Thursday, March 15, 2012

How to Cook a Steak to Perfection - Five Tips

There are many ways to cook a steak but these five tips are a must for making a great steak. No one wants to buy an expensive cut of meat and then ruin it by cooking it until its tough and chewy. I know this has happened to me a few times and it is quite the disappointment. So to ensure you don't end up with some inedible piece of meat follow these tips to create a moist, tender and juicy steak. Let's learn how to cook a steak to perfection every time!

1. Always start with a quality cut of steak

Cuts such as prime rib or New York Strip are excellent choices. These cuts of meat from the loin and rib area are the most tender and tasty.

2. Look for lots of marbling in the steak

These are the white veins or lines you see in the meat. These veins will become liquid when heated and will help to tenderize your steak making it nice and juicy.

3. Don't cut the steak open to check for doneness

Cutting the steak while it's cooking will dry it out. You want the juices to remain trapped inside and cutting allows the juices to escape.

To test for doneness just press on the steak with your finger. You can learn how it should feel by using the "finger test". Press on the fleshy part your hand beneath your thumb this is how a raw steak feels. Now touch your baby finger to your thumb and touch that same area under the thumb with your finger; this is how a well done steak will feel. Now touch the finger next to your baby finger to your thumb and press again to see how a medium steak will feel. The next finger is medium rare and the last finger will be rare.

It takes some getting used to but it is the best way to test for doneness. If you really don't feel comfortable with this the next best method is using a meat thermometer as it will pierce the steak in a much smaller area.

4. Use a marinade

Marinating a steak gives it loads of flavour, more so than just sprinkling it with seasonings, it also helps to tenderize and this in turn keeps your steak juicy. Steaks can be marinated in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours before you plan to cook it.

5. Bring the steak to room temperature before cooking

The sudden and extreme change in temperature could cause it to turn out tough. Also, it is wise to let the steak rest for at least a couple of minutes after cooking or grilling to allow it to settle and become more flavourful.

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