Cooking Like How Chefs Do It: 6 Steps to Cooking the Perfect Steak
Serving steak for dinner represents an in-home chef experience. However, cooking steak is not a walk in the park most of the time. But if you’ve thought about serving steak as dinner’s main menu, there are many ways of cooking like how chefs do it to achieve a 5-star restaurant quality cooking by following a few simple steps used by chefs.
1. Choose the Suitable Cut of Beef
The critical thing to remember is that it’s all about the cut of beef when it comes to cooking steak. While there are many quality cuts of meat to select from, like New York Strip, Rib Eye, Filet Mignon, Sirloin, and more, there are different cooking methods.
For example, we do not recommend to use the same cooking method for a Sirloin as you would for a Rib Eye. That’s because rib eye is a fattier and more flavorful cut of beef. While the sirloin is leaner, it has more connective tissue. Cook sirloin at a lower temperature to avoid toughness.
2. Season the Meat Well
A chef-quality steak is seasoned well to enhance its natural taste. Seasoning the meat depends on the cut of beef you’re planning to cook. If you’re using a premium cut of meat, you should use seasoning to bring out its natural flavor.
If you’re using a lesser-quality cut of beef, you’ll want to use a more flavorful rub, like a spice rub made of herbs and spices like garlic, onion, paprika, and lots of salt and pepper. A chef’s seasoning differs depending on the cut of beef, its original flavor, the cooking method, and whether or not you will be adding a sauce or gravy.
3. Preheat the Pan
Preheat the pan before adding the steak to it. When the pan is hot, the oil or butter will bubble, creating a searing effect that seals the meat. It is a critical step to achieving a juicy steak.
4. Pan-Sear the Steak
For a perfect steak that’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, pan-sear the steak. Pan-searing a steak helps create a caramelization in the meat and lock in the steak’s natural juices.
However, you don’t want to cook a steak too long on high heat as it will start to burn the outside. To prevent a charred steak, pan-sear it on medium heat on both sides.
5. Place the Steak in the Oven
Once you’ve pan-seared the steak on both sides, you should place it in the oven to finish cooking it. You can use a meat thermometer to check if the steak is done or the “poke test.” To use the poke test, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the steak. If the thermometer reads 120 degrees F, the steak is done. For the steak to be medium-rare, it should still be slightly pink in the center. If the thermometer reads 125 degrees F, the steak is well done.
6. Rest the Steak
After you pull the steak out of the oven, you should make sure you let the meat rest for at least 10 minutes. The resting period allows the steak to reabsorb the juices pulled out of the meat while cooking. It’s also the perfect time to make some sides and gravy.
Conclusion
Cooking steak becomes an easy and enjoyable experience if you’re a good chef. However, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on expensive equipment. All you need is a steak, an oven, and a few essential tips.
Food Fire + Knives aim to offer an in-home chef experience to our clients. We provide private chefs in Asheville, ensuring a perfect intimate chef experience every time. Book an appointment through our website by choosing the time, location, and menu you’d like us to serve at one of your dinner parties.
