How To Season Grilled Steak

What To Season Steak With

Steak seasoning is a topic that is as controversial as the doneness of the steak. People have different opinions on what steak seasoning recipe should be used to season the steak. And frankly, it is the smokers choice.

You can decide to go with the classic salt and pepper, and that is fine. You can also decide to be more adventurous. Whatever you choose, the key to a good steak seasoning recipe is to use fresh ingredients.

Steak houses baste their meat in butter, and doing so gives it a nice buttery flavor. You can do that too. While basting, you can also add thyme leaves or basil. It is a steak seasoning method that a lot of people love.

Another excellent way to add flavor to your steak is to add garlic to it when it is done. Simply chop a garlic clove into two and place the piece facedown on the steak. You can also grate the garlic onto the meat.

While your spices are up to you to decide, wed like to note that Cajun two-step seasoning can give your steak a nice and spicy taste. Heres how to make yours at home.

Grilling The Perfect Steak Recipe Tips

• Let the steaks come to room temperature first. This takes about 30 minutes and ensures they will cook evenly.
• Really pat down your ribeye steak rub! Patting down the seasoning gives the meat a perfect crust on the grill.
• Allow the steaks to rest before cutting into them – at least 10 minutes.
• Always slice steak against the grain.
• Use a meat thermometer for best results when checking for your desired degree of doneness.

Steak Cooking Time & Temperature

A key element in learning how to BBQ steak flawlessly is knowing the finished temperature depending on personal preference when it comes to your meats doneness. Heres a quick list of cooking temperature per steak doneness and key indicators to help you determine when the meat is ready to be taken out of the grill.

• Rare: 120-125°F internal temperature red, shiny, and soft when touched

• Medium-rare: 130-135°F internal temperature deep red to pink, soft but firm

• Medium: 140-145°F internal temperature pinkish color in the center part, a bit firmer

• Medium-well: 150-155°F internal temperature very light pink center with slight graying on the edges firm but tender meat

• Well-done: 160°F+ internal temperature no hint of pink color anywhere meat is very firm

To check the internal temperature precisely and conveniently, we recommend using a digital BBQ thermometer or meat thermometer. This stops you from opening the lid. To ensure your steak remains juicy and tender, never cut into it to check doneness and use tongs to prevent the meat from being pierced. Remember that when the lid is closed, the grill will be able to maintain optimal cooking temperature, resulting in beautifully and evenly cooked steak. When youve taken it off of the fire, allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

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Tips And Tricks For Better Pork Steaks

First of all, if using a rub, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika, be sure to rub it in well so that the flavors can penetrate the meat.

• If youre grilling, cook the pork steaks on a preheated grill for best results.
• Let the meat rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute.
• Serve with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad.
• Add a finishing touch of flavor with a sprinkle of fresh herbs, such as thyme or parsley.

Finally, enjoy!

Clean And Season Your Grill

Make sure your grill is clean and seasoned with a high-heat cooking oil before you get started. In order to avoid flare-ups, you don’t want too much excess oil, which can affect the taste of your steak. Brush the grates before and after use so that it’s unsullied and ready for your next grilling adventure.

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Selecting The Right Cut

First, a definition. Steaks are basically any piece of meat that falls under the category of fast-cooking cutscuts that are low enough in connective tissue that they dont require the long cooking times that slow-cooking cuts require. The difference between a steak and roast essentially comes down to size. Any good roast can be cut into individual steaks .

When To Do It

Theres somewhat of a debate about when the best time is to season ribeye steak. Honestly, theres a couple of ways you can go with it.

Your first option is seasoning immediately before you make grilled ribeye steak or put your ribeye on a cast iron skillet. Doing so wont allow the salt in your seasoning to create its brine, so the salt wont pull out any of the steaks juices. Youll still get the salt flavor, but you can move onto the cooking process quicker when youre short on time.

Another optimal time to season is about 40-45 minutes before you cook or grill ribeye steak. This is our personal favorite, leading to the perfect ribeye steak thats tender, juicy, and filled with beefy flavor. Ribeye is a thicker steak that takes some time for the salt to pull its juices through when creating a brine. The total process to pull juices and flow them back into a ribeye will take 40-45 minutes, which is why its a good idea to season, wait that time, and then start cooking.

