Grilled steak is one of the best summertime meals. It is a perfect meal for when you want to spend time outdoors with friends and family. This can be ready in under 1 hour!
Perfect Grilled steak
Grilling steak is such a rewarding experience and this is why I keep going back to it. The tenderness of the meat and juicy flavors are always hard to resist. My family always asks for more.
Choosing the best steak cut for grilling
When it comes to grilling the perfect steak, selecting the right cut of beef is important. While sirloin, porterhouse and chuck eye steak are popular choices, it’s also worth considering other cuts, such as ribeye or strip steak, for a unique twist on your grilling experience.
An important tip to note when choosing a steak cut is to look for well-marbled meat with a rich, vibrant red color that indicates freshness and quality. To avoid any unwanted flare-ups on the grill, be sure to trim any excess fat from your steak before grilling. Additionally, don’t hesitate to consult your local butcher for recommendations or assistance if you are unsure of the right cut to choose.
Creating your Marinade
Focus on three key components: acid, oil, and seasoning. Acids like vinegar or citrus juice break down toughness, while oil adds richness. Seasoning will penetrate the beef during the marinating process, infusing flavor right through.
For this recipe, I refrigerated my marinated steak for about 40 minutes to allow the flavors to soak into the meat but note that the marinating time significantly affects your final result. Generally, thinner cuts require less time, while thicker ones need more to absorb the flavors.
To complete your delicious steak dinner, pair this grilled steak with classic mashed potatoes, Delicious and Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe, or caesar salad, as these are easy crowd-pleasers. Also, roasted veggies are always a good option alongside your steaks. These pairings are incredibly nutritious.
Levels of Grilled Steak Doneness
The Level of steak doneness is seen in the temperature and color of the steak, with rare being the least cooked and well-done being the most cooked with no pinkness. You can grill your steak to the desired level. Medium-rare is the most popular steak doneness level.
- Rare: Heated to an internal temperature of 125°F, the steak will have a bright pink center and moist texture. Pronounced redness in the center.
- Medium-rare: With an internal temperature of 130-135°F, the steak will have a warm, reddish-pink center, a slightly more defined crust, and excellent juiciness.
- Medium: At 135-145°F, the steak will have a warm pink center with less redness and a firmer texture, along with a more developed crust.
- Medium-well: Heated to 145–155°F, the steak will be mostly gray-brown with a slightly pink center and is less juicy than the previous options.
- Well-done: Cooked to an internal temperature of 155°F or above, the steak will have no pinkness, be gray-brown throughout, and be somewhat dry, with a well-defined crust.
Ingredients for making Grilled Steak
- Rib-eye or strip steaks: Using ribeye or strip steaks is a good idea for grilled steak due to its high marbling content, which results in a juicier and more flavorful steak. It is also a versatile cut that can be cooked to various levels of doneness, from rare to well-done.
- For the steak marinade: I use Garlic, Olive oil, Soy sauce, Balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and Honey. The combination of these ingredients gives the grilled steak incredible flavors and depth.
- Sea salt: These have larger granules, so make sure to use a smaller amount if it’s the table salt you plan to use.
- Seasonings: Onion powder, Smoked paprika, Freshly ground black pepper.
How to make Grilled Steak
- Mix garlic, olive oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, and honey in a bowl.
- Add black pepper, sea salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
- Coat steaks with the marinade and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.
- Grill steaks on each side for 4-5 minutes until the desired doneness is reached.
- Let steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
Helpful tips to note when grilling steak
- Ensure to preheat your grill to the right temperature before you start.
- For a tender steak on the grill, ensure that your steak is at room temperature before placing it on the grill.
- Keep it simple. Do not over-season your steak.
- Contrary to popular belief, flipping your steak multiple times can result in a more evenly cooked steak. The key is to flip it gently so it retains its juices.
- Allow your steak to rest for about 5 minutes after removing it from the grill. This redistributes the juices, resulting in a more tender and juicy steak.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to serve with grilled steak?
Choosing the perfect side dish to serve with grilled steak is a matter of personal taste and the specific occasion. With so many options available, the possibilities are endless. Some popular side dishes to consider include Grilled vegetables, such as asparagus or zucchini, Mashed potatoes, Caesar salad, Grilled corn, Green beans, Baked potato, Honey glazed carrots, Arugula salad, and many more. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different side dishes to find your perfect pairing for grilled steak.
How long does it take to grill a steak?
As a general rule of thumb, the cooking time for a steak will depend on the thickness of the cut, the heat of the grill, and the desired level of doneness. A thinner cut will take less time to cook than a thicker cut, and a higher heat will cook faster than a lower heat. A general guideline to follow for a 1-inch thick steak is to sear on high heat for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare, 4-5 minutes per side for medium, and 5-6 minutes per side for medium-well.
