From T-bone to Onglet, there are about eight different kinds of steaks that you can cook, depending on your preferences. Food enthusiasts at My Little Panda have tried various recipes and experimented with countless utensils. We have come to the conclusion that while the recipe, flavours, and the cut of beef are essential, the utensils that you use also play a significant role in the overall cooking experience and the final product. If you're here to learn how to cook steak, let's get right to the nitty-gritty details!
How to Cook Steak – The Basics
Once you've decided on the beef cut that you want to use for your steak, you'll most likely need to choose a pan. If you're cooking indoors, you can opt for a thick-based, heavy-duty frying pan, cast iron skillet, or a griddle pan. Whichever pan you use, you'll need to ensure that it's roomy enough for the meat as well as any other sauces you might want to add.
Seasoning the Steak
Once you've selected the type of steak and the pan that you want to work with, it's time to season the meat. Seasoning the beef at least 2 hours before cooking time will give it enough time to absorb all the flavours. However, it's pertinent to mention that less is more when it comes to seasoning the steak.
Most people who don't know how to cook steak make the mistake of adding too many flavours to it, which makes it less palatable. Season the meat with a sprinkle of salt or sea salt and ground pepper and let it rest for 2 hours per 1 cm of thickness before putting it in the pan. You can also marinate it in a sauce of your liking or use the steak au poivre method.
What to Cook It In?
Groundnut, vegetable, or sunflower oil are some of the best options you can go for when cooking your steak. Let the oil heat till it cracks, and add the meat before the oil starts to smoke. If you're using a thick piece of meat, you might want to sear the sides first. Later, you can add butter, garlic, thyme, or rosemary to add background flavour and aroma to your steak.
How to Get a Caramelized Brown Crust?
Almost all chefs prefer the caramelised brown crust because it means that the steak will have the perfect amount of flavour to it. If you're looking to get this caramelised crust, it's best to sear both sides of the steak for equal amounts of time. In most cases, the second side will never turn out with the perfect crust. However, that's not something to fret over.
It's best to follow the sear or cooking time mentioned in the recipe that you're following for each side and turn it after every minute for an even crust on both sides.
Depending on which steak you're cooking and the temperature preference, the cooking time will differ. Please follow the guidelines mentioned in the recipe you're using to ensure you get the right temperature of the steak.
Can Your Utensils Change How Your Steak Will Taste?
The short answer to this question is yes, the utensils you use can change the taste of the meal you've prepared. A study found that home cooks can alter the perception of the food they've prepared by using premium-quality utensils, making it more delicious than what it might have been had they used ordinary cutlery.
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Ready to Cook the Best Steak Yet?
If you didn't know how to cook steak properly, we hope our guide has helped you figure out the basics as well as some of the more intricate details. If this is your first time cooking a steak, we recommend you put on your chef hat and bag our bamboo cooking utensils to make the most mouth-watering steak you've ever had. Click here to view the item and make a purchase now!