Want to pan fry the perfect steak?
Put a little cajun seasoning on one side and some garlic powder and onion powder on the other.
With the heat on high and the pan hot, throw the steak in. Wait a couple of minutes until the steak releases from the bottom of the pan. Flip. Wait till that side releases and then turn again and reduce heat.
Now ... depending on how rare or done you like your steak, you’ll have to gauge from here. Once the steak starts releasing a but of juice, it’s rare. More juice and it’s medium rare. One there’s no more juice, it’s well done.
Salt, pepper and enjoy!
To be picky what you describe is pan broiling, not frying. Frying would involve oil. Pan broiling in an iron skillet is my favorite way to cook a steak indoors.
I have a variation of that method:
Pre heat oven to 450° then brush steak with garlic olive oil and then sprinkle on garlic pepper and olive oil. Place steak in hot cast iron skillet on stove with flame on high for about 3 mins for a 1/2 inch piece of meat then turn and heat other side for 3 mins.
Then place entire cast iron skillet with steak still in it into oven and bake for about 4 mins. Take it back out and place skillet on stove top with burner turned off. Place a piece of foil with a small hole punched in it over the entire steak and skillet. Wait about 5 mins then serve. Delicious!
Alton Brown on "Good Eats" did a show on this, and I have to say that I agreed with him... Using a cast iron pan...
Step #1, disconnect all your smoke detectors.
Seriously though, it was a really tasty way to cook the steak. Both on top of the stove for searing, and in the oven to finish. Just a warning though... It takes longer to pre-heat the oven and pan than actually cook the steak.
Mark