How to Grill a Steak

Becoming a grilling pro is a great skill for any home cook. The secret to a great grilled steak? Start by picking the right cut of meat and the right grill. Plus, the way you serve your steak makes a big difference, turning simple steak recipes into unforgettable meals. Here’s everything you need to know for how to grill a steak at home.

Grilling the perfect steak begins with choosing the right cut that tastes great on a grill. Combine that with the best advice on seasoning, and controlling the temperature to get your steak just right, you’ll enjoy a delicious, char-kissed flavor in every bite.

This guide to grilling steaks covers choosing great cuts of quality beef, utilizing top flavoring techniques, mastering temperature and doneness, and letting it rest for tender, caramelized, juicy results.

Start by Choosing the Perfect Cut of Steak

Choosing the perfect type of steak for grilling is the first step you must master before grilling. Some of the best steaks for grilling are ribeyes, New York strip steaks, filet mignon, T-bone steak, and porterhouse steak. These steak cuts have a decent fat content, lending to a tender cut of beef when grilled.

However, some may have a little too much fat for some people. Instead, opt for leaner cuts of steak like sirloin steak and top round roast, which yield tons of beefy flavor without all the fat. 

If you’re trying to cut back on your food budget, no worries. There are tons of cheap cuts of steak for grilling that don’t cost an arm and a leg but are still delicious when prepared on the grill. These types of steak are perfect for those who cook steak regularly and don’t want to break the bank. 

When you’ve finally picked out your perfect steak for grilling, the next step is to head to the grocery store. However, buying steak at the grocery store can be overwhelming, especially with all the different cuts and beef labels. One way we like to simplify the meat buying process it to buy meat online. This way, you know exactly what you’re getting and can filter for your preferences.

Our favorite steak cuts for grilling are

Factors to Consider When Choosing High-Quality Meat

When you’re gearing up to grill the perfect steak, selecting the right cut is key. Understanding grades of beef can help you find the best bang for your buck.

• Look for steaks with good marbling – those streaks of fat throughout the meat that melt during cooking, adding juiciness and flavor.
• Thickness matters, too; aim for steaks that are at least one inch thick to ensure a nice, juicy center.
• And, of course, freshness is non-negotiable. Opt for meat that’s bright red, firm to the touch, and has no off-putting odor.
• Knowing the USDA meat grades can also be helpful when picking a cut of beef.

Preparing the Steak

Defrosting and Marinating the Steak

Before grilling, it’s important to defrost your steak to room temperature. Allowing your steak to come to room temperature allows the steak to cook evenly once placed on the grill. 

To defrost quickly:

1. Place your steak in a plastic bag in a bowl full of cold water. 
2. Leave it in the fridge for up to 24 hours, allowing the steak to completely defrost. 

You can also leave your steak in its original packaging and place it in the fridge without the water for at least 24 hours or longer, depending on the thickness of the steak. 

Marinating Steak

A marinade is a liquid mixture of ingredients, typically acidic and flavorful, used to soak meat before cooking. Its primary purpose is to enhance the flavor, tenderness, and juiciness of the meat, but it’s only really needed on tougher cuts of meat and we don’t use one every time we grill a steak.

We like to use our flank steak marinade and all-purpose steak marinade to add flavor and moisture to our steaks. 

Seasoning Options

While salt and pepper are great options for seasoning a steak, there are a few other ways to add flavor to steak before the grilling process. For example, using dry rubs can enhance the steak’s flavor. One of our favorite dry rubs is our Ooomami Spice Blend.

For the best results, liberally season your steak with salt 24 hours before grilling it. Leave it in the fridge to dry brine for an amazing result.

Preparing the Grill

When it comes to grilling steak, you want to use a grill that suits your needs and preferences. Here are some of the best grills we recommend for all your recipes: 

Charcoal Grill

Using a charcoal grill to cook your steak is a perfect option for those who want a flame-kissed flavor. This type of grill is great because you can smoke with wood chips to get that luscious, smoky flavor. If you’ve never tried smoking wood before, starting off with a steak is perfect, as it’s a quick smoking process.

