How to cook steak on a flat top grill

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When it comes to cooking steak, there are a few different methods you can use. One of the most popular is cooking it on a flat top grill. This method gives you a nice, charred crust and juicy interior.  

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to cook steak on a flat top grill step-by-step. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced chef, you’ll be able to make the perfect steak every time. Let’s get started! 

How to cook steak on a flat top grill 

You do not need an indoor grill or an outdoor grill. You can cook your steak right on the stovetop and not have to worry about flare-ups and burns!  

I’m going to show you how to successfully cook a delicious flat top grilled Steakhouse Steak with minimal effort in 10 easy steps. 

Things You’ll Need 

  • Steak 
  • ¼ cup soy sauce 
  • 3 large, minced cloves of garlic 
  • ½ tsp. ginger powder 
  • 1 tbsp. sugar 
  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 
  • Medium mixing bowl 
  • Meat thermometer 
  • Aluminum foil 

Step 1 

Salt the meat liberally and let it sit for 10 minutes at room temperature. This will make a big difference in how well your steak comes out. If you’ve never salted correctly, go here. 

Step 2 

Preheat your pan for 3 to 5 minutes at very high heat. You really need the pan smoking hot before you start cooking. 

Step 3 

Add some oil, canola is great because of its high smoke point. If you’re worried about the emissions that come with all that oil, use a non-stick spray instead. 

  • Canola oil has a higher smoke point than both olive oil and butter, so it is better for searing meat.  
  • Butter will burn at relatively low temperatures, so be careful when using it to sear your steak.  
  • Vegetable oil, on the other hand, is an all-purpose oil. It contains no flavor, so it’s great when you want to keep the taste of your meat pure and simple. 

Step 4 

Add your steak to the pan. You should hear a loud sizzle when you do this. This is the moisture escaping from the steak and hitting the hot oil. 

Step 5 

Do not touch your meat until it’s ready to be turned. It should stick at first and you might be tempted to keep pushing it down with your spatula, but don’t! You’ll need tongs to turn your steak. 

Step 6 

Once the first side is seared, you can turn it over. The second side will take less time to sear than the first. 

Step 7 

Now that both sides are seared, lower the heat by half. Flip your steak with the tongs and let it finish cooking. 

Step 8 

Use an instant read thermometer to be sure the center of the meat is at least 140°F for medium-rare or 145°F for medium.  

If you don’t have a thermometer, cut it into the steak after letting it rest for 5 minutes to be sure it’s cooked through. 

Step 9 

Remove the steak from the pan and place it on a plate. Let your meat rest for 5 minutes, allowing the juices to redistribute inside of the meat.  

If you cut right into your steak, all those delicious juices will spill out and you’ll wind up with a dry steak. 

Step 10 

Slice your meat in the opposite direction in which it curved while cooking and enjoy.  

Tips for cooking perfect steak on a flat top grill 

Ever wonder how the restaurant makes their steak taste so good? Here are a few tips to help you make your flat top grill steak taste just as good, if not better! 

  • First, purchase high quality meat that has been aged. As we all know, beef is aged for 21 days to improve tenderness and flavor. The higher the grade of meat, the longer it will have been aged. This means more flavor and a better texture! 
  • Purchase steaks that are between 1/2″ to 5/8″ thick so they cook evenly on your flat top grill. If you purchase thicker steaks, the outside of the steak will be over cooked while the inside is undercooked. On the other hand, if the steaks are too thin then they will not have enough time to cook on your flat top grill and you may run into soggy results. 
  • Bring your steak to room temperature before cooking it. If you put a cold steak on a hot flat top grill, the outside of the meat will overcook while the inside will remain raw. 
  • Season your steak with salt, pepper, garlic powder and granulated onion. Other popular seasonings are Montreal steak seasoning or cajun spices. However, you can also use exotic seasonings such as bruschetta or lemon pepper to give the meat a unique flavor profile. 
  • Place your seasoned steak on the hot flat top grill. Cook over direct heat for 3-4 minutes per side (medium rare), 5-6 minutes per side (medium) or 7-8 minutes per side (well done). 
  • Remove the steak from the flat top grill and immediately cover it with aluminum foil. The covered steak will continue to be cooked for another 5 minutes, making it perfect every time. 
  • Finally, slice the meat across the grain and enjoy! Remember to let your steaks rest for 5 minutes before slicing them into pieces so that all the juices stay in the meat instead of running out onto your cutting board. If you can’t wait that long to eat it then you’ll just have to practice restraint and patience! 

Now you are ready to cook the perfect flat top grill steak! Happy grilling! 

FAQs about How to cook steak on a flat top grill

Steak can be part of a healthy diet depending on the cut you use and how it’s prepared. It’s usually higher in fat than other meats but it also has many important vitamins and minerals to support your body’s functions. 

