Steak, though a grill favorite, can be cooked in several other ways. They can be pan-fried, braised, broiled, baked, etc. Selecting the proper method for cooking steak depends on its tenderness. There are dry heat methods and moist methods. Dry heat methods are generally applied for more tender steaks such as filet mignon and sirloin, while moist heat methods are more suited to tougher cuts of beef. The water helps in tenderizing the steak.
The tenderness of cooked steak is influenced by how much it is ‘done’. Depending on the time for which the steak is cooked, it may be raw, very rare, rare, medium rare, medium, medium well-done and well-done. Rare steaks are exposed to the flame for a very short time. They still maintain their rawness and are very pink in color. Rarely done steaks maintain their original beefy flavors, but they are not very healthy as they still contain microorganisms. As the cooking time increases, the pinkness of steak gets converted to brownness and its juiciness also reduces. Well-done steaks are brown throughout and also tough to chew. For ordinary palates, medium rare steaks are the best bets.
The best way to cook a steak is definitely grilling it. Everything matters while grilling a steak – the tenderness of steak, the marinade, the quality of the coal and lighter fluid and even the concentration of the person cooking. Most steaks require about 8-10 minutes on the barbeque. The time will depend on the degree of doneness required.
Tender cuts can also be broiled. Broiling is done in the oven with no liquids used. It gives a different flavor from grilling as in an oven the heat surrounds the meat from all sides. Less tender cuts can also be broiled provided they are marinated earlier.
Thin and tender cuts of steak such as the sirloin, T-bone and rib-eye taste very well when they are pan-fried. Steaks are fried in an open pan placed over a flame. No oil is added. The steaks cook in their own fats.
If the cut of beef is bigger, then it is ideal for roasting. Roasting is also a dry heat cooking method that uses no liquid and no cover. Tender cuts roast better and they are to be sliced before serving.
Tough cuts of beef such as chuck, round, briskets and blade are usually braised. Braising is a moist-heat cooking method done with a little amount of liquid in an oven with a closed lid. It is a slow process as it slowly allows the meat to tenderize.
Another method for tough cuts is stewing. Beef is completely covered in water and cooked slowly over a medium flame. Stewing is not a very popular method for steaks; but if the cut is large enough and tough, then it better be put into the stew pot.
In all the methods of cooking steak, the degree of doneness is measured by using a meat thermometer. However, by practice, one can also judge the doneness by merely touching the steak externally.
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Sirloin Steak
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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It is said that King Henry VIII was so fond of this particular steak cut from the loins of beef, that he termed it as ‘Sir Loin’, which became notoriously famous as the sirloin steak. The sirloin steak is cut from the lower portion of...
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T-Bone Steak
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T-bone steaks are named for the characteristic T-shaped bone with which they are cut. They are cut from the portion between top loin and the tenderloin. The specification to be a T-bone steak is that the tenderloin part in it should be at least ½...
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Flank Steak
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The underside of the belly is called the flank. It is the part directly below the sirloin and the short loin. Steaks cut from this area are grainy any chewy. Hence, special cooking methods are employed for flank steaks to reduce their graininess and chewy...
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Steak
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A steak is a slice of meat that is cut from the flesh of an animal or a large fish. Beef steaks are by far the most popular type of steak. However, steaks of chicken, turkey and lamb are also ordered in restaurants. Steaks may...
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Steak Recipes
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Steaks are the easiest to prepare among all the meats. Tender steaks like the sirloin and the T-bone (filet mignon is the tenderest but it is very expensive and not easily available in the markets) are usually grilled. Most recipes differ in the marinade that...
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Grilling Steak
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Steaks are the most palatable when they are grilled. The best steak for grilling is the sirloin steak, but it tends to be a bit tough. The T-bone steak and the porterhouse steak are both excellent choices and the bone in them give them an...
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Filet Mignon Steak
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The word ‘filet mignon’ means small boneless piece (in French ‘mignon’ means small and ‘filet’ means a boneless piece). It is considered to be a premium cut of beef, taken from the small end of the tenderloin. Filet mignon steaks are called by different names...
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The Benefits of Wood Cook Stoves
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Wood cook stoves have been used for hundreds of years. Before the advent of electricity, people cooked all of their food in wood cook stoves. Wood cook stoves are still used in many parts of the world, such as Central and South America. Some people...
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Gourmet Meat Gifts
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A traditional holiday feast, weddings, and religious occasions—the pride of any holiday spread is most likely delicious succulent meat prepared lovingly, relying on old family recipes. Imagine a Thanksgiving without turkey; hard isn’t it? Sustaining life, these celebrations are almost food festivals, bringing people together....
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Gas Grills
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The gas grill is one of the most popular types of grills used by people today. This type of grill is the easiest to use, and is generally cleaner than using coal or wood. The gas grill is ideal for cooks with little or no...