Man has always been an apex predator who needs his meat to survive. Today’s modern man distinguishes himself from the rest by knowing how to grill steak perfectly. Dry, burnt steak is for the weak. Learn how to grill a steak seven easy ways to prove you deserve the top spot in the food chain.
7 Easy Ways How to Grill Steak for Beginners
1. How to Grill Steak on a Stove Top Cast Iron Skillet
- Rub both sides of the steak with olive oil. Then add salt, pepper, and additional spices to taste.
- Switch the stove on and begin heating just the cast iron skillet. It’s ready when you see smoke rising up from the skillet’s surface. Lay the steak flat on the skillet.
- After 3 minutes, give the meat a nice sear by turning the steak a quarter of the way on the same side.
- 1 – 2 minutes later, flip the steak so the raw side is face down on the surface of the cast iron skillet.
- Check the temperature of the meat and make sure the reading is within the range of 129 – 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wait for 3 minutes before placing the steak on a plate to rest.
- Let the steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting into it. You should have a medium rare steak that’s ready to serve.
2. How to Grill Steak on a Charcoal Grill
- Rub olive oil on both sides of your steak. Then add salt, pepper, and your choice of spices.
- Prep your charcoal grill by starting a two-zone fire. Do this by putting charcoal in one side of the grill while leaving the other side empty. The void side serves as an escape hatch for your steaks in case the side with all the charcoal is packing too much heat which can cause the meat to char excessively.
- Place your steaks on the grill and cover them. Wait 4 – 5 minutes for the steaks to gain that nice smoky flavor.
- Open the charcoal grill and flip the steaks so the uncooked sides are face down on the grill. Allow to cook for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Place the steaks on the void side of the charcoal grill. It’s time to feel for doneness. Here’s a simple gauge you can use to feel if a steak is cooked properly. Let your thumb and your index finger touch as if you’re making the “okay” sign. Now feel the area of the palm just below the thumb with your other hand and make sure you remember how firm it is to the touch. With that sensation in mind, touch the middle of the steaks and check if they are more or less similar. Medium rare will be as firm as the meat of your palm. If the steaks are too soft, they may still need a little more cooking time.
- Place the steaks on a plate and let them rest for 7 – 10 minutes so the juices distribute evenly across the steaks. Serve.
3. How to Grill Steak in the Oven
- First and foremost, thaw out the steaks and pat them dry to be sure your rub will stick to the meat.
- As usual, pat olive oil, salt, pepper, and your preferred spices on both sides of the steaks.
- Switch on the oven broiler and go for high heat. Let the oven pre-heat for 5 – 8 minutes.
- Cover your steaks with foil and place them on the oven grill. Cover the grill and cook the steaks for 8 minutes on the first side.
- Open the oven hatch and flip the steaks to the other side. Now, wait for 6 minutes before taking the steaks out of the oven.
- Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute in the meat. Then you can serve the steaks.
4. How to Grill Steak with Wood Chips
Nothing beats cooking steaks with wood chips if you want to imbue the meat with the best smoky aroma.
- First, decide on what kind of wood chips you’re going to use. You can pick from hickory, oak, pecan, apple, maple, and cherry.
- Remove the cooking grid and place the firestarter at the bottom of the grill. Pile the wood chips on top of the firestarter. Arrange this pile in such a way that you have a two-zone fire set up going. Light the firestarter.
- Once the wood chips are ash grey, return the cooking grid and place it on top of the wood chips. Use the lid to close off the grill and then close all the vents to kill the fire. This way you’ll cook on hot coals instead of an open flame. Add a few chunks of fresh wood chips on top of the burnt ones. Wait for a minute.
- Open the lid back up while avoiding the smoke. Place the steaks on the cooking grid and close the lid. Manipulate the vents to control the amount of oxygen that will rush into the grill. This is your primary means of controlling temperature in the grill. You can also add a tin foil pan with water inside the grill to keep the steaks moist.
- Let the steaks cook on one side for 5 minutes and then rotate them. Cook for 4 minutes before flipping the steaks on the other side. Cook for 7 minutes until the meat is medium rare. Rotate the meat again for the cross-hatch patterns and cook for 4 more minutes.
- Take the steaks out and let them rest for 5 – 8 minutes to let the juices redistribute across the meat evenly.
5. How to Grill Steak on a Traeger Grill
Traeger branded grills are known for their pill-shaped barrel form factor, their double stainless steel interior, their airtight lid gaskets, and their use of wood pellets as fuel. Aside from their durability, Traeger grills also add convenience to grilling with the promise of letting the cook set it and forget it.
- Prep the steaks as usual by rubbing both sides with olive oil and your choice set of spices, sauces, or rubs. Tenderize the meat after.
- Coat the cooking grid with a non-stick solution. Make sure your Traeger grill has wood pellets. Switch the grill on and choose the “Smoke Setting.” Once you see smoke, set the grill gauge to high. Wait for 10 – 15 minutes before placing the steaks on the grid. Make sure the temperature reaches 450 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit before cooking.
- Place the steaks, close the lid, and allow to cook for 6 minutes. Open the grill and flip the steaks so their uncooked sides go face down on the grid’s surface. Cook the steaks for 6 more minutes.
- Take your steaks out and wait for 5 minutes to let the juices in the meat redistribute well.
6. How to Grill Steak on a George Foreman Grill
A George Foreman Grill is great for cooking steaks along with grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs. You can enjoy a deliciously grilled steak with little to no work using this branded product.
- Marinade the meats in your choice of spices or sauce for 8 hours. Don’t throw the marinade away just yet.
- Brush the inside of the George Foreman Grill with olive oil.
- Place the steak on the grill and close the lid.
- Switch the grill on and cook for 5 – 10 minutes depending on how done you want your steak to be.
- Switch off the grill, open it, and check the steak for doneness. If it’s looking good, dip the steak back into the marinade, put it back on the grill, and close it. Let the residual heat cook the steak for 1 minute.
- Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before cutting into it.
7. How to Grill Steak on a Weber Gas Grill
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Weber has been a big name in grill manufacturing since the 1950s. Their brand is top of mind for those who are serious about grilling their food.
- As usual, prep the steaks by rubbing them with oil and spices. Don’t forget to tenderize them, too.
- Set up your Weber gas grill for direct cooking under high heat. This means your steaks will be directly above the fire. Wait and pre-heat the oven before adding the steak.
- Place the steaks on the cooking grate, close the lid, and let them cook for 2 minutes. After a couple of minutes, rotate the steaks so you get a cross-hatched sear on the meat. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Open the lid and turn over the steaks so the uncooked sides face down. Close the lid and cook for 2 – 4 minutes depending on how done you want your steaks to be.
- Open the lid and check for doneness by touching the middle of each steak with your tongs. Make sure the steaks are not too soft yet not too firm. When there’s a balance between softness and firmness, that’s how you can tell the steak is medium-rare.
- Remove the steaks and let them rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to distribute evenly in each piece of meat.
If you’re looking for something a little more heavenly and sinful in a steak, here’s Foodland Hawaii with a video of their Pan Seared Butter-Based Steak:
There you go — now you’re no longer a steak grilling noob. You’re welcome. Now that you know these seven ways for how to grill the perfect steak, you’ll be a welcome figure in any grilled-meat get-together, whether it’s a backyard barbecue or a hot, private, steak dinner for two.
Do you have any other deficiencies in your kitchen skills that we could fix with a tutorial or two? Give us your answers in the comments section below so we can dish them out for you.
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