Sometimes, only a juicy steak will do. Whether you want to impress your friends at a dinner party, or just try to cook up a tasty family meal, a well-cooked steak is sure to tick all the boxes.
But a good quality steak deserves respect. How do you ensure that you cook your sirloin, rib-eye or feather to perfection, and aren’t left with a tough, flavourless slab of meat? It’s easier than you might think. With a little care you can produce the perfect steak in five easy steps.
Get the best meat
First, and most importantly, you must buy the best quality steak you can. A subpar cut isn’t going to magically transform into something delicious, no matter how well you cook or season it. Forgo the supermarket in favour of a proper butcher, or, alternatively, opt for fresh meat delivery.
Ordering meat online is easy, convenient and affordable. Companies like the Dorset Meat Company deliver high quality, 100% grass fed steaks direct to your front door at a time and date chosen by you. Their meat is sourced from across twenty small, family-run farms in Dorset and Wiltshire, and is prepared by master butchers before packaging.
Fresh meat delivery provides you with steaks that are delicious, nutritious and ethical.
Bring the meat to room temperature
Now you have your gorgeous steak, how do you prepare it?
The first thing to do is to get it to room temperature. This means getting it out of the fridge about an hour before you want to start frying or grilling it. You should also make sure your pan or grill is super hot before you begin.
If chilled meat hits a hot pan, the skin will contract, becoming hard, tough and often burnt, and the middle might not cook properly. Not exactly appetising. By getting it to room temperature beforehand, you ensure it will be heated all the way through, and help to caramelise the surface for a delicious crust.
Season well
Seasoning makes all the difference. As soon as you get it out of the fridge (an hour before cooking, remember?) coat the meat with a generous amount of olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. This gives it time to absorb the seasoning.
If you want a bit of extra flavour, you can rub the steak with a knob of butter while it’s cooking, or with a clove of garlic/sprig of rosemary or thyme every time you turn it.
Turn every minute
Speaking of turning, it’s important to turn your steak every minute so that it cooks evenly.
To serve your steak medium-rare, cook it for six minutes. This is the best way to cook steak without risking it becoming tough, but if you prefer your meat slightly more well done, cook for around eight minutes. Never cook a steak for more than ten minutes, or you’ll snap your knife when you try to cut through it.
Leave to rest after cooking
Once the steak is cooked to your liking, put it on a plate to rest for two minutes, along with all those lovely juices. As it rests, it will absorb the flavour of those juices. If you like, you can even add a bit more butter or olive oil to it. Afterwards, carve it up with a nice sharp knife and drizzle the remaining juices across the top
And then you’re ready to serve! Everyone has their favourite way to eat steak. You can serve it with chunky chips and a crisp green salad; with mash and peas; served with a pepper or horseradish sauce, or with a tart salsa verde. However you chose to serve it, you and your fellow diners are sure to love it.
