Seven Tips for Grilling the Perfect Steak
Are you looking to grill the perfect steak? If so, read this guide to learn the top seven tips for grilling the perfect steak.
What might the perfect steak be? Well, it all depends on who you ask, how they like it cooked, and what cut of meat they prefer.
Even if we do have our own opinions of which steak and temperature are best, we aren't trying to sway you. Our goal here is to teach you how to cook the perfect piece of meat, but that process starts LONG before you're ready to eat it.
Keep reading to find out how to grill the perfect steak!
1. Finding the Best Cuts of Meat
If you want to impress your buddies or that special someone, you are going to need to invest in a higher quality of meat.
This doesn't mean you must buy any particular cut, but instead, opt for higher quality. High-quality meats can be found in a number of places--including reputable internet sources!
There are numerous guides on choosing the best cuts, but here's a quick look at a few of the most popular cuts:
- Filet mignon: Also called the tenderloin, this steak has no bones and very little fat and marbling. It is very tender, can benefit from a little extra grease (like wrapping in bacon,) and is one of the most expensive cuts of meat.
- Ribeye: Some people prefer their ribeyes bone-in, while others prefer boneless. Both are excellent choices, and no matter what, you will end up with a steak that is well-marbled. Typically these steaks aren't cheap but are still less costly than other choices.
- T-bone/Porterhouse: Both of these cuts of steaks contain two separate types of meat, including tenderloin and strip steak. For comparison, a T-bone steak is smaller and more tender than a porterhouse steak.
2. Tenderize
There are many ways you can tenderize a steak and each person does it differently. You may find some people swear by liquid marinade to help tenderize and add flavor. Other people may skip this step. However, we must say that you are missing out if you don't tenderize!
How should you tenderize a tasty piece of meat? Something as simple as salt will work wonders!
Using kosher salt helps your steaks cook better, retains their juiciness, and give them a crispy char on the outside without burning them.
Coat both sides of your steak in kosher salt about a day before grilling if possible. This will give the salt enough time to work its magic and draw out water from the meat.
3. Prepare Your Grill or Oven
If you are using a gas grill, this step is pretty simple. Turn the grill on and set it to 425 degrees. Using charcoal, set them up how you like and allow them to burn until grey ash covers the charcoal. For medium heat, this will take around 25 minutes and for high heat, 5-10 minutes.
Remember to keep your vents open, and when you're ready, open the cover to the grill. Use tongs to wipe the grates down with a paper towel covered in vegetable oil to keep food from sticking. At this point, you are ready to grill.
Not everyone has a charcoal or gas grill at their disposal. Using an oven is fine too, provided you have the right tools. One of the best ways to cook a steak is by broiling it.
Set your oven's broiler to high and allow your pan to heat with it. If you research how to cook a steak in an oven, there will be tons of complicated methods that populate your results. All you need is a cast iron pan and a hot oven to get that delicious, seared flavor everyone loves!
4. Learn Cook Times
Before you throw your steak on the grill or in the oven, pull this article up. Set your timer accordingly so you don't risk burning the steak while looking for cooking times.
When using a grill, place the steaks in a high heat area. Cook for 4-5 minutes until slightly charred and golden brown. Flip the steaks over, and grill for another 2-3 minutes for rare, 3-5 minutes for medium rare, 5-7 for medium, 8-10 for medium well, and 10-12 for well done.
5. Prepare the Steaks
Now that you've gotten an idea of how long to cook the steaks for, you also need to know how to prepare them for the grill!
You've already tenderized the meat, but there is more to do! You should remove the steaks from the refrigerator about 20-40 minutes before cooking. This allows them to return to room temperature.
As they are coming to room temperature, you can coat them in olive oil and any herbs you'd like. A well-cut, high-quality steak doesn't need much more than salt or pepper, but some people enjoy a little garlic or onion powder too.
6. Extra, Extra--Get Those Ready Now!
The extras we're talking about are things like grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, or delicious garlic herb butter.
Additionally, many people enjoy having a vegetable, potato, and a salad with their steak. It can be difficult to juggle so many items at once, but grilling asparagus is about as easy as grilling that steak.
7. Let That Perfect Steak Rest
It can be hard not to dig in as soon as a delicious steak comes off of the grill. However, it's better to wait a few minutes!
This period of rest allows the juices to redistribute instead of flowing all over the place when you cut into it. Allow for about 5 minutes of resting. That's plenty enough time to plate up the rest of your food.
Final Thoughts on Grilling Steaks
Grilling steaks for a crowd or when you're trying to impress someone is tough. The last thing that you should do is stress yourself out. This means you should consider practicing on a steak or two before the big day.
You can figure out any quirks of your oven or grill and you'll look like the master everyone knows you are! If you'd like to buy the perfect steak for your family, don't hesitate to contact us today. Our steaks are sure to impress your friends and family.
