How to Fry the Perfect Steak Medium Rare
While methods for cooking the perfect steak differ, the basics to pan-frying a steak to perfection is fairly universal. You need to select top-quality USDA primes steaks, use a durable cast-iron skillet and cook over high heat to seal in the juices. Seasoning also plays an important part adding not only flavor but a crust on the outside of the meat. Cooking the steaks to a medium-rare temperature, which is between 130 and 134 degrees Fahrenheit, will result in a flavorful, very juicy steak. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- USDA Prime steaks, 1 1/2-inch thick
- Paper towels
- Cast-iron skillet
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Tongs
Instructions
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1
Remove steaks from the refrigerator at least 40 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature.
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2
Place a cast-iron skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
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3
Pat any moisture from the steaks with a paper towel and season the steaks with salt and pepper, to taste.
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4
Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the hot pan and heat until it begins to smoke.
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5
Place the steak in the pan and cook on one side for six minutes, then flip over and cook the other side for six minutes to get a medium-rare steak.
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6
Check the temperature of the steaks using an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure the meat is at medium rare. The temperature of the meat should be between 130 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare.
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7
Remove the steaks from the pan and let rest for five to 10 minutes, covered with aluminum foil. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
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Tips & Warnings
Add a pat of butter to the oil just before putting the steaks in the pan to add flavor.
Remove the steaks when they are five degrees away from the desired temperature because the temperature will continue to rise about five degrees when it is removed from the pan.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
