Are You Cooking Your Steak Wrong
It’s grilling season and we couldn’t be more thrilled. What is better than the smell of your favorite meats sizzling away on a fire hot grill. Whether it’s steak, burgers, dogs, chicken or fish, it all tastes better when it’s cooked outside.
If you consider yourself a grill master and steak is your go to meat, than you might want to check out the 5 tips from experts.
If someone came up to you while you were grilling and told you you’re cooking your steak all wrong . . . what would you do? Them’st fighting words. But don’t worry, we’re just here to help.
If someone came up to you while you were grilling and told you you’re cooking your steak all wrong . . . what would you do? Them’st fighting words. But don’t worry, we’re just here to help.
Here are the top five mistakes people make when they cook steak:
1. Cooking steak cold.
Steak is best when it’s cooked evenly, and no one wants a cold center. So, it’s best to take your steak out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before you cook it. This will help ensure an even cook all the way through.
2. Under-seasoning.
You need a generous helping of salt on BOTH sides to season a good steak. And if you only add salt after it’s cooked, it’s too late. The seasoning beforehand helps the steak form its crust, which is important for the texture of the dish. Try Kosher salt, with its big crystals.
3. Not cleaning your grill.
Use a wire brush to clean it once your grill is preheated, and then again as soon as you are done. A buildup of grease and soot will give your food a pretty gross taste.
4. Not checking the temperature of your steak.
A lot of people either just eye-ball it and say it’s good, or go by the clock and hope it comes out OK. Cut the guesswork . . . Get an instant-read thermometer, and put it into the center of your steak. (You can check out the proper steak temperature, here.)
5. Cutting your steak before it rests.
We know you’re hungry and want to dive in, but if you cut your steak as soon as it gets off the grill, all of that delicious juice will run out, and you’ll be sad. Letting it rest for 5-10 minutes first allows the juice to redistribute itself through the meat.
4 Ways To Make Summer Grilling Healthier For You And Mother Nature
1. Use high-quality pure lump charcoal.
Bbq Grid With Charcoal – braai and broil
Use high-quality pure lump charcoal. Charcoal briquettes are popular because they’re easy to light and provide even heat to the grill. But the chunks are often held together with chemical additives that can release additional emissions into the air.
2. Avoid lighter fluid.
Avoid lighter fluid. Lighter fluid is made of hydrocarbons, which can be toxic if ingested. And the smoke given off by lighter fluid-soaked coals contributes to air pollution.
3. Shut down the grill as soon as you're done cooking
Shut down the grill as soon as you’re done cooking. Most people will let their coals burn down and out when they’re done cooking, which means hours of extra and unnecessary emissions. Instead, when you’re done cooking, simply close the lid and shut any vents.4. Switch to a natural gas grill
DES PLAINES, IL – SEPTEMBER 21: A burner on a stove emits blue flames from natural gas September 21, 2005 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Prices for natural gas this winter could skyrocket upwards of 70 percent, resulting from the inclement weather in the Gulf; most affected may be the Midwest according to economists and the Energy Department. (Photo Illustration by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
Switch to a natural gas grill. If you want to go all-in with eco-friendly grilling practices, ditch the charcoal in favor of a natural gas grill.
