How to Grill the Perfect Steak

How to Grill the Perfect Steak

Ok…I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Cooking the perfect steak on the grill is easy if you follow a few simple rules, and I'm going to walk you through them all. So go ahead and grab your spatula and we will get cooking. It's time to eat. We hope that you love this How to Grill the Perfect Steak post.

Prime steaks shown from left to right: skirt or machete, blade on bone, ny strip, ribeye, filet tenderloin

The Perfect Steak for Grilling

First and foremost, you have to remember that the perfect grilled steak starts with choosing the a beef cut that is suitable for grilling. As a general rule, the leaner cuts should not touch a grill, nor should the muscles of the animal that do the heavy lifting. Those cuts are better when braised low and slow in some sort of liquid. Any “how to grill the perfect steak” that recommends brisket for example should be questioned. That's a great braising cut, but a horrible grilling choice.

No. What we want are tender cuts that contain fat in the form of marbling. Marbling looks like white thin lines of fat that run through the steak. We want muscles that were worked LESS on average, not more. So what do you ask for when you are standing in front of the butcher?

Pork Loin Rotisserie  |  Instant Pot Kalua Pork  |  Strawberry Pork Bruschetta  |  Apple Cider Vinegar Ribs

Sirloin, ribeye, striploin, porterhouse, and tenderloin are all great choices (my personal favorite is the ribeye). Of those cuts, sirloin is likely the cheapest, but it can at times be a bit chewy. Ribeye and striploin offer good marbling, and they cook up tender and flavorful. The tenderloin is actually pretty lean, but it's a muscle that doesn't see much work, so it is incredibly tender. Finally, the porterhouse offers the best of both worlds, as one side of the steak is tenderloin and the other side striploin. Now pick your steak, we are ready to cook!

What's in a Temperature

• BLUE RARE STEAKS
• Grill 1-2 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of 120
• RARE STEAKS
• Grill 3-4 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of 120 to 130 degrees
• MEDIUM RARE STEAKS
• Grill 4 to 5 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees
• MEDIUM STEAKS
• Grill 5 to 7 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of 135 to 140 degrees
• MEDIUM WELL STEAKS
• Grill 7 to 9 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of 140 to 150 degrees
• WELL DONE STEAKS
• Grill on MEDIUM heat for 9 to 11 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of 150 to 170 degrees

How to Grill the Perfect Steak

Ingredients

• 1 inch to 1 ½ inch thick steaks
• kosher salt
• fresh cracked black pepper
• melted butter
• glass casserole dish
• a dash or two of Worcestershire Sauce, if desired

Directions

1. Place steaks in glass casserole dish and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
2. Preheat grill to high.
3. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Season the steaks liberally on both sides with kosher salt and black pepper. Brush on melted butter.
4. Place steaks on the grill and close the cover.
5. Open grill only ONCE to flip steaks according to the temperature guide below.
6. Remove steaks from grill bring inside. Let steaks rest for at least 15 minutes before carving them. 

Planning to cook your steak inside? 

Our top skillet recommendations: Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 5 Piece Bundle  | Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet  | Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet

Final Thoughts

See..I told you. How to Grill the Perfect Steak is simple! Let us know in the comments how your steak turns out, and if you need some grilling inspiration check out our:

• Asian BBQ Brisket Tacos
• Steak tips with red wine sauce
• Southwestern Steak Fajitas
• Bison Steak recipe

We hope that you are inspired by this How to Grill the Perfect Steak post. Happy grilling!

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