Make Grilling a Family Effort & Tips for Grilling the Perfect Steak
Some of my earliest childhood memories involve watching my father hang out and grill with his brothers during family gatherings down at the shore. They would talk about sports, the family, and whatever they were planning on grilling that night. It seemed like the open flame brought out the best in their conversation as well as the flavor of the food.
It's that experience that draws me to the grill and has turned grilling into a family effort.
In our house, we have a motto that no one grills alone. Why would you want to? It's the perfect time to talk about your day or just shoot the breeze. And if the kids are at grandma's, the grill is perfect for rekindling the heat in your marriage. A glass of wine, music, grilling your favorite meal together...see what I mean?
I believe its the simplest things in life that when mastered bring you the most pleasure and happiness. And learning to grill as a family is at the top of the list
A few tips for grilling the perfect steak
- Start with the best quality steak you can afford. Locally purchased beef can be a great way to know where your food is coming from. Go for Prime or Choice
- Steaks are best at 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch thick
- Marinade your steak overnight, or rub it down with steak rubs
- Bring the steak to room temperature before grilling, about 20 minutes
- Brush the steak with 100% olive oil (not extra virgin!)
- Season your steak with kosher salt or seasalt
- If there is a lot of fat, which happens sometimes with country cuts, score the fat around the edges (vs removing it) so it doesn't bunch up when cooking
- Preheat your grill for 10 minutes on medium high
- ONLY grill on a well seasoned grate, I like to rub the grates with strip of fat once the grates are hot
- Only flip the steak once on the grill
- NEVER pry the steak of the grates! If it sticks, it is still cooking and creating a crust. Leave it.
- Watch the time carefully, learn the cooking times and how it feels vs poking it with a grilling fork to check the temperature.
- If you poke the meat with your finger, rare usually feels soggy and soft, medium has a little spring to it and done is quite tight and firm (cooking time: medium rare 4 minutes per side, medium 5 to 6 minutes per side, medium well 7 minutes per side*)
- When you remove your steak from the grill, set it on a plate or wood cutting board with a loose foil tent over it. The steak needs to rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting into it
*every grill is different so hoover over your steaks until you get a good sense for the cooking time. The best way to be sure the meat is done is to feel it. Also, if you aren't sure, pull it off the grill and err on the side of caution. You can always put the steak back on if it needs more cooking. You cannot undo an over grilled steak.
Labels: american classics, Family Meal, grilling, Steak
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