The thick of summertime is upon us once again, and the warm, bright evenings of July feel like they’re calling your name from the backyard. What better way to utilize the beauty of the summer than to gather the whole family out back, fire up the grill, and give life something that will leave everyone’s mouth watering? They might be happy with some burgers and hotdogs, but if you’re looking to impress even the most highly-trained palates, a beautifully done steak can be the perfect showcase of your talent. Every household cook dreams of nailing the perfect grill marks or watching their guests slice open the juiciest cut of meat imaginable. It’s easy to feel intimidated by the idea of grilling for the whole family, but if you’re in need of a few pointers, we have exactly what you need to take even the most amateur grillsmith to the level of a professional.
The seasonings
There’s a lot of ways to season a steak, but as a general rule less is more. Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder are often the grillers’ holy trinity, but of these salt is the only one you’ll always need. This is because when you use salt, it’s not just for the flavor of it. Salt catches moisture, so making sure your steak sits with salt on it for at least 45 minutes before it goes on the heat can make all the difference when you’re aiming for a super juicy cut of meat. The initial salting draws the liquid out of the meat, but as the salt absorbs back into the piece, it takes that moisture and locks it into place. The entire steak should have a thin layer of salt over the outside, but take care not to use so much that the salt will overtake the flavor of the steak. We recommend using salt that has thicker granules, such as kosher salt.
High quality, thick cuts often have enough flavor that you won’t need to rely so much on seasoning, but for thinner or lower quality cuts, more seasonings can add interest to the natural taste of the meat.
Prepping your grill
An excellent way to protect against burning while you’re grilling is to brush the grill with cooking oil. Olive oil is often considered standard issue for this task, but the higher one’s smoke point is the more likely it is to sizzle instead of smoke if the surface gets too hot, so we recommend trying out canola or vegetable oil. Preheat your grill to 450, or whatever the highest heat setting indicates, and get ready to hear the satisfying sizzle of a steak hitting the cooktop.
Searing up the Steak
Where you set your meat down should depend on what it is that you’re trying to cook. Fat burns fast, so any fattier cuts of steak might fare better a little farther from the center of the heat. The steak should always be very close to the hottest part of the grill when you first set it down, if not on top of it. Rest your steak here for two to three minutes and don’t touch it until it’s ready to be moved. When your steak is ready to flip, it should come up easily off the grill without sticking. Give it another 2-3 minutes to ensure that your steak develops a mouthwatering crust.
When you flip the steak again, either move it away from the hottest part of the grill or reduce the heat to medium. Leaving the temperature high can cause the outside to burn before the inside has a chance to finish cooking. Instead, close the lid to push the heat deeper inside of your steak. From here, keep checking on your meat, since different thicknesses of steak can alter the cooking time drastically. Many seasoned grillers will tell you to measure the temperature of the meat by how far your thumb sinks into it, but different thumbs can provide varying results even on the same cut of meat. A more reliable metric is to invest in a meat thermometer, which can give you a much more fast and reliable read. For a medium rare steak, we recommend cutting the heat at around 125 degrees. Although this is just below the actual temperature for that level of doneness, your steak will continue to cook even after the heat turns off.
Once your meat is off the grill, let it sit for anywhere from five to ten minutes to allow the juices to travel from the center of the steak to the outermost edges. Consider finishing it off with a bit of black pepper to emphasize the beautiful natural flavor of the meat. If you’re slicing it up, be sure to serve it immediately to ensure that your steak is as juicy as possible!
By following these steps, you'll be able to grill a mouthwatering steak that's juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Experiment with different cuts and seasonings to find your signature grilling style, and allow us to elevate your outdoor experience!
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