longer or take it out earlier.
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Grilling The Best Steak
I wanted a juicy steak with a nice crust that was big enough to slice and serve family style, and that had a little finesse.
While cooking, I basted the steak in an herbed butter sauce. The sauce added a fresh, light flavor that balanced the richness of the meat. In the end, I had a steak everyone raved about, and that felt special but not overly fussy. It was the perfect main course for my Fourth of July party plans.
When Should I Season My Steak
If following the process above, I do this right before I am getting ready to grill and then let the steak rest for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator.;
Say you are running short on time? No problem to go right to the grill though.;
Can you do this ahead of time? Sure! You can do this process up to 12 hours before.;
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Why Youll Love This Recipe:
Im so guilty of claiming perfect this and perfect that I know, Im aware of that.;
Perfect is subjective. So lets define what a perfect steak means to me.
Characteristics of a perfect steak:
- Nice deep brown crust
- Rosy pink from crust to crust
So, if you agree on those descriptions of a perfect steak, then keep on reading.
How To Grill A Perfect Ribeye Steak On A Gas Grill
You cant beat the flavor of a ribeye. If youre not familiar with how to cook this cut of beef, its simple on a gas grill. Follow the steps below to cook the perfect ribeye at your next backyard barbecue.
Ribeye steaks are one of the most flavorful cuts of meat because of their marbling, or fat content. The more marbling, the higher the USDA grades the steak. Prime is the highest rating, followed by Choice and then Select. Our experts recommend buying ribeyes that 1.25 inches thick with marbling throughout. Anything much thicker or thinner could make cooking more difficult, and the fat enhances the flavor.
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Let The Steak Rest Briefly Then Serve
“You always want to account for carryover cooking in the time that it takes to get the steak off of the grill and on the table,” says Epi Food Director Rhoda Boone. Let the meat rest for about 5 minutes, and it’ll be ready to slice or serve whole so that your hungry guests can attack it with their own knives.
Now that you’ve learned how to grill the perfect steak, dress it up and add variety with delicious sauces, marinades, and spices. And don’t forget the sides!
How Hot Should The Grill Be For Steak
Raichlen recommends establishing two cooking zones in your charcoal grill: one thats very hot for searing the steak, and one thats medium for finishing the steak and cooking it through.
On a gas grill, heat the grill to 450°F with two burners going, which should only take about 10 minutes, then turn one of the burners down to medium to create two cooking zones.
Not sure if the grill is hot enough? Raichlen’s tip is to hold your hand 3 inches above the grill grate and count “1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi…” If you can only hold it there for a second or two, the grill is hot and you’re ready to cook.
I followed Raichlens advice, and started my steak in the hot zone, then moved it to the medium zone to finish cooking. It worked like a charm.
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