If you’re cooking steaks from the comfort of your own home, it can be difficult to recreate a high-quality restaurant steak. Read on to learn about the best methods for improving the flavor of a steak.
Marinate the Beef
To marinate a steak, you soak the meat in a variety of seasonings combined in an acidic liquid. There are many tips and tricks for marinating beef in order to tenderize the meat. The flavors will infuse into the beef over time, and the moisture will keep the beef from drying out when you cook it.
Over-Seasoning Your Steak
Using too many seasonings that don’t complement one another will create a bland or confusing steak to eat. If you’re going for something simple, olive oil and salt are the two best items to add as you cook the perfect steak.
How To Cook the Beef
There are many ways to cook a steak. A common option is cooking steaks on a grill, which provides a satisfying smoky flavor.
Broiling the steaks makes for a robust steak-forward flavor. Broiling can cause the steak to cook unevenly, but it produces an incredible taste.
Another option is pan-frying. This method creates an excellent crust on the outside of the steak. It may be a little challenging to find the right temperature, but successfully pan-frying a steak develops a tasteful buttery experience. Pan-frying also allows you to baste the steak, which can make for an especially delicious meal.
Is It Fully Cooked?
Your first instinct may be to cut into the center of the steak to check if it’s ready. This action will let juices from the steak pour out as it continues to cook. Instead of cutting the steak, use a meat thermometer to check the meat’s temperature. This method keeps the steak intact, meaning you don’t lose any flavor in the process.
Even after taking the steak off heat, it will continue to cook for a few moments. Giving the steak a resting time makes it even juicier and more tender to eat. Resting the meat also prevents the unpleasant spill of juices that can occur when you first cook into it, potentially sparing other items on your plate.
Adding Extra Flavor After Cooking the Steak
Once your steak is ready to eat, there are still some additional flavors you can add! Fresh garlic, pepper, and butter will complement the flavor of any steak. You can also add various steak sauces to add an extra tang to the meat or herbed butter to enhance the meat’s flavor. The goal is to create a steak-eating experience that you enjoy, so don’t fret about adding ingredients to your steak after the fact.
Cooking is an art form—one you can practice to create delicious food that you and your loved ones can enjoy. By implementing the best methods for improving the flavor of steak, you can make restaurant-quality steaks from the comfort of your own home.