If you do decide to season 40+ minutes before cooking, keep the meat at room temperature tented with foil while it basks in the seasonings.

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Get Your Steaks Ready Before You Grill Them

Gabriel Bucataru / Stocksy United

Cooking steaks involve more than just taking the meat out of the fridge and slapping it on the grill. You could do that, but if you want to enjoy the perfect steak, you’ll get better results if you understand a few basic guidelines for how to prep your steaks for the grill.

The first thing you’re going to want to do is take the steak out of the fridge and let it sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes. At this point, you can also preheat your grill, and trim any excess fat from the steaks. But don’t trim it all off. Leave about 1/4 inch of fat all the way around.

When To Season Steak Heavily And When To Cut It Back

You might notice that most steak recipes have one thing in common: they tell you to season steak generously. But you might wonder just how generous you need to be to avoid overseasoning your steak. Its a common conundrum, but were here to help.

Generally, the amount of steak seasoning you need depends on how thick your steak is. The seasoning sits only on the outer side of the steak, so the middle of the steak doesnt get seasoned. Therefore, thicker steaks require more seasoning to ensure that you get a flavorful bite, whereas thinner steaks dont need as much because you wont be eating as large of an unseasoned portion in each bite.

So, strip steak, filet mignon, ribeye, and other thick steaks typically call for a generous amount of seasoning. But flank steak and flat iron popular thinner steaks may not need as much to achieve the same taste result.

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Can I Use Just Salt And Pepper To Season Steak

Absolutely! In fact, this is what many people even top chefs sometimes choose to do with steak. A steak seasoning isnt always necessary, but its one way to switch up the flavor of steak a bit.

The most important tip to keep in mind is to use salt. Even if you dont want to add anything else to your steak, still use salt. Itll help break down the meat fibers to make a more tender steak while giving the beef extra flavor.

When Should You Season Steak

There are a lot of opinions about this! Some people like to season steak ahead of time . Others prefer to season it just before cooking. And some cooks fall somewhere in the middle and do it a few hours ahead of time. Heres what you need to know: salt pulls water out of everything it touches. Once it hits your steak, its going to start drawing moisture out of the meat. Seasoning early means more flavor, but a slight loss of moisturebut neither way is wrong!

The Pioneer Woman Frontier Chipotle Ranch Seasoning

The Pioneer Woman Frontier Chipotle Ranch Seasoning

If youre starting early, pat the meat dry with a paper towel, season , then transfer the steak to a rack set over a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and pop it in the fridge. When you’re ready to cook, let your steak rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour, then pat it dry again. Dont worry, youre not wiping the flavor offthe salt has already done its job. Patting it dry removes excess moisture and will give you a browner crust. If youre seasoning just before cooking, just pat the steaks dry, season with salt, and let rest at room temperature before you cook.

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How To Know When Steak Is Done

The time needed to cook a steak varies depending on its thickness, and how you like it. Dont be tempted to cut into a steak to see if its done. This allows the precious juices to escape, making the meat tough. Instead, press the centre of the steak with the back of your tongs if its medium the meat will spring back. Use this guide for cooking times and to tell when its ready.

Should I Use Seasonings In Pork Steaks

Seasoning pork steaks are a matter of personal preference.

Some people prefer to keep things simple, using just salt and pepper to bring out the meats natural flavor.

Others like to get a little more adventurous, experimenting with different herbs and spices. The key is to find a balance that complements the pork without overwhelming it.

For example, garlic is a classic pairing for pork, but too much can make the meat taste bitter.

Likewise, rosemary can give the steak a nice herbal flavor but can quickly become overpowering.

Ultimately, the best way to find the perfect seasoning for your pork steaks is to experiment and see what you like best.

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The Key To A Juicy Grilled Steak: Faux Dry Aging

The first thing I do after I bring steaks home is start a little faux dry age treatment.

I first learned the value of faux dry aging from Alton Brown way back in the day & Ive been using it ever since. It couldnt be easier & it makes a BIG difference in the cook of the steak. Heres what you do:

• Generously season the entire surface of your steak with kosher salt. A good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon per pound.
• Place a rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet, then loosely wrap the steak with a paper towel & place it on top of the rack.
• Set everything in the coldest area of your fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

Why faux dry aging works The salt draws out the steaks natural water content, which drips into the baking sheet below or gets absorbed by the paper towel. Moisture is the natural enemy of charred grill marks, so removing the water helps create a beautiful crust on the grilled steak as it cooks. Less moisture also concentrates the meats natural flavor for an even tastier grilled steak. Double win!

