How to Grill the Perfect Steak
If you’ve ever wondered How to Grill the Perfect Steak, here are some tricks and tips to grill like a pro! Here are some guidelines to follow to learn How to Grill the Perfect Steak.
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How to Grill the Perfect Steak
Are you intimidated by grilling your own steak? I used to be scared of the grill, but grilling steak is easier than you think and with a few tips and tricks, you’ll be an expert, too! Of course, if you want to use the oven to cook your steak, you can do that too!
Choose your cut:
Picking a cut of beef to grill depends on personal preference, but there are many cuts that are great for grilling like the juicy, flavorful Ribeye, the lean and tender Strip Steak, and the lean and tasty Flank Steak.
Prepare your steak:
Make sure you trim any excess fat to prevent flare ups on the grill.
At this time, add a thin layer of cooking oil and season your steaks generously with salt and pepper. Salting ahead of time helps the salt infuse into the meat and it takes at least 30 minutes to do so. Of course you can add your own seasonings, but salt and pepper let the flavor of the steak shine.
Prepare your Grill:
Unless this is your first time grilling, there’s most likely some leftover food residue on your grill. Preheat your grill to high to kill any bacteria and then use a grill brush to clean your grill. Lower your heat to medium and oil your grate so that the meat does not stick. How do you oil your grate? Fold a paper towel and soak it in oil. Using long tongs rub the grate of your grill with the paper towel.
Grill Time and temperature:
Grill time will depend on the thickness of your steak and how well you like your steak cooked. If you like your steak medium rare than sear the outside on medium heat and move it to a cooler part of the grill to finish, or lower the lid. If you are cooking your steak medium well or well done you will want a little lower temperature about medium-high so that the steak does not burn. Cook time will also vary depending on your cut of beef. For more specific cook times, go see these grilling guidelines.
To Flip or not to Flip: There are varying opinions on whether to flip your steak or not when grilling. If you want nice grill marks don’t continuously flip your steak. Flip it once when the meat does not stick to the grill and moves loosely. If grill marks aren’t your concern, flip the steaks while grilling for even cooking.
How do you know when your steak is done?
If you are learning How to Grill the Perfect Steak, knowing when your steak is done is crucial. Obviously personal preference plays in here about how well done to cook a steak. I worked at a steakhouse and really feel like the optimum flavor is achieved when a steak is cooked between medium rare to medium. The only accurate way to really tell if your steak is done is by inserting an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the steak while it’s cooking on the grill. It is best to always use a meat thermometer.
Here are the temperatures you should aim for when cooking a steak to a certain degree of doneness. Keep in mind that you will want to remove the steak from the grill when the thermometer reads 5°F lower than your desired temperature because on average the temperature of your steak will rise 5°F as it continues to rest off the grill. Medium Rare: 145°F – warm red center Medium: 160°F – warm pink center Well Done: 170°F – little or no pink.
Let it Rest:
Letting your steak rest for 5-10 minutes after you grill it allows the juices to redistribute throughout and will give you a juicy steak. If you slice it right away you’ll notice all of the juices will flow out leaving you with a dry steak.
Food Safety:
It’s important to avoid cross contamination. Anything that has been used to cut or prepare raw food (cutting boards, knives, etc.) should not be used for the cooked food. Use a separate cutting board and knife for your cooked steaks. Visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com for more tips and grilling inspiration.
It was helpful when you said that trimming the excess fat helps prevent the grill from flaring up. My husband and I want to have an outdoor grill installed soon. Your tips should help us stay safe when we start using the grill for cooking! https://thefireplaceofpalmdesert.com/barbecue/built-in/
We just bought our first grill this year, so this post couldn’t have come at a better time!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Congrats! I hope you break it in soon.
Thank you so much for posting these tips! I’ve been cooking for over a decade and I’m pretty confident with everything BUT grilling meat. It has always seemed way too trial-and-error, and with good cuts of beef being relatively expensive compared to chicken or fish, I haven’t wanted to risk screwing it up just for the sake of a learning experience. Your method seems pretty fool-proof, though. Now to go pick up a flank steak and a meat thermometer! =)
Awesome! You’ll do great I promise.
Yum! Good looking steak!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/aged-cheddar-sliders-with-pineapple-guacamole/
Fantastic post Christy! Short, sweet and to the point. It gave me all the information I could ever need to grill a steak in an easy to read and understand format. Thank you for sharing this at the perfect time of year. Now I’m headed to the freezer to thaw that sirloin I bought earlier in the week.
Awesome! It doesn’t have to be intimidating. Thank you for your kind words.
Thick steaks like 1 1/2″ and more will rise in temp a little. Thin steaks ( lest than 1 1/2″) will not rise in temp and there is no need to rest them. If you rest thin steaks the only thing that happens is that they get cold.
Good point! Thank you!