The Ultimate Guide to Cooking the Perfect Steak
Steak is a classic dish that elevates any meal, whether you’re grilling for friends or creating a romantic dinner at home. It may seem intimidating, but preparing the perfect steak requires skill and a few key ingredients. Here’s how to achieve steakhouse-level results in your own kitchen.
1. Choose the Right Piece
The first step to a great steak is choosing the right cut. Common options include:
Ribeye: Highly marbled, juicy, and full of flavor. Filet Mignon: Tender and buttery, but less flavorful than other cuts.
New York Strip: Great balance of tenderness and flavor. T-Bone or Porterhouse: Combines two cuts (strip and filet) to get the best of both worlds.
2. Cool to room temperature
Before cooking, remove your steak from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes. This will help the steak cook evenly.
3. Season generously
Just do it! All you need for a great steak is salt and freshly ground black pepper. Salt generously on both sides at least 40 minutes before grilling. This not only adds flavor, but also helps draw out moisture, creating a beautiful crust as it cooks.
4. Preheat your cooking surface
Whether you’re using a grill, cast iron skillet, or grill, make sure to preheat it to high heat. You want to achieve a good crust that will lock in the juices and add flavor.
Grill: Preheat for about 10-15 minutes. Frying pan: Heat over medium-high heat until very hot, about 5-10 minutes. Grill: Preheat for 10 minutes with rack about 6 inches away from heat.
5. Cooking process
Fry
Add oil: If using a frying pan, add oil with a high smoke point (such as canola or avocado oil) to the pan. If grilling, oil the grill grates.
Grill the steak: Place the steak on a hot surface and grill for 3 to 4 minutes without moving. This allows a crust to form.
Flip: Flip the steak and grill for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.