How to Broil a Steak to Medium Well

The light pink center of medium-well is primarily a matter of timing.

Nothing says summer like steaks on the grill, but grilling isn't everyone's cup of tea. To pull it off, you need perfect weather and a certain comfort level with working with open flames. For those who may be a bit less daring, or who'd like to make a nice steak regardless of the weather, broiling is an alternative, particularly for those who prefer their porterhouse a bit more on the done side. The light pink center of medium-well is easy to achieve and is primarily a matter of timing.

Things You'll Need

• Steak, 1 to 2 inches thick
• Marinade (optional)
• Paper towels
• Olive oil
• Salt
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Black pepper, coarsely ground
• Well-seasoned cast-iron skillet
• Large spatula
• Oven mitts
• Kitchen timer

Instructions

1. Select a steak that is approximately 1 to 2 inches thick and uniformly red in color. Examine the edges for any signs of browning.

2. Place the steaks in marinade, if desired, and refrigerate at least four hours.

3. Remove steaks from refrigerator and allow them to reach room temperature (about 30 to 40 minutes). Pat the steaks with paper towels.

4. Coat the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle with salt if they were not marinated. If desired, rub the steaks with minced garlic, black pepper or the seasonings of your choice.

5. Move the oven rack into its highest position, approximately 4 to 6 inches away from the heating element. Place the skillet on the rack and set the oven to "Broil."

6. Wait 15 minutes to allow both the skillet and the oven to preheat.

7. Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer the steak to the pan with a large spatula. This will create some sizzling and possible splattering, so keep your oven mitts on.

8. Place the pan in the oven and close the door. For medium-well, cook the steak five minutes.

9. Remove the pan and turn the steak over with a large spatula.

10. Return the pan to the oven and cook for an additional five minutes.

11. Remove the steak and make a small cut in the center and pull the meat aside with a fork. Medium-well should still be light pink in the middle. You also can check the internal temperature of the meat. A medium-well steak should be between 155 and 160 degrees F.

12. Return the steak to the oven if it needs additional cooking time, checking every two to three minutes until the desired stage of cooking has been achieved.

13. Let steak stand five minutes before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn the steak only once.

• If you don't have a cast-iron skillet, use a well-greased broiler rack or baking sheet.

• As an alternative cooking method, steaks can be seared on both sides and then placed in the oven to finish. This is accomplished by broiling for two minutes, flipping the steak and broiling the other side for two minutes. Turn the broiler off and set the oven temperature to 475 degrees, leaving the steak in the oven for the remainder of the cooking time. For medium-well, that would be approximately six minutes.

• Times listed are approximate and will vary with the thickness of the steak, the distance from the heating element and the effectiveness of the oven.