How Do You Season Steak

Steak should always be seasoned generouslyreally generously. Youre going to need to sprinkle on more salt than you think is appropriate because you want it to completely cover the steak. Sprinkle the salt from above for more even coverage. Its going to seem like overkill, but seriously just keep salting. Once youve salted your steak, gently press the crystals into the meat with your hands to help them adhere. If youre making a really thin cut of steak, like skirt steak, dont salt as heavily, but if youre making a 2-inch-thick, bone-in porterhouse , then keep salting. You want the salt to flavor the whole thing.

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Grilled Steak With A Browned Butter Sauce

Whether your grilling tender eye fillets, or Skirt Steak, any wet ingredient you baste your steak with on the barbecue will usually end up running over your steaks and through the bars on your grill plates. Of course this depends on how runny your sauces or marinades are.

With steaks seared in a skillet, its so easy to keep all of the browned butter surrounding your steak in the same place .

However, not so much browned butter can happen on a grill. This is where this recipe comes in!

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Remove Your Steak From The Grill

Once your steak has reached its desired internal temperature, its time to take it off of the grill. Make sure to let it rest for about five minutes before slicing into it. This will give the juices a chance to redistribute and ensure that your steak is nice and juicy.

And there you have it! Your very own guide on how to grill a top-round steak. I hope you find it helpful.

Happy grilling!

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How Do Restaurants Get Steaks So Tender

Many restaurants use an electric heating element under the cooking surface to quickly and evenly cook steaks.

You can do this at home by using a pan with a non-stick coating on the bottom.

This will allow you to quickly cook your steak without any oil or butter because the hot pan will create enough lubrication for your food.

Best Grilled Steak Recipes

There are a few things I look forward to more than grilling ribeye steak, and this is coming from a person who loves recipes on the grill. What could be better than a perfectly grilled steak you can make right at home in minutes?

• One of my absolute favorites is this inexpensive marinated chuck steak. It is so tasty and an amazing value!
• London Broil is also a great cut that my family loves every time I make it.
• When I want to splurge or impress family and friends, the best beef tenderloin recipe is my go-to!
• Coulotte Steak is amazingly delicious and so tender.
• New Strip Steak it just doesn’t get any better than a perfectly grilled NY Strip!
• Grilled Porterhouse Steak the Mac Daddy of all steaks will never disappoint!

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Why Youll Love This Recipe

How To Grill The Perfect Steak

Grilling the perfect steak sounds rather ambitious, doesnt it? Almost like finding an ancient spell buried in a dusty book. Or discovering a piece of divine knowledge obtainable only through a spiritual journey through time to commune with early man cooking over fire. Or a Wait, no its actually not like that at all! Anybody can grill the perfect steak, and all they need is some salt, pepper, butter, and a grill. Dont take our word for it just follow Grill Master Randys step-by-step tutorial for grilling the perfect steak. No sacred rite of passage required!

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Is It Important To Let The Steaks Rest

Yes. The steak actually continues to cook during those few minutes. This continuation of cooking is great because it doesnt dry out the steak, as it would by simply leaving it on the grill longer. Cutting into the steak interrupts that last little period of cooking by releasing the heat inside the steak. Trust me, let it rest a few minutes and your steak will turn out perfect.

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Grilling Steak Tips + Q& a

Best grill temp for steak:

We recommend searing your steak at high heat such as 500ºF for a few minutes on each side to sear the steak and then lower it to 400ºF to finish cooking.

How long to grill steak

Depending on the thickness of your steak and how done you want it, grill your steak at around 400ºF for around 15-20 minutes.

Should I use a gas or charcoal grill?

Either a gas grill or a charcoal grill works for grilling steak. Its all about preference. We personally used a gas grill because you can manage temperature better.

How do I know my grilled steak is done?

The most precise way to know if your steak is fully cooked is to check the temperature. Use a meat thermometer and stick it in the thickest part of the steak. It should read at least 135ºF before taking it off the grill to safely consume it.

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