There’s an art to cooking a steak to perfection. But it’s also not nearly as difficult as you may think. Keep these three tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to chef status in no time.
Temper the meat
Always let your steak come to room temperature before you cook it. This ensures the meat will cook evenly and all the way through. A good rule of thumb: take your steak out of the fridge at least 30 minutes (ideally an hour) before you plan to prepare it.
High heat = good sear
Make sure your pan or grill is very hot before
dropping your steak. You’re looking for a nice brown
crust and this is only possible at high temperatures.
And don’t be afraid to keep turning your meat as it cooks
to help the steak caramelise on every side.
Let it rest
Always rest your steak after removing from your heat. How long depends on the thickness of the cut but generally this means no less than three minutes, with 5 minutes being the recommended time. You do this to keep the juices from running out when you cut into it, which results in a dry, tough steak (and a lot of wasted effort!) For an extra juicy steak, try adding a dollop of butter on top as it rests.
Pairing wine with your steak
Now that you’ve mastered cooking a steak, it’s time to choose the right wine to go with it. Look for Bold & Full red wines that are rich in flavour, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or Malbec.