Steak 101
This is the easy 5-minutes-a-side way to cook a steak. It works well for a strip steak, a small ribeye, a flatiron, or a 2-inch-thick filet mignon.
Serves 4
1 to 4 boneless New York strip steaks or other favorite (steakhouse) variety such as ribeye or filet mignon (12 ounces each and at least 1 inch thick)
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, or more as needed (optional)
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, coarsely ground (optional)
Outdoor Grilling Method: Direct/Medium-High Heat
(about 400°F)
Preheat the grill with all burners on high. Once preheated, adjust the temperature to medium-high heat for direct grilling.
Wrap the meat in paper towels to rid it of excess moisture. Replace the paper towels as needed.
Just before grilling, brush both sides of the steaks with oil and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Place the steaks directly over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Flip the steaks over and continue cooking for about 5 more minutes for medium-rare (135°F on an instant-read thermometer).
Remove the steaks from the grill and set them on a platter. Top each one with ½ tablespoon of Steak Butter, if desired. Allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes, but no longer than 10 minutes, before serving.
Indoor Cooking Method: Stovetop and oven
Wrap the meat in paper towels to rid it of excess moisture. Replace the paper towels as needed.
Preheat an oven-safe grill pan on the stovetop to medium-high heat and the oven to 350°F.
Just before cooking, brush both sides of the steaks with oil and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Place the steaks directly on the grill pan and cook until nicely grill-marked on one side, 1 to 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip the steaks over. Transfer the grill pan to the oven and cook for about 7 minutes for medium-rare (135°F on an instant-read thermometer).
Remove the steaks from the oven and set them on a platter. Top each one with ½ tablespoon of Steak Butter, if desired. Allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes, but no longer than 10, before serving.
Indoor Cooking Method: Stovetop only
I love this red-hot cast-iron pan stovetop method and actually employ it on my grill as well as my stovetop. Cooking this way outdoors means no smoky kitchen. It does create a lot of smoke, but the crust is the best crust that you can get on a steak.
Serves 1 or 2
1 New York strip, filet mignon, or ribeye steak (about 16 ounces and at least 1 inch thick)
Extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Special Equipment: Cast-iron or carbon steel skillet (I prefer the Lodge 10½-inch square pan)
Wrap the meat in paper towels to rid it of excess moisture. Replace the paper towels as needed.
Meanwhile, place a dry cast-iron skillet on the stove and preheat it over medium-high heat until a drop of water sprinkled on the surface “dances” and evaporates instantly.
Just before cooking, brush the steak all over with olive oil and season lightly with kosher salt and pepper, if using. Place the steak in the preheated pan toward one side, and let cook for 3 to 5 minutes, pressing down gently to ensure even contact between the steak and the pan. Using tongs, flip the steak over to the other side of the pan, and continue cooking. You should wind up with a nice, even crust after another 3 to 5 minutes. Using tongs, hold the steak upright so you can brown the fat on the sides.
At this point, the steak should look done, be a bit smaller in size and firmer, and have a deep-brown caramelized crust on each side. It is time to check for doneness. The meat should feel tight and slightly springy, not raw and mushy, to the touch. If using an instant-read thermometer, insert it horizontally through the side into the center to read the temperature. Medium-rare is 135°F.
Remove the steak to a rack set in a sheet pan and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. You can tent it lightly with aluminum foil, but not so tightly that the steak will begin to steam. Slice and serve.
Recipes adapted from Elizabeth Karmel's "Steak and Cake," © 2019 Workman Publishing Company, Photograph by Stephen Hamilton