How to Cook Steak: The Beginner’s Guide

So, you want to learn how to cook the perfect steak? Perhaps you’ve tried cooking steak before and just haven’t been able to get it right. Or, maybe you’ve been too afraid to mess up a beautiful cut of beef even to give it a shot. No matter what may have held you back from living out your steak fantasies before, consider it a thing of the past.

By following a few simple steps, you can cook steak like a pro and impress your friends with flawless results every time. From juicy sirloins to delicate filet mignons, these tips will teach you how to cook any cut of beef at home properly.

Steps for Cooking the Perfect Steak

Cooking a great steak is easy as long as you follow these four basic steps:

1. Bring the Steak to Room Temperature

Before you cook steak, it’s essential to bring it up to room temperature. If you take a cut of steak out of the fridge and immediately throw it onto a hot pan, the muscle fibres will tense up, and you will wind up with meat that is overcooked on the outside and undercooked in the centre. To bring the steak to room temperature, simply place it on the counter 20 to 30 minutes before cooking.

2. Sear the steak

Searing the steak well is a crucial component of any great steak. Of course, you need a high-quality pan to achieve this, and it needs to be piping hot before you place the steak onto it. I recommend using a cast iron pan for searing steak, but any decent oven-safe skillet will work. While you wait for your pan to heat up, season the steak to your liking. Generally, all you need is salt and pepper, but you can use any steak seasoning you prefer. Once the pan is nice and hot, sear the steak for 2-3 minutes on each side.

3. Finish the Steak in the Oven

Once you’ve got a nice sear on your steak, the easiest way to finish cooking it is to pop it in the oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F and expect to have the steak in there for around 10 minutes. You will want to remove the steak from the oven when it’s slightly under the temperature you’re shooting for, as it will continue to cook slightly as it rests. Note that for a medium-rare steak, the finished temperature should be 135°F, and for a medium steak, the final temperature should be 145°F. If you have a meat thermometer, this will come in handy for ensuring that the steak is cooked to your preference.

4. Let it rest

After removing your steak from the oven, set it on a cutting board to rest for approximately 10 minutes. Not only does the resting time allow the steak to finish cooking, but it also allows the juices inside to redistribute perfectly, so the steak gets juicy and tender throughout. Conversely, if you cut into a cooked steak too quickly, all of those delicious juices will flow away, and you will be left with a dry, brown steak.

There you have it. Follow these four simple steps, and I guarantee you’ll be enjoying a juicy, flavorful steak in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Get cooking! Find a range of top-quality beef butchery products available to purchase online from Biltong Chief.

Check out our blog for more inspiration, or if you still feel like you need to learn about steak, read some of our blogs, including our guide to steak cuts and grain-fed vs. grass-fed beef.