What Temperature should steak be grilled at?
When it comes to grilling steak, it’s important to start with a super-hot grilling surface. Aim for a temperature of around 500 degrees to get that perfect sear on your steak. Once you’ve achieved a good sear, you can then lower the temperature and continue grilling over lower heat until your steak reaches your desired level of doneness.
For rare steak, aim for an internal temperature of around 120 degrees F. For medium rare, aim for 130 degrees F. If you prefer your steak cooked to medium, look for an internal temperature of around 140 degrees F. For medium well, aim for 150 degrees F. And if you like your steak well done, look for an internal temperature of around 160 degrees F.
What do you put on a steak for grilling?
I used garlic, olive oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, honey, black pepper, sea salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika for my steak marinade.
In addition, you can experiment with different marinades or rubs to add even more flavor to your steak. While grilling, consider adding a pat of butter or a drizzle of olive oil on top of the steak to keep it moist and enhance the flavor.
The key to a mouthwatering grilled steak is to keep it simple and let the natural flavors of the beef shine through. So, don’t overdo it with too many seasonings, and trust the quality of the meat to deliver a delicious meal.
Seasoning Variations to try
There are different options you can try if you want other kinds of seasonings.
- Lemon pepper seasoning: Nothing like a tangy and tasty steak. This is not only different from the usual, it is delicious.
- Chimichurri: Top your steak with some Chimichurri sauce for the best flavors.
- Carne asada seasoning: My classic carne asada marinade has lime or orange juice, garlic, onion, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, and a touch of vinegar or soy sauce for depth. It brings a ton of flavor to the meal.
- Tex-Mex seasoning: A blend of kosher salt, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano. This works especially well with flank steak or skirt steak.
- Use salt and pepper: Sometimes the simplest seasonings are the best. Generously season your steak with coarse sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper for a classic flavor.
Storage and Reheating Tips
How to store grilled steak
To store grilled steak, the first thing is to let your steak rest for at least 10 minutes after grilling to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This will result in a juicier and more flavorful steak. Once it has rested, you must store the steak properly to keep it fresh. The best method is to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil. This will prevent any air from getting to the steak, which can cause it to dry out. Then, place the wrapped steak in an airtight container or ziplock bag. This will further prevent any air from getting in and causing spoilage.
How long does grilled steak last in the fridge?
Grilled steak can last for about 3-4 days in the fridge. For optimal quality, it is recommended to consume the leftover steak within 1-2 days of cooking.
How to reheat grilled steak
The best way to reheat your grilled steak is to use an oven or grill. First, preheat your oven or grill to around 350°F (175°C). Then, remove your steak from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to lessen the temperature difference between the steak and the heat source.
Once your steak has come up to room temperature, place it on a baking sheet or grill pan and reheat it slowly in the preheated oven or grill. For a medium-rare steak, cook it for about 4-5 minutes per side. If you would like it a bit more well done, increase the cooking time accordingly.
Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the steak before serving, to ensure that it has reached an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), which is the minimum safe temperature for consuming steak.
Can I freeze grilled steak?
If you plan to keep the steak for longer than a day, consider freezing it. Wrap the steak tightly in a foil and keep it in a ziplock or airtight container. Place it in the freezer. Frozen steak will last for several months if stored properly.
Other meat recipes to try out
Perfect Grilled Steak
Ingredients
- 4 8-ounce rib-eye or strip steaks, about 1-inch thick
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the garlic, olive oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, and honey. Add the black pepper, sea salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Mix well until fully combined.
- Place the steaks in a large ziplock bag or nonreactive container. Pour the marinade over the steaks and ensure they are evenly coated. Seal the bag or container and refrigerate for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Preheat your grill to high heat for 5-10 minutes. While the grill is preheating, remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for around 10 minutes.
- Once the grill is hot, remove the steaks from the marinade and allow any excess marinade to drain off. Place the steaks on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side until grill marks appear.
- Flip the steaks and grill for an additional 4-5 minutes until the desired level of doneness is reached (internal temperature: 125-130°F for medium-rare, 135-140°F for medium).
- Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest on a plate for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juice to redistribute, ensuring a tender, juicy steak.
- Serve the perfectly grilled steaks with your favorite side dishes and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure to preheat your grill to the right temperature before you start.
- To make sure your steak does not go tough on the grill, make sure your steak is at room temperature before placing it on the grill
- Keep it simple. Do not over season your steak.
- Avoid constantly flipping the steak. Instead, let it cook undisturbed on one side, and only flip it once.
- Allow your steak to rest for about 5 minutes after removing it from the grill. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and juicy steak
Nutrition
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