Gas Grill

Grilling a steak on a gas grill is your classic go-to option for cooking a steak. Gas grills are perfect for cooking steaks as they have great temperature control, making them perfect for weeknight dinners when you need to whip up a quick meal. Another great way to use a gas grill to cook a steak is smoking with wood chips on a gas grill. Adding wood chips to the grilling process provides a little smoke flavor to the meat, leveling up the final result. 

Preheating and Maintaining the Grill Temperature

Maintaining heat on a gas grill is a bit easier than a charcoal grill, especially if you’re a beginner. For a gas grill, all you need to do is turn the burners to the highest setting and let it preheat for 15 minutes.

If you want to add wood chips, add those after you ignite your burners. Add the wood chips to a smoker box and let them infuse that smoky goodness into the grill. We recommend using Western Wood Chips or Jack Daniel’s Wood Chips.

As for the charcoal grill, light the charcoal using a charcoal chimney and let it burn for 15 minutes until its 70% ashed over. Then add the coals on one side of your grill, building a 2-zone fire for a cool side and a hot side.

We love using Cowboy Lump Charcoal for our charcoal grills.

​Cleaning Your Grill

After you’re done cooking your steak, it’s important to understand how to clean a grill to keep it running smoothly and looking squeaky clean. We recommend oiling the grill grates with canola oil or vegetable oil before and after use to prevent sticking and seasoning the grill. 

Making this a part of your grilling routine will help you get better results and maintain the life of your grill.

Grilling the Steak

Properly Positioning the Steak on the Grill

For steaks under 1 1/2″ thick, place your steaks on the direct heat side of the grill. Steaks benefit from direct heat as they’re cooked quick and fast. 

Thicker steaks, like a Porterhouse or Cowboy steak, are better cooked with the reverse sear method, where you start on the cooler side of the grill and finish with a sear.

Flipping and Basting for Enhanced Flavor

During the grilling process, flipping your steak multiple times can lend to a more over all crispy crust as the Miallard reaction goes into work, with a juicy interior in even less time than letting it cook for an allotted time per side. We love great diamond grill marks on a steak, but love an edge-to-edge crust even more.

Another tip for crafting the perfect steak is basting with butter and an herb brush. Butter and steak go hand in hand as the butter creates a juicy steak with an irresistible flavor. During the grilling process, feel free to baste melted butter over the top of the steak as it’s cooking, just watch for flareups.

Tips for Achieving Your Desired Steak Temperature

Cooking your steak to perfection requires understanding steak doneness. Here are some factors affecting steak doneness:

1. Thickness Matters: The thickness of your steak is like its cooking timer. Thicker cuts take longer to cook through, while thinner ones get to the finish line quicker. Keep an eye on the thickness to nail the perfect doneness.
2. Initial Temperature: Your steak’s starting temperature is key. A room-temperature steak cooks more evenly than a chilly one from the fridge. Let it hang out for a bit before hitting the grill.
3. Heat Intensity: The grill’s heat is your cooking partner. A searing hot grill locks in juices, creating a juicy interior. Use both sides of the grill, cooking over direct and indirect heat to control the intensity of the heat.
4. Resting Time: Patience pays off. Let your steak rest after grilling. This gives the juices a chance to redistribute, ensuring a flavorful and moist result.

Advanced Tips

Cooking Methods

There are a few different methods for cooking steak on the grill. Here are some of our favorite options:

Reverse Searing

Reverse searing is a cooking method that involves first slow-cooking the meat at a low temperature and then finishing it with a high-heat sear. This technique is often used for thicker cuts of meat, like a reverse seared prime rib. 

