Posted by dude on May 25, 2005 at 10:52:41:
In Reply to: Cooking Steaks - What is your process? posted by thatguyjosh on May 25, 2005 at 09:12:17:
Different cuts of meat get different treatments. I tend only to marinate chewy things like flank, or skirt steak- for like a half-hour before grilling, not too much more. Soy sauce and flank steak go together nicely. I used to marinate london broil (typically top round, sometimes sirloin) but have gotten away from it and just season as I would a better cut.
Better cuts like shell (aka strip), ribeye, filet, porterhouse I tend to be kindofa purist- just season generously with kosher salt and pepper. Most cookbooks will tell you to rub with oil, though I never do. I think that depends on your grill grates to some extent. If you have nicely seasoned cast iron, I wouldn't. If you have wire-looking grates I might. A little oil cann help with forming a crust.
As for sauce, when using I like Jim Beam steak sauce, though A-1 is good enough.
Technique: Cooking times will depend on thickness, desired doneness, and presence of bones. A good cookbook will have guidelines. For really thick cuts, the value of a good probe thermometer cannot be understated.
Get your grill as hot as it will go- I've reached 500+ on my Weber. Put on steak and leave it still for a few minutes. You're really not supposed to move it except to flip, but what I've been doing is at a little past the halfway point of the recommended time for that side, pick up the steak (tongs only!! never use a fork) and rotate it 90 degrees. That gives you nifty criss-cross grill marks. Do the same after flipping sides.
Once the steak has reached target temperature (done-ness), remove and LET IT SIT for at least 5 minutes for a personal steak, more for a big one you'd slice and share. This resting time will allow the juices to settle and not spill out all over the plate when you cut in.
After a while, you'll learn proper times for a given cut/doneness, and even be able to tell by touching the steak and judging its "give."
Happy grilling!
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