Before cooking, your steak should be seasoned with salt and pepper, or whatever else you prefer to use, but salt and pepper are the most common choices.  

It’s usually best to season both sides. You can use other ingredients to add extra flavor, but salt and pepper are the basics for good steak. 

This will vary depending on the cut of meat you use, how thick it is, what temperature your flat top grill is set to, and what type of cooking method you prefer. But in general, it takes between 3 and 7 minutes to cook a 1-inch-thick NY strip steak. 

You should always use tongs when you are cooking, especially on your flat top grill because metal forks leave marks in the meat which could allow bacteria to grow if not properly sterilized. 

The best way to avoid overcooking your steak is by using a cooking thermometer. This will help you check the internal temperature of the meat without piercing it, which can cause it to lose some juices if done too often or with excessive force. 

Does steak go well with sides? 

Steak itself is usually considered sufficient for a main course, but it can also be eaten on the side of other dishes like pasta or risotto, or even salads (take caution with dressings).  

It goes exceptionally well with potatoes and onions in some form, whether that is French fries, mashed potatoes, or even baked potatoes. 

Yes, anybody who owns a home or apartment can cook steak using the flat top grill. This is not just reserved for restaurants. 

When cooking steak, you will want to use your flat top grill at high heat so that you can get that crispy brown sear exactly right.  

The best way to tell if the temperatures are right is to use your hand and see how long you can leave it over the grill.  

If it gets too hot, you will not be able to keep your hand there for more than 3-4 seconds while medium heat should allow you 7-8 seconds before you need to pull away. 

Flat top grill steak does not require any seasoning because it is usually already taken care of when you purchase your steak in a local butcher shop. However, do not be afraid to add in some salt and pepper or other herbs that might bring out the best in your meat. 

For most people, sirloin, New York strip and ribeye are some popular cuts used when making steak with their flat top grill.  

Some people also opt for cheaper and leaner cuts of meat such as flank steak, round steak or any tender cut of beef that can be found within your local butcher shop. 

There are a few tips that you can use to make the perfect steak every time. First, it is important for you to know exactly what type of cut and grade of meat you will be using in making your steak.  

Remember that beef grades deal with different marbling levels, while cuts require specific cooking methods to ensure that you get the best flavor.  

The second thing that you need to do is to take your meat out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature for approximately 30 minutes before cooking. 

You can find a wide variety of dishes that you can make using a flat top grill starter kit. These include some great tasting meals such as steaks, hamburgers or pork chops to name a few. 

When cooking a meal, you should prepare various spices and sauces to put on your food. For instance, if making a New York Strip Steak using a flat top pad cooker, try adding some salt and pepper along with fresh parsley leaves before searing the meat on both sides.  

You will want to make sure that the steaks reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees F before putting it aside and letting it rest for a few minutes.  

Letting the meat sit after cooking is very important to ensure that all its flavor and juices remain intact. 

There are three main components that you should know when preparing steak on your flat pad cookers.  

These include:  

1) Internal – the inside will look like a large cut of beef, cooked rare or medium-rare  

2) Middle – the middle also looks like a large cut of beef, but it is cooked more to medium or well-done  

3) External – the outside crust is what you will see as seared steak. In other words, it has been cooked longer and gives off a crisper texture than other cuts. 

Yes! You can cook a whole steak in the stove top grill if you have a large one – 10 inches in diameter or larger. For smaller units, cut the steak in half. 

 The most important thing to remember with a stove top grill is that you always want to cook food from the side of the heat source, not on top of it directly.  

This will give you even cooking without charring too much on one side and undercooking on the other. 

 When cooking a steak, proceed as you would for a broiled or grilled steak. The only difference is that you should pour some water over the food before putting it onto the grill.  

This will keep it from drying out and working as a barrier between the heat source and the meat. Always cook from the side of heat source, not directly on top of it. 

 For the best grilled flavor, brush your steak with veggie oil before grilling. You can also do this if you don’t have a marinade available. 

For smaller units, cut large steak in half for more even cooking on both sides.  

SAFETY NOTE: Do not use cooking sprays to coat the grates because they will produce toxic fumes when heated. 

To prevent meat from sticking to the griddle, simply rub a small amount of cooking oil or beef fat on the griddle before you put your meat on it.  

This will prevent your beef from sticking and help keep in some of that delicious flavor, too! 

Conclusion

When it comes to grilling, there are many different styles and types of cooking surfaces. A flat top grill is one type that can be used for steak or other meats. 

If you haven’t cooked a steak on a flat top grill before, it can be intimidating. We’ll break down the process so that even if this is your first-time cooking steak in general, you will have an easy and enjoyable experience. 

We hope these suggestions have been helpful for making delicious steaks on your flat top grill. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section below! 

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