By Culinary.net | Contributor
A perfectly grilled steak is an iconic taste of summer, and nothing quite compares to its delicious flavors.
Before you start grilling, here are five essential tips for cooking a professional-quality steak:
Prepare Your Cut
While preferences and costs may vary for cuts like sirloin, ribeye, and T-bone, the preparation method remains similar across the board. Aim for a thickness of 1/2 to 1 inch to ensure proper cooking, and allow the meat to come to room temperature before grilling. Placing a cold steak on a hot grill can lower the grill’s temperature and extend the cooking time for the interior of the steak.
Add Some Salt
You can use your favorite spices, but a great steak usually needs little more than a dash of salt. Season the steak by adding salt anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours before grilling to enhance moisture retention and flavor.
Aim for High Heat
Grilling steak effectively involves more than just having a blazing fire. A two-zone setup is ideal: one side of the grill should be hot (using direct heat), while the other should be cooler (indirect heat). This technique allows you to sear the steak on direct heat and then finish cooking it gently on the cooler side without burning.
Sear and Slide
To achieve a proper sear, cook the steak over direct heat for 1-2 minutes on each side. Depending on its thickness, check for doneness. If it’s not yet at the desired temperature, move it to the indirect heat to finish cooking.
Keep in mind these general temperature guidelines for doneness: 120-125°F for rare, 130-135°F for medium-rare, 140-145°F for medium, 150-155°F for medium-well, and 160-175°F for well done.
Let Rest
As tempting as it may be to dig in right away, resting your steak is crucial before serving. Allowing it to sit for 5-10 minutes (with or without foil) lets the flavors settle and helps retain moisture in the meat.
Find more cooking tips and recipes at Culinary.net. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
