How To Cook A Steak
Ever wondered how to cook a steak like the pros? Full of flavor and texture, not over-cooked?
After seeing a BuzzFeed video on the best way to cook a steak, I HAD to find out (like I do with everything) and then form my own opinion. We tried it and agreed with the results but the time recommended to perfect, involved cooking the steak in the oven at a low temperature for 30 minutes. That may work in restaurants that are continuously moving steak but not from home.
There is a common consensus among professionally trained chefs, I queried, about allowing your steak to rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before preparing. They all stated that browning the steak BEFORE placing it in the oven was even better.
SALT
When eating a regular diet that contains multiple servings of processed foods, it’s best to reduce sodium intake. When the human body is in a nutritional state of ketosis full of whole foods, sodium should be added to foods to ensure your electrolyte needs are being met. This isn’t permission to load up on salt, a little bit goes a long way.
How To Cook A Steak With The Right Salt
Not all salt is the same. While sea salt is better, where you source it is key. Most sea salt, and table salt, are bleached and heated, removing trace minerals needed to maintain electrolyte balance. These salts also tend to have anti-caking agents, and in table salt, sugar or dextrose is added. Their processing enhances the sharp “salty” flavor but the heating process leaves you with no healthy elements and just high sodium additives.
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt is primarily mined in Pakistan and also comes from the ground. It is a healthier salt as it undergoes minimal processing but still has less than real sea salt.
Redmond’s Real Salt is my recommendation for salt being used to prepare food. It is unrefined and contains the essential trace minerals we typically see filtered out of table salt and most bottled waters. Most important is that it is mined deep within the earth and isn’t bleached. It is recommended by many health doctors and nutritionists. I have another reason for using it. EVERYTHING tastes better with this salt.
We had been using this salt for several years when we ran out on a camping trip and had to use regular sea salt. I could not believe that this salt made that big of a difference in our food but it was very noticeable. After that, we stocked up to ensure never ran out again.
Redmond is sold in most major grocery and health food stores. You can order it from several online retailers and the price is reasonable.
How To Cook A Steak: The Ingredients
This process works for any cut of steak but you do need to adjust times to prevent overcooking. A skirt steak time would be browned and then cooked for 1 minute on each side in the oven.
Grassfed Beef I have talked about grassfed beef in other posts for a reason. One-hundred percent grass-fed and finished beef promotes healthy cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, has higher minerals, and higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and is a sustainable farming technique. Here comes the BUT…Some grass-fed beef lacks the flavor seen in its grain-finished counterparts, it has a “gamier” flavor. Purchasing grass-fed/finished beef from local farmers who focus on maintaining mineralized soil will provide the best flavor.
Whether you are going for a Wagyu, Filet Mignon, or a flank steak, these steps will help you master how to cook a steak. You will need to adjust cook times based on the thickness of the steak and if you want it well done or medium-rare.
Marbling in your steak should be evenly distributed. Marbling is fat in the meat. Some cuts will have less marbling/fat than others. This article from Spruce Eats does an excellent job of breaking down the cuts to help you choose your best steak.
Steps to Cook A Steak
- Rest the steak at room temperature for 30 minutes
- Preheat the oven to 500 F and place an oven-safe skillet inside while you are preparing.
- Season steak with salt and pepper, and rub the seasoning into the meat with a few drops of olive oil.
- Crush 2-3 cloves of garlic.
- Remove skillet from oven and place on stove at medium-high heat.
- Add butter and garlic with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
- Once the butter is melted, place the steak in the center of the skillet.
- Allow steak to brown on all sides to create a crisp browned layer. Approximately 1 minute or less on each side. Baste butter and garlic over the steak as you do.
- Transfer skillet to 500 F oven. For a medium-rare, 2-in thick steak, 2 minutes on each side.
- Thinner than 1 inch should reduce oven heat to 450 and cook for 1 minute on each side.
- For a medium to well-done steak, increase the time by 4 minutes for each side
- Remove steak from oven, remove from skillet, and allow steak to “rest” for 5-6 minutes. This allows the juices to be redistributed. DO NOT leave steak in the pan to rest or it will continue to cook. (500-degree oven)
Top your steak with a little blue cheese for an added accent of flavor.
If you currently eat a low-carb or keto diet and are still struggling to lose weight, check out this article on reasons you’re struggling.
How to Cook a Proper Steak
Equipment
- Oven-safe skillet
- Oven
- Cook-top
- Tongs
Materials
- 1 whole Steak Your choice, this works for all cuts
- 3 cloves Garlic barely chopped and smashed
- 2-3 tbsp Butter
- 1 sprig Thyme, fresh
- 1 Salt
- 1 Pepper, fresh cracked
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Rest steak at room temperature for thirty(30) minutes
- Preheat Oven to 450°F for steak less than 2 inches thick and 500°F for steak 2 inches or more. Place skillet in oven while you prepare your steak
- Season steak with salt and pepper
- Rub seasoning evenly into the meat with a few drops of olive oil
- Place butter, garlic and thyme into skillet. When butter has melted, add steak.
- Brown steak on all sides for approximately 1 min each. Baste with butter and garlic to infuse the flavor.
- Transfer skillet with the steak to the oven. For medium-rare, allow to cook 2-2.5 minutes before flipping to the other side. For medium to medium-well, allow to cook 3-4 mintues per side.
- Remove from oven. Move steak to a plate and allow it to rest for 5-7 minutes. Resting helps the juices re-distribute in the meat.
- Slice steak against the grain before eating. Top with blue cheese or simply enjoy as it is.
Notes
