How To Cook Steak 3 Delicious Ways

I love to cook for other people, and I often get asked to cook my seared steaks when I have guests over... not the cheapest option, but it is nice to know they are getting a delicious meal and it makes me feel good. Steak can actually be a bit tricky or finicky as I say, but it all starts with the type of meat, the perfect cut, and I little bit of love for cooking.

To start with I almost always.. like 99% of the time choose organic. I cannot stress enough that a really nice juicy organic steak (with no hormones, preservatives, grass fed animals, etc.) is so much better than any other type of steak out there. The taste is incredible and always worth the extra few dollars.

There are also many different cuts of beef available, and it can be difficult to know which one is the right one for you. Below are a few different cuts of meat to help you understand which you might like to try.

Filet Mignon or Beef Tenderloin

This is one of the best cuts of meat available which often means that it is more expensive than some of your other options. It is a cut of beef taken from the middle of the tenderloin which makes it one of the most tender cuts available.

New York Strip Steak

This is a popular choice for grilling because of its exceptional marbling. This piece will have some lines of fat swirled throughout, and that is actually good because it keeps the steak moist and juicy throughout the grilling process.

Rib Eye Steak

The Rib Eye is another popular cut to to its marbling. This cut of meat is known as one of the best cuts for retaining that desirable juicy taste.

Porterhouse Steak

Quite often you will find Porterhouse steaks on the menu of some of the best steakhouses. This is actually a very large cut of meat that is made up of essentially two steaks. Basically, when you are buying a Porterhouse steak you are getting a filet and a New York Strip steak.

T-Bone Steak

This cut of beef is named for its shape. It is quite similar to a Porterhouse steak, but it does not have as much tenderloin to it. Instead this cut of beef has much more sirloin to it. However, that does not mean that it is any less popular. Many steak lovers choose the T-Bone steak because of its rich flavor and filling quality.

Once you have selected the perfect cut of meat for your meal you will need to decide how you want to cook your steak.   There are several different cooking options, and most of the decision is largely a personal one.  However, with each method there are small tricks and techniques that you want to keep in mind.  

Grilling

Grilling steaks is one of the most popular ways to cook your steak.  Many people love the enhanced flavor that their steaks get from being cooked on the grill in addition to being one of the most healthful ways of cooking your meat.   About an hour before you are going to put your steaks on the grill you will want to take them out of the fridge.  If you have chosen to marinade your steaks this is the time that you will want to wipe of the excess.  From there you are going to heat your grill and spray it with a non-stick spray to prevent sticking.  Once the grill is fully heated you can put the steaks on, but be careful not to repeatedly flip them.  You only want to flip the steak once so let it cook for about 3-5 minutes before doing so.  

Pan-Searing

If you do not have a grill you might want to think about pan-searing your steaks in a frying pan.  To do this properly you will want to saturate the pan with a couple of tablespoons of oil.  Gently heat the oil and place the steaks into the hot pan.  When you are searing the steaks in a pan you will want to move them a bit which is different than grilling.  This movement ensures that your steaks do not stick to the pan.  You will want to let the steak cook for about five to six minutes before you flip it to the other side.  After you remove the steak from the pan allow the meat to rest for five to ten minutes prior to serving them.  

Sear-Roasting

A delicious cooking option for steak is sear-roasting.  To do this you will want to preheat your oven to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  As the oven is heating you are going to want to place an ovenproof skillet into the oven to heat up.  After it has heated up you will want to take the pan out of the oven and place it on the stovetop.  Be careful because the skillet will be very hot.  Immediately set the steaks in the middle of the pan, and be sure not to put any oil into the pan.  Instead you want it to be a completely dry pan.   Let it sit there for one to two minutes before turning and cooking on the other side for the same amount of time.  After that you will move the pan with the steaks into the hot oven for about five more minutes.  You should use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the steaks, and once finished allow the meat to sit and rest for about five minutes prior to serving.