Tips for Grilling the Perfect Steak
From generations-old family secrets to new school cooking gadgets, there are plenty of theories around for grilling the perfect steak. Some people swear that the key to a juicy steak is all about the spices used, while others believe that they key to the perfect steak lies in grilling temperature and time. Most theories differ quite a lot, but there are a few key practices that most recipes seem to have in common. We are going to take a closer look at these similarities so that you can get a better idea of what grilling the perfect steak really entails.
Choosing Your Meat
The hard truth about cooking steak is that you won’t get prime results with low-quality meat. In order to enjoy the perfect steak, you are going to have to pay the price—and by this I mean fork over that extra bit of cash for a good quality cut of steak. For a good deal on steak, try visiting a local butcher instead of the grocery store. Butchers not only have a much larger selection than your typical grocery store, but they can also custom-cut your meat just the way you want it.
Marinade
It seems that some of the most popular grilling recipes and world-renown grilling enthusiasts all agree that marinating the steak before cooking it will yield a much tastier steak than one which is simply chucked onto the grill. Unfortunately, there is no marinade recipe guaranteed to deliver the perfect steak. Maybe this is because we all have different taste preferences when it comes to the balance of spiciness and sweetness. Because of this, I recommend you experiment with creating your own marinade until you find a balance of flavors that makes your taste buds sing. A few basic ingredients you may want to start off with include Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. You can add and take away from the basics as much as you like until you find something that really works for you.
You may be wondering how long the meat should sit in the marinade sauce. This is completely up to you, but it bears remembering that the longer the meat marinades, the stronger the flavor will be. A longer marinade time will also decrease the chances of the steak drying out—provided the steak is not overcooked.
Grilling
Some people are firm believers that steak must be seared before it is cooked, while others are firmly against this practice. After much research, it seems that searing really doesn’t seem to have a huge impact on the overall flavor and juiciness of the steak—although it can add a crispy texture. If that’s what you’re after, then you may want to consider searing the steak, which involves cooking the exterior at a very high heat for just a minute or two on each side, then cooking it more thoroughly using a low heat.
Before you begin to grill the steak, try to bring it to room temperature first to ensure that it cooks nice and evenly. This can be done by removing the steak from the marinade sauce and wrapping it in plastic wrap. Then just leave it on the counter for about half an hour. While the steak is coming to room temperature, you can work on getting the grill nice and hot. Whether you’re using charcoal or propane, the grill should be properly heated before you start cooking the steak. The idea is to bring the grill to a temperature that will cook the steak thoroughly in as little time as possible. The longer the steak cooks, the drier it will become.
Place the steak on the grill and close the lid. When the sides of the steak start to turn gray, it’s time to turn it over. Close the lid again until the steak is cooked to your desired tastes. A decent set of “grill marks” will add to your perfect steak, so try to flip the steak only once. Transfer the steak to a plate and allow it to sit for at least five minutes, loner for larger steaks. This rest will allow the juices which were brought to the surface of the meat to make their way back towards the center, making your steak juicy all the way through.
Grilling the perfect steak isn’t a task that can be done on the first try. Learning to grill a tasty steak takes a great deal of practice as well as experimentation with the marinade. Get a good feel for your grill and cook with steak often. Eventually, you’ll be grilling up the tastiest steaks around!