The Perfect Medium Rare Steak Recipes

HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT MEDIUM RARE STEAK

Steps:

• To cook your steak, dry the outside by pressing a paper towel or napkin onto it to absorb moisture. Let the steak sit out until it reaches room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper, or your preferred seasonings.
• Place your cast iron skillet in your oven at 400ºF to warm it fully.
• Remove and place over medium-high heat. Add your butter and when it starts to sizzle, add your steak.
• Place the steak in the pan away from you to prevent splatter. Do not overcrowd the pan or the steak will not develop that caramelized sear.
• If just using the stovetop, cook the steak for 2 minutes on each side to sear it, and then continue cooking, until your meat thermometer reaches your desired temperature for doneness.
• If using the combined stovetop-oven method, cook the steak for 2 minutes on each one side to sear it, and then flip over and sear for 30 seconds before carefully moving the skillet into the oven to continue cooking, until your meat thermometer reaches your desired temperature for doneness. It will be approximately 6 minutes, but keep checking it.
• Keep in mind that the steak will continue to cook about 3-5ºF as it rests, so remove it when its slightly lower than what you want.
• Remove the steak from your heat source and cover with tin foil for 5-10 minutes before slicing. (Ideally, form a little "foil tent" over the steak.)

THE PERFECT STEAK

Steps:

• Everyone has to try Chuck Hughes' fool proof technique for cooking a mouthwatering, perfect, medium-rare steak.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the steak with salt and pepper on each side. In a blazing hot cast-iron pan on medium-high, heat the oil. Sear the steak for 3 minutes on each side. Remove the steak from the stovetop and put it in the oven for 5 minutes.

ELECTION NIGHT SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Coat the steak with 1 tablespoon of the salt and set on a rack inside a rimmed pan and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes. The steak should come up to somewhere between 45 and 50°F. Tear off an 18-inch long piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and have it standing by near the cooktop
• When about 5 minutes of the salting time remains, place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over the highest heat you've got for a full 5 minutes. You will want to crank up your ventilation hood to high and open a window; there's gonna be smoke.
• Evenly sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of salt across the bottom of the hot skillet. Lightly coat both sides of the steak with the oil. Place right in the middle of the pan and don't touch it for 2 minutes. Flip and rotate 90 degrees so that the steak hits fresh pan (and fresh salt) and cook another 2 minutes, uninterrupted.
• Turn the steak up on one long edge and cook for 30 seconds, then turn and cook along the opposite edge for another 30. If you're checking, its internal temperature should be between 70° and 72°F. Transfer to the foil and wrap tightly for 3 minutes. During this time leave the skillet on the heat. (Did I mention there would be smoke?)
• After 3 minutes, unwrap the steak and place it back in the pan for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3. Flip and cook another 2, then flip and cook a final 2 minutes. At this point, the internal temperature should be 120°F. (If you prefer your steak more on the rare side, decrease the final cook times to 2 minutes, 2 minutes, then 1 and 1. Its internal temperature should be between 105 and 110°F.)
• Return the steak to the foil and wrap tightly to rest for 5 minutes. Then unwrap and slice thin on the bias. Serve with any accumulated juices.

PERFECTLY GRILLED STEAK

Steps:

• About 20 minutes before grilling, remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let sit, covered, at room temperature.
• Heat your grill to high. Brush the steaks on both sides with oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place the steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the steaks over and continue to grill 3 to 5 minutes for medium-rare (an internal temperature of 135 degrees F), 5 to 7 minutes for medium (140 degrees F) or 8 to 10 minutes for medium-well (150 degrees F).
• Transfer the steaks to a cutting board or platter, tent loosely with foil and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.