How To Cook A Delicious Steak

If you are like many steak lovers, you might wish that the steaks you cooked at home were even half as good as those you get at your favorite restaurant. When some folks try to cook steak at home they run into problems. Perhaps one time they will end up serving a piece of meat that is harder to cut than a nice leather shoe. Another attempt could leave you with something that is practically raw on the inside even though the outside appeared to have burned. One way to avoid such issues is to know ahead of time what kind of steak is about to be cooked.

Not all steaks are the same. Different kinds of steaks require a different approach to cooking. Pan frying thin steaks can lead to very well done meat very quickly. On the other hand, a thick cut of beef such as a fillet can be difficult to cook fully throughout. The thickness of the particular steak you are cooking is important to consider when determining what method to use.

Before you start cooking, it is best to let the meat get to room temperature. The reasoning is that placing cold steaks on the hot cooking surface messes with the cooking time and leads to uneven cooking. Getting steaks to room temperature usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes, dependent upon the steaks' size and the temperature of the room.

Preparation of steaks can be as simple as rubbing on a little salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavor of the meat. Some people like to add additional seasoning to the rub like garlic or other herbs for a different taste. However you like to prep the beef is fine but of course good cuts of steak will already have a good natural taste.

One big mistake that cooks make is fiddling too much with their steaks. A steak should be left alone while it is browning. Flipping and turning the steaks too many times disrupt the cooking process. Even worse is poking or sticking a fork into the steak as it cooks. This affects the texture of a steak and also releases the juices before the time is right.

Figuring out when a steak is ready can be a big dilemma. In addition to looking at it, a good test is the spring test, similar to how cakes are tested. Press gently on the center with your finger. If it does not spring back, it is not at all done. A slight spring back indicates medium rare. Once the steaks are taken from the heat source, they should be allowed to sit for a few minutes to lock the juices in.

You do not have to head off to an expensive steakhouse to get a delicious steak. A trip to your local butcher can provide you with a good cut of beef. Knowing how to cook it will make you feel as though you are dining out.