HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT STEAK (2024)

Cooking times and meat doneness

Rare (Internal very red colour, very moist, red juices):

Cook each side 2 minutes, turn once only.

Touch Test:Very soft to touch.

Medium (Internal pink-red colour, moist, clear to pink juices):

Cook 4-6 minutes each side. Turn once only.

Touch Test:Firm and springy.

Medium rare (Internal lighter red colour, moist, pink juices):

Cook each sideapprox. 3-4 minutes. Turn once only before pinkbeads of moisture appear on top surface of each side.

Touch Test:soft and springy.

Well done (Internal stone grey colour, dry, clear or no sign of pink juices):

Cook 2-4 minutes on each side, then reduce heat and cook a further 4-6 minutes.

Touch Test:Very firm to touch.

HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT STEAK (2024)

FAQs

HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT STEAK? ›

Add the steak and then some garlic, butter, rosemary, and thyme. Sear evenly on each side. Depending on your preference, for a 2-cm thick steak, to cook to: blue, 1 min per side; rare, 1½ mins per side; medium-rare, 2 mins per side; medium, about 2¼ mins per side; well-done, about 4-5 mins per side.

Do you use salted or unsalted butter to bast a steak? ›

Once a good initial sear has developed on both sides of the meat, add unsalted butter to the pan along with aromatics. A garlic clove or two, or a halved shallot, are both good ideas, as are woodsy herbs like thyme or sage. The butter will melt and the herbs and aromatics will infuse the fat with their flavor.

How do chefs make steak so good? ›

For the ultimate chef's steak preparation, if you don't have this steak seasoning, marinade your steak with a pink of sea salt, coarse ground black pepper, and minced garlic – this combo gives your chef's steak the ultimate caramelization and nice thick crust that we all love so much.

How to make steak well-done and juicy? ›

Put it in a cast iron pan and sear, then add butter and aromatics to make a buttery sauce to baste it with. You will cook your steak for about 5 to 6 minutes per side to achieve a well done temperature. When it's at 150F internally, you've reached the correct internal temperature for steak cooked well done.

What is the secret to cooking a good steak? ›

Top 5 Secret Tips For Cooking Perfect Steak Every Time
  • Buy Meat From Quality Sources.
  • Season Generously - More Than You Probably Think.
  • Use High Heat To Get That Perfect Sear.
  • Don't Overcook Your Steak.
  • Be Sure To Let The Steak Rest After Cooking.
Aug 30, 2020

How to cook a steak so it's tender? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

Why do chefs put butter on steak? ›

Adding butter to steak is completely based on your personal preference but here are a few reasons that professional chefs approve of doing so: It increases flavor and richness. It makes for a glossy finish. It enhances the steak's texture.

Should I cook steak in butter or oil? ›

Flavourless oils like sunflower, vegetable or groundnut work best, and once the steak is searing you can add butter to the pan for flavour.

At what point do you put butter on steak? ›

Instead, start cooking your steak in the bare pan until it's about 20-30 degrees from your desired doneness, THEN add the butter. It will sizzle right away and you'll create the ideal basting situation.

What is the secret to a steakhouse steak? ›

The salt layer is essential because it creates that “nice golden brown Maillard reaction” on your steak, according to Shim. Nadav Greenberg, the executive chef behind Michelin-starred Shmoné, explains that it's imperative to use fine salt rather than coarse or kosher.

How do restaurants make their steaks so tender? ›

The Aging. Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Aging is done by letting the meat sit (in very controlled conditions) for several days or weeks.

What keeps a steak juicy? ›

Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks. So you've selected the best steak, seasoned it well, prepped it for the grill, and then grilled it to a perfect medium-rare.

What seasoning to put on steak? ›

There are many spices available for seasoning a steak, with salt and pepper topping the list. However, other spices, like thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and minced onion, are also good options to enhance your steak's flavor. Or, use a one-and-done approach with Chicago Steak Seasoning.

How do you get the most tender steak? ›

By adding salt to your steak, you will help pull out moisture from the meat, enriching the flavor of your steak while tenderizing it in the process. Salt will act as a natural brine and can be added up to 24 hours before cooking, instilling deep, rich flavors and tenderness to any cut of beef.

What is the best technique for cooking steak? ›

Sous vide is one of the best methods to use to ensure that your steak comes out juicy and tender. This is an especially handy method to use for tough cuts of steak, like chuck or brisket, that require slow, even cooking to tenderize.

What to season steak with? ›

There are many spices available for seasoning a steak, with salt and pepper topping the list. However, other spices, like thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and minced onion, are also good options to enhance your steak's flavor. Or, use a one-and-done approach with Chicago Steak Seasoning.

What is the order of cooked steak? ›

If you want your steak to be seared on both sides with a bright red middle, ask for “rare.” If you want it to be “medium,” it will have lots of brown outside and a pink center. “Medium well” results in a small amount of pink in the center, while “well done” means no pink and a firmer final product.

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