Who doesn’t love a delicious, juicy steak for dinner on a cold winter night? But sometimes it’s just too cold to go outside and fire up that grill, or maybe you just don’t own an outdoor grill that can give you that char you crave. Cooking steak indoors is not impossible, though; with multiple indoor cooking tools and methods, people can prepare delicious steak dinners without leaving their kitchen. You might have heard of the old pan-searing technique, which involves searing the outside of the steak on a pan, then putting the pan in the oven to cook the meat fully and evenly. If you don’t know how to cook steak indoors, here’s a simple guide to help you prepare a delicious steak dinner.
Pre-searing the Steak
Searing the piece of steak before roasting it in the oven is the most traditional method most people use to prepare the meal. Searing means applying high heat to pieces of meat in order to darken their color and give them a brown crust which most people find tasteful. This effect is usually caused by the grill’s drip tray which leaves brown parallel lines on steak cuts — similar to grill marks. For this method, you need to preheat your skillet with some high-heat oil and sear the steak for 2 minutes on each side then move the skillet to the preheated oven for an extra 2 to 5 minutes of roasting. Then, take the steak out, wrap it in foil, and leave it for 7 minutes on a cutting board before serving for the perfect medium-rare steak.
This method is the most common method of cooking steak; in fact, it is the only way that steak can be served in restaurants. It brings out the taste of the meat and creates a hard-seared crust which is perfect for a traditional well-cooked steak. The only problem with this method is that sometimes thicker cuts can become unevenly cooked, or dry on the outside and undercooked on the inside.
Cooking the Steak Before Pan-searing
This method eliminates the problem of undercooked steak. In this one, you put the steak in the oven to cook first before searing it on a skillet and giving it a crust. When you place your steak in the oven first, you allow the heat to get inside all parts of the meat and cook properly from the inside without overcooking the outer side. Start by preheating your oven and placing the steak on the oven rack to allow its surface to receive air from all sides. Roast the steak for about 20 minutes while covered in oil, then take it to a skillet with refined oil or grapeseed oil to sear for 3 minutes on each side. This will give it a caramelized crust and result in an evenly cooked steak.
Using an Indoor Grill
Indoor grills are a great way of cooking steak at home and getting the same results as you would with an outdoor grill. You can even enjoy making sear marks on your steak and get that signature taste that comes along with them. If you are lucky enough to have a smokeless indoor grill with an adjustable temperature setting and searing options, you will be able to have that same outdoor grill experience with the same taste and delicious crispy crust. Smokeless indoor grills are easier to use and clean and produce no smoke, making them healthier for you and those you love than many outdoor models.
The 4-3-2 Method
The 4-3-2 method is the quickest method of cooking steak indoors and providing a similar taste to that of chargrilled steak, cooked on an outdoor grill. For this method, you preheat your skillet for a long time on high heat and press the steak cuts flat on the skillet for 4 minutes on one side without moving. No oil is needed to achieve a chargrilled taste similar to outdoor grilled steak. Flip the steak and press for an extra 3 minutes then remove it from the skillet and let it rest for 2 minutes before serving your medium to medium-rare chargrilled, crispy steak.
Cooking a steak indoors has never been easier, thanks to these handy techniques. Just because you don’t have an outdoor grill doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a properly cooked, delicious, and juicy steak. The 4-3-2 method is the fastest technique for cooking a steak with almost the same taste as that of a chargrilled steak cooked on an outdoor grill. However, there is more than one way to cook a steak inside your kitchen, so why not try them all to pick your favorite!
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