Pan-Searing

Pan searing is a cooking technique where you quickly cook meat, such as steak, in a hot pan with a bit of oil. The high heat helps create a flavorful, caramelized crust on the exterior of the meat while locking in its juices. It’s perfect for recipes like this New York strip steak. 

We love to finish a grilled steak in cast iron for an edge-to-edge crust.

How to get Grill Marks (aka, Diamonds)

Use these steps to get those beautiful grill marks on your steak: 

1. Start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat. Make sure the grates are clean and lightly oiled to prevent sticking. 
2. Place your steak on the hot grill diagonally to the grates, positioning it at a 45-degree angle. 
3. After 1 to 3 minutes, rotate the steak 90 degrees to create those classic crosshatch grill marks. 
4. Allow the steak to cook undisturbed for 1 to 3 minutes longer before flipping it to finish cooking on the other side to your desired internal temperature.

Checking for Doneness

When checking a steak for doneness, you’ll hear that the most common way is to check it with your finger. However, no matter if you’re brand new to grilling steak or a seasoned pro, using a digital thermometer is the more accurate choice. Here are steak temperatures to determine the level of doneness:

Quick Steak Temp Guide

After your steak has achieved your desired doneness, it’s important to let it rest. When steak cooks, the heat causes the juices to move toward the center.

Resting allows these flavorful juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat, ensuring each bite is juicy and succulent. Slicing too soon could lead to a loss of these precious liquids, leaving your steak drier than desired. 

For even more flavor, we like to place a knob of compound butter on the steak as it rests. It will melt over the steak, adding an extra rich layer of umami flavor.

Serving and Enhancing the Steak

Tips for Slicing and Plating the Steak

​To serve your steak, you’ll want to slice against the grain, shortening the muscle fibers and creating a tender texture. 

Enhancing the Flavor with Sauces and Toppings

Although you can totally eat your steak without anything on it, you can jazz things up by adding some sauces or other toppings like crispy onions. For example, this brandy peppercorn sauce pairs beautifully with grilled beef tenderloin or bacon-wrapped filet mignon. If you want a more zesty sauce to pair with your steak, this red chimichurri will do the trick. 

Side Dishes and Beverages

After cooking your delicious steak, it’s time to serve it up with some tasty side dishes and beverages! Some of our favorite sides to pair with steak are air fryer corn on the cob, roasted green beans, and duck fat fries. 

As for beverages, we typically go with a heavier red wine pairing like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec for fattier cuts like ribeye or prime rib. For leaner cuts, we choose lighter reds like Pinot Noir for flank steak, filet mignon, or sirloin.

Troubleshooting and Common Mistakes

• Not preheating the grill: The grill grates may not be hot enough when placing your steak on a non-heated grill, leading to undercooking. Placing your steak on the grill before letting it preheat can lead to uneven cooking. We recommend letting your grill preheat for at least 15 minutes for a nice, even heat. 
• You forgot to clean the grates: Cleaning the grates before and after cooking is crucial to ensure no previous food bits get stuck to your steak. This helps the steak not stick or tear when flipping.
• You let the flames get too big: If flare-ups happen, move your steak to the cooler side of the grill using long grilling tongs. If your whole grill is flaming, take a squirt bottle and spray the flames with water to bring them down to normal or simply close the lid. This chokes off the oxygen to the fire and helps the flames extinguish. Always use safety when grilling and follow your grill manufacturer’s instructions.
• You’re not using your vents: Keep your vents open to let the air flow through. Fire needs fuel and air, so adjust your air vents to get a nice even heat.
• Over or Under cooking: You also want to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the steak. For example, thicker steaks will take longer to cook, whereas thinner steaks won’t take as long. Always use a meat thermometer for the best results.

No matter where you’re at in your grilling adventure, there’s nothing like mastering the art of grilling steak. Hopefully, this guide uncovered the best tips for choosing the right cut, prepping and cleaning your grill, and fixing the most common grilling mistakes. Now that you’ve read all about how to grill a steak, it’s time to put your skills to the test.