Features

The best steaks will have been aged for some amount of time, and will be well-marbled with fat.

In the US, meat is graded based on marbling; for steak, one should select prime (most marbled) or choice (second most). Select (third most) is a budget cut, which one may find acceptable, and lower cuts are not recommended for steak.

There are numerous cattle breeds; particularly well-known in the US are Angus, a Scottish breed, and Wagyu, a number of Japanese breeds, together with crossbreeds of these two, called “American Style Kobe Beef”.

Some favor grass-fed steak over grain-fed, for reasons of taste or health, though some find grain-fed to have better marbling, and some favor dry-aged over wet-aged.

Cuts

See: Steak cuts

There are many good cuts of beef for steak; rib-eye and New York strip are always good choices.

Doneness

See: Temperature

Degree of doneness is a matter of personal preference, with people often having strong feelings, rejecting meat that is cooked more or less than their preference.

For optimal flavor, authorities recommend rare or medium rare (so the meat is still pink or red), as well-done meat is dried out.^{[citation needed]} Well-done meat and those who like it are much derided among steak cognoscenti,^{[citation needed]} and some steakhouses refuse to cook steak well-done.^{[citation needed]} But in the end, this is a purely a personal preference and you should feel to cook your steak to whatever level of doneness suits your taste buds.

Seasoning

Generally one minimally seasons steak, as the meat is expensive and one wishes to taste the meat, not the seasoning. However, one frequently uses some seasoning, particularly salt.

One may marinate steak for hours or overnight, and there is great variation in marinades.

Equipment

• stove
• frying pan, preferably cast-iron with metal handle
• oven
• tongs or spatula, to flip steak

Ingredients

• a cut of steak, as above
• rock salt or coarse sea salt
• peppercorns
• olive oil

Outline of cooking

• Times vary significantly, depending on thickness of steak, precise cooking temperature, and desired doneness.

  You will likely need to experiment with your setup to find what works for you; you can test temperatures using a thermometer or by cutting the steak, but beware that piercing or cutting releases the moisture – once you have figured out correct timings, you should avoid testing the temperature.

• This method shows stove-cooking (pan frying, to sear the outside, yielding browning), followed by oven-cooking (roasting, to ensure even cooking), both at high heat. One can omit the oven, but this results in less even cooking (potentially charred exterior, undercooked interior), particularly for thicker cuts.
• Note that searing yields browning, which is tasty, attractive, and yields a pleasing contrast between the crisp exterior and soft interior, but in no way “seals in the juices”.

Preparation

• The frying phase can result in quite a bit of smokiness. Plan ahead by opening windows or otherwise ventilating the kitchen.
• Make sure to bring the steak to room temperature before beginning to cook it.
• Rinse the meat with cold water and dry it with a paper towel.
• Coat it very lightly with olive oil.
• Grind the salt and peppercorns into a small bowl (use your judgement as to how much to use), mix them together, and rub this onto the meat, coating both sides.

  The more salt and pepper you use, the more crust you'll get once it's done, but you may also cover up the natural flavor of the beef.

Pre-heat

Pre-heat your oven to as high a temperature as your pan will take: for example, the average plastic-handled aluminum grill pan will only survive up to around 160° C (300° F), but a cast iron pan can go higher.

Heat a skillet or grill pan (cast-iron is best, as it holds temperature best; a non-stick one will not work and should not be used) on a stove on medium to medium high heat until it is evenly heated (the higher temperature will finish cooking the outside more quickly, allowing a pinker center). A steak already coated with oil does not require any extra in the pan; otherwise, wait until the oil starts to shimmer (but before it starts to smoke) and then add the steak.

Cook – stove

Put the steak onto the pan – it should sizzle, indicating that the pan is hot enough – and let it cook for about two to three minutes (times approximate).

After about two or three minutes, flip the meat over (with tongs or spatula – avoid piercing the meat, as this lets juices out), and cook for another two to three minutes (times approximate).

Cook – oven

After pan frying, put the entire works (pan plus meat) into the oven, and let it roast for two to four minutes (times approximate).

Rest

Remove the steak promptly from the oven, put it on a plate, and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This ensures more even cooking (as the cooler interior continues to heat), and that the juices inside the steak can re-distribute through the meat.

Serve

Add red wine, a starch (potatoes, rice, or bread), and enjoy.