How to Cook Steak Perfectly

Name: How to Cook Steak Perfectly | Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 7 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup red wine vinegar; 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro; 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley; 1/4 cup finely chopped onion; 5 garlic cloves (peeled and minced); 1 TB fresh or dried oregano; 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt (not fine table salt); 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper; For Steaks: 4 ribeye or New York steaks

By Amy Dong
Published Aug. 8, 2023

Take the guesswork out of cooking your favorite types of steaks. We’re sharing our best tips for ensuring a perfectly cooked steak every time.

Grilled ribeye or t-bone steak on a cutting board — Learn how to easily cook perfect steaks, with or without a meat thermometer.

Video: Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Buying the Perfect Steak

A perfectly cooked steak begins with buying the perfect cuts of steak. Be sure you’re buying fresh, high-quality meat. The quality will largely determine the texture, tenderness, and flavor. We highly recommend ribeye steaks or tenderloin steaks for their tenderness. Ribeye steaks have more marbled fat, which produces a tender steak with great flavor. New York steaks are a nice choice as well; they’re leaner, so they’ll be a bit less tender than ribeyes, but still with wonderful flavor.

Generally, the thicker the steak, the easier it is to cook evenly. We recommend steaks that are at least 1″ thick throughout. If steaks are thinner, they’ll need much less cook time, and tend to over-cook easily.

Meat labeled Prime by the USDA is the best option, though it can be hard to find.
Choice is the next best option, as it has a decent amount of fat marbling, which helps with tenderness and flavor.
Select is a lower grade quality meat, as it’s less tender and juicy, due to less marbling.

How to Cook Steaks Perfectly

By perfect, we are referring to the most popular medium-rare preferred by so many. It’s just the right balance between rare and too-done. Medium-rare steaks provide a nice amount of juiciness and tenderness, while still allow you to enjoy a hot-temperature steak. That being said, do adjust the cook time to your preference.

Start out with steaks that are at least 1-inch thick and even thickness throughout. This allows the steaks to brown nicely on the outside without overcooking the inside, as well as cooking evenly throughout.
Use steaks that are fresh and chilled in fridge. Chilled meat is easier to char on the exterior without overcooking the center.
Be sure your indoor or outdoor grill is hot, hot, hot! Be generous with greasing the grill and get it smoking hot before placing steaks on grill. This helps to ensure the exterior gets a nice sizzle and great grill lines.
If cooking steaks on the indoor, on the stovetop, use a cast iron grill pan – it makes a significant difference.
Do not poke the steaks with a thermometer or cut through with a knife while they’re cooking; even though internal temp is key, if you repeatedly poke meat while cooking, the precious juices will escape from your steaks.
Instead, use a meat thermometer that has a probe you can keep lodged in the center of steak while it’s cooking.

steaks cooked to various doneness levels

How to do the Press Test

We use the “press test” which admittedly takes a bit of practice, but once you have it down, you’ll forever be cooking perfect steaks, without guess work.

Cook the first side for 3 minutes, without moving the steak around. Flip to the second side for another 2 minutes, again leaving it in place.
Then carefully press the center of the steak with your finger or utensil. If it feels quite soft and has a lot of “give,” it’s more towards rare. If it feels rather firm without much give, it’s over-cooked.
A medium-rare steak will feel like a “loose fist” — if you form a loose fist with your left hand, when you tap down on the fleshy center of that fist (spot next to thumb) it should have some give, but bounce right back. Medium-rare steaks have that same bounce-back feeling.
Your first steak or two might be a bit of trial and error, but once you get the feel for it, you’ll be cooking perfectly medium rare steaks without relying on a thermometer at all.
Alway let your finished steaks rest on the cutting board for 5 minutes before cutting into them. This allows the juices to be retained in the steaks.

grilled steaks on a plate with chimichurri sauce — The “press test” is a simple way to gauge how well your steaks are cooked.

Steak Temperature Guide

If you’d like to use a meat thermometer to ensure accurate cooking, here are the appropriate temperatures. Keep in mind that meat will continue to rise in temperature, so you can take steaks off the grill a few degrees prior to these temperatures.

Rare: Internal temperature: 120-130°F

Medium Rare: Internal temperature: 130-135°F

Medium: Internal temperature: 135-145°F

Medium Well: Internal temperature: 145-155°F

Well Done: Internal temperature: 155-165°F

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Commonly Asked Questions

What are the different cuts of steak?

There are many cuts of steak, including ribeye, filet mignon, New York strip, sirloin, T-bone, and porterhouse, among others. Each cut comes from a different part of the cow and has its own unique flavor, tenderness, and characteristics.

Should I marinate my steak?

Marinating steak can enhance its flavor and tenderness. Acidic marinades (using ingredients like vinegar or citrus) can help tenderize the meat, while other ingredients add flavor. Marinating times can vary from a few hours to overnight, depending on the cut and the recipe.

Do I need to rest a steak after cooking?

Yes, letting the steak rest after cooking is important. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making it juicier and more flavorful. Resting for around 5-10 minutes under a tented foil is recommended.

What’s the difference between dry-aged and wet-aged steaks?

Dry-aged steaks are aged in a controlled environment with controlled humidity for an extended period, resulting in enhanced flavor and tenderness due to moisture loss. Wet-aged steaks are aged in vacuum-sealed packaging, preserving their moisture content but still allowing for some aging-related changes.

What’s the difference between grass-fed and grain-fed beef?

Grass-fed beef comes from cattle that primarily graze on grass and forage. This can result in a leaner meat with a slightly tougher texture due to less fat. Grain-fed beef comes from cattle that are raised on a diet of grains, which can contribute to more marbling and a different taste and texture.

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