Monday, June 8, 2009
Gas Grilling Steak Tips
1. Choose Your Cuts Wisely: Many people do not know what to look for when choosing their cut of meat. There are many choices, and at the grocery store it can be confusing. For example, do you know the difference between a ribeye and a sirloin steak? There are also different grades of meat - a prime steak will have a lot of marbling (white streaks of fat) where a select cut will have very little fat. The more marbling in general means the more tender the cut will be. Once you know which kind you like the best, you’ll be much more satisfied with your grilling. Also, keep in mind it’ll be harder to cook a thick steak than a thin one - at most go for a steak that’s 1 and a half inches thick - and thicker than that, unless you want it very rare and black on the outside and you’ll want to butterfly it. (Basically slice lengthwise to make it thinner)
2. Fire Up the Grill: You want your grill to go as hot as you can get it. Make sure you follow all safety recommendations that come with your gas grill. Let it get good and hot before cooking on it - 15 minutes if you’re starving and in a hurry, 30 minutes if you’ve got the patience and time. Most restaurants have their griddles anywhere between 500-1000 degrees. That’s HOT! And it may not even be safe if you get your grill that hot, but it gives you an idea to get it nice and hot!
3. Season Sparingly: You can marinade your steaks or season with your favorite steak seasoning, but generally a little salt and pepper is really all you need. You’ll want to pull the steaks out of the fridge around the same time you initially fire up the grill and let it come to room temperature. Make sure you wipe off any excess marinade if you used it - this will only make it drip down on the grill and flame up.
4. Get Your Handy Dandy Meat Thermometer: You probably don’t have a handy dandy meat thermometer yet…but if you plan on cooking any meat more than once a year, it’s worth the small investment of $10-$20. If you’re spending that much for a nice cut of meat to grill, you owe it to yourself to get one and cook like a pro! Get One Here.
5. Have Everything Ready: The worst thing you can do when grilling a steak is leave it unattended. Not only does this make it possible to overcook the steak or burn it, but it’s also a very big no-no when it comes to fire and grill safety. So, while your grill is heating up, make sure you’ve got the steaks ready, a plate to put the steaks on when they’re done cooking, tongs, a flipper, oven mitts, and whatever other crucial grilling supplies you might need on hand.
6. Ok, Now We’re Ready To Cook: It’s very easy once you’re at this point. Stick that steak on your nice hot grill and let it cook for about 3-5 minutes and then flip it over. Cook it for another 3-5 minutes, and check the temperature. If you like your steaks rare or medium rare (between 115-125 degrees) there’s a good chance it’s done already. If you’re a medium well person though, you’ll need to flip it for another three minutes for both sides, making sure you check the temperature regularly. Be careful not to over flip your steak - this is one of the most common mistakes. You should never flip a steak more than three times as a general rule. A medium steak is around 135, a medium well steak around 140-145 and anything more than that and most people would say you are not worthy to eat a steak. (Though, I like my steaks well done, so if you do like a well done steak, then it’s okay. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, cooking a well done steak is actually a lot harder than cooking it rare - so you should be quite proud of yourself if you can cook a good well done steak!)
7. Watch Out for Those Flames!: It’s easy when grilling just about anything for fat to drip down and cause flames to start shooting up. You can either use tongs and move the steak to a cooler end of the grill, or have a little bottle for spraying water on hand to shoot those flames out. (Though be warned - the water may cause the flames to get bigger before they go out!)
8. Take Your Steak Off the Grill: After you take your steak off the grill, the next step is to put it on a plate and cover either with foil or put a big metal lid over it. This will help heat up the center a little while the steak continues cooking without really affecting the doneness too much. After about 5-10 minutes of waiting, you’re ready to enjoy and devour all your hard work.
That’s it! Now you can enjoy your steak and your friends and family can be in awe and wonder at your newly found mad grilling skills.
Do you have any gas grilling steak tips? Share them in the comments below.
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Gas Grilling Steak Tips For A Succulent Meal
Are you planning on grilling out for the family and need some gas grilling steak tips to ensure that your steaks are cooked and not left bloody or crispy? These Gas grilling steak tips will ensure that the next time you’re grilling for friends or family they walk away happy and stuffed.
When grilling steak on a gas oven, first things first is to turn your grill to high heat. Once warm, place your pre seasoned steaks on the grill. A great base seasoning I’d recommend is Worcestershire sauce, as it ads great flavor and leaves you with succulent steaks. You can elaborate from there.
The following gas grilling steak tips will ensure that the steaks you’re grilling will be thoroughly cooked to the level of doneness each person is looking for.
When gas grilling steaks up to 1 inch thick, a general time table frame is 4-5 minutes for each side for medium rare and 5-8 minutes for medium.
For gas grilling steaks that are between 1-2 inches in thickness, a rule of thumb is 5-8 minutes for medium rare and 9-11 minutes for medium.
These times are all approximate and can vary slightly based on a number of factors. Fear not, we have a solution! The most efficient and guaranteed way to ensure that your steak is ready, is to cut into it and check it. If it’s red throughout, it’s rare. If it’s pink in the center and brown on the outside, it’s medium. If it’s brownish throughout then your steak is well done.
The most important gas grilling steak tips you’ll ever learn is to trust your eye and your past grilling knowledge more than any charts. Cut open and look inside those steaks and remember, practice makes perfect!
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