How To Cook A Good Steak?

[LuckyD]

Re: How To Cook A Good Steak?

I will add that it is not a good idea to cut a steak for doneness. Try and use the finger pressure method. If you cut the steak the juices will run out while the meat is 'resting' and it will result in a less juicy steak. Hot pan or grill, sear the sides, cook until preferred doneness, let rest for 5 minutes or so to let the steak redistribute its juices.

[soliwit]

Re: How To Cook A Good Steak?

Ok, good steak:
Of course start with buying a good piece of meat.
Indeed let it 'age' for a bit, it will be more tender, at least for a day, better indeed is 3 days (the dry-aging method, indeed used in restaurants)
Take the steak out of the fridge at least an hour before you bake it, it needs to be room temperature, this is also to let the heat source stay as hot as possible when you put the steak in the pan or on the grill, when it is fresh out of the fridge the steak is so cold the heatsource will take longer before it is back to the high temperature you preheated it to.
NEVER poke a steak with your fork, when turning preferably use tongs.
Don't put a rub on which includes salt, best way is to salt the steak afterwards, salt will 'pull' the juices out and you will end up with a dryer steak.
If you don't have the opportunity to grill your steak, sautee it, use half butter, half oil, the oil is to get the fat hotter, the butter is for the color of the steak, even better is clarified butter (http://www.joyofbaking.com/ClarifiedButter.html)
To tell if a steak is done to your liking:

• Very Rare Steak - feels soft and squishy
• Rare Steak - soft to the touch
• Medium-Rare Steak - yields gently to the touch
• Medium Steak - yields only slightly to the touch, beginning to firm up
• Medium-Well Steak - firm to the touch
• Well-Done Steak - hard to the touch

Also once the blood starts running out of the steak when you slightly poke it with your finger it means the steak is rare, no blood running out of it at all it means it is well done.
The following method can also be used, put your thumb and index finger together and poke the thick of your hand (under your thumb, I don't know how you call that part in english, hehehe) the way that feels is a rare steak, put the thumb against the middle finger, the way that feels when you poke it now is a medium steak, put the thumb against the ring finger, the way that feels is a well done steak, put your thumb against your pinky, the way that feels the steak is ready to throw in the bin (hey that's how my teacher thought it to us!)
Let the steak rest before you cut it, indeed all the fluids you tried so hard keeping in will run out and you will still end with a dry steak.
ENJOY !!!

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: How To Cook A Good Steak?

When I grill them at home (and even when I have them out), I prefer my filets very plain with no seasoning - just pepper - and rare. The bigger, the better!I use a double-sided grill/griddle at home, and it never fails to make a great steak - or chicken, fish, buffalo steaks, etc.

You can get this one for $30 at Wal-Mart, or $15 at either Target or eBay.

[Elizellen]

Re: How To Cook A Good Steak?

put your thumb against your pinky, the way that feels the steak is ready to throw in the bin