How do you cook your steak? Do you marinate it first? Do you tenderize it? Fry it up or toss it on the grill? There are so many ways to cook a steak, and it’s really up to you how you like it. Rare, blue, well done….They’re such a versatile cut of meat. One of the most popular ways to cook a steak is on the flame grill. This gives it a deliciously smoky flavoring.
Why use an indoor grill to cook steak?
The problem with a flame grill is that it’s usually done on the barbecue outside. This limits us to cooking up steak only on sunny days, or at least days when it’s not raining. That suggests that we have a small section of the year to have steak. Many of our outdoor grills are covered with 6 feet of snow for large parts of the year.
In comes human ingenuity. We’ve found ways to cook steak in the warm comforts of our house all year round. Some will choose to fry their steak, but many, if not most, would prefer it off the grill. An indoor grill, then, is the clear choice.
How do I cook a steak on an indoor grill?
Cooking a steak on an indoor grill is slightly different from cooking on an outdoor model. The steak won’t have the same smoky flavoring of the barbecue. Indoor grills are like skillets with grooves to collect the fat that comes off the steak. These grills don’t reach the same temperatures of outdoor grills, but adjusting the cooking times will accommodate this difference.
First, prepare the steak.
You should rinse the steak beneath the tap with cold water to remove the natural moisture that accumulates in the packaging. In packaging, the protein in the steak releases purge, a liquid byproduct. It’s completely harmless, but when oxidized it produces an undesirable smell that can be off-putting.
Dry the steak off with a paper towel. This will allow for a nice sear on the meat when you cook it. Protein exposed to temperatures around 300° Fahrenheit takes on the same properties of sugar that caramelizes. This occurs as the amino acids interact with carbohydrates. The result is a nice, golden-brown color, which adds to both the appearance and flavor of the meat.
Cooking your steak.
Preheat your indoor grill to a high setting. While it’s warming up, season the steak as you please. Simplicity is usually best here. A sprinkling of good salt and ground black pepper is all you really need. Or, see this post on the best steak seasonings.
Check out Simply Organic Ground Black Pepper at Amazon
Oil a sauté pan with a bit of olive oil and sear the steak on both sides. This makes for a nice texture and color that can’t be achieved by the indoor grill alone. Add the seared steak to the grill to achieve the grill-seared steak effect that we love from the outdoor grill. You’ll soon get a wonderful golden-brown color.
Check out Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil at Amazon
The timing of all of this depends on your preference of steak. Shorten the amount of time for rare, lengthen it for well done.
Wrapping up.
When the steak has been cooked to your liking, remove it from the grill and wrap it in aluminum foil for at least fifteen minutes to stand aside.
Check out Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil for the Grill at Amazon
This redistributes the steak’s juices. Proteins uncoil when you remove them from the heat and reabsorb the juices that are expelled in the cooking process. This will give you a juicier, more flavorsome steak. Make sure not to pierce the steak while it rests, as you’ll lose these lovely juices.
The best indoor grill for steaks is…
Now you know how to cook amazing steak on an indoor grill. But, none of this is possible without the best grill on which to achieve this delicious steak. Without a doubt, it has to be the T-fal GC702D OptiGrill, and for just one reason. This model has sensors that monitor the cooking process to achieve the exact steak you want!
See the T-fal GC702 OptiGrill Stainless Steel Indoor Electric Grill at Amazon
The Optigrill knows if you want rare, medium or well done, and adapts the cooking time accordingly. The light will illuminate to let you know when your food is ready, so you’ll never over or undercook food again.
As a two-sided grill, it also eliminates the need to flip the steak, as it cooks both sides simultaneously. This grill has 1,800 watts of cooking power behind it, meaning it is suitable for all kinds of food. It’s versatile enough to prepare sandwiches, fish, vegetables, and more! Plus, with its removable, dishwasher safe plates, cleanup is a breeze!
It’s like summer vacation every day!
Don’t limit yourself to steak once a year. Take the grilling experience indoors and enjoy succulent steaks all year round with this brilliant indoor grill. You’ll be chowing down to delicious grilled steaks in the depths of winter, rainy days in the summer, whenever!
Now if you’re wondering about the best indoor grill for burgers, I’ve got you covered.
If you cook a lot of meat indoors, you might also want to check out the best infrared thermometers for grilling.
Image credit via Flickr Creative Commons: Hungry Dudes and Henry Z.
Bryce is not a real professor, but he's real nerdy in the kitchen. He's been barbecuing, chopping, and generally blazing food for many decades. He thinks there's definitely a better spatula or utensil out there that hasn't been invented yet.