How to Cook the Perfect Steak
Attention, all carnivores! How much do you love steak? For me, the limit does not exist! There are many important things to consider when rating a steak. The quality of the meat, the tenderness, and overall taste. When I perfected my steak-making technique, it was a game-changer as I was finally able to save money and not eat out so much. If you want to do the same, here’s how to cook the perfect steak:
- Ensure your steak is good quality: I get it, with the high prices of food (not to mention gas) nowadays, the last thing I want is for you to bankrupt yourself just for steak. However, if you are able to swing it, spring for a high-quality cut of steak and ask your butcher for recommendations.
- Don’t cook cold steak: If you immediately transfer the steak from the fridge to a hot pan, the meat will not cook evenly and will end up tough and chewy. (Which no-one wants). Instead, leave the steak outside at room temperature for 2-3 hours. This will allow the meat to be nice and tender once cooked.
- Use simple seasonings: As someone who loves spices, it is difficult for me to say this, but use simple seasonings on your steak such as salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. This is the holy trifecta which will ensure a heavenly taste! Set aside some fresh herbs such as rosemary and thyme along with whole pods of garlic. These will come in handy later on.
- Fry in a cast-iron skillet: Pan-frying the steak in a seasoned cast-iron skillet is going to elevate your steak to the next level. If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, then maybe consider investing in one or using a good non-stick pan. Click here to view the one that I use.
- Oil vs Butter: When thinking of the perfect steak, butter is obviously the go-to choice. However, it’s not the healthiest option. I often use olive oil when I cut down on using saturated fats as a cooking base. Once the steak is medium rare, I will add a little butter in the pan. Then I baste the steak along with the garlic and herbs for extra flavor.
- Don’t overcook the steak: The time it takes to cook a steak depends on the cut of beef and its thickness. Below is a chart that shows how to cook the perfect steak according to your desired doneness.
*Picture credit: The Steak School
- Use a meat thermometer: When you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to purchase a meat thermometer which can help take the guessing out of cooking a steak. Over time, it can become easier to gage the doneness of the steak without a meat thermometer.
- Cover the steak when its done: I can’t tell you how important this final step is! Once you cook the steak, transfer it to a chopping board a cover with Aluminum foil. This will ensure that the juices have time to re-circulate in the steak. If you cut into the steak immediately, the juices will run everywhere and make the steak drier. After about 10-15 minutes slice into the steak against the grain with a sharp chef’s knife.
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