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To: jonrick46
I like a rare steak with a nice char on the outside from the BBQ. My challenge is getting that nice char without over cooking and losing the rare quality inside. Does anyone have any suggestions on getting the perfect balance?

You need two things to accomplish what you want:

1) You need to be cooking a thicker cut of meat. The thinner sliced cuts of steak that I can usually afford makes it very hard to get a good crust on the outside while leaving the inside rare to medium rare. You need at least a good 3/4" or thicker cut of meat to even have a chance.

2) You need a very hot grill. Hotter than most gas grills can get. That means cooking over charcoal, with all of its associated hassles.

Remember that before you can brown and char the surface of the steak, you first have to boil off the water from the tissues. The hotter the grill, the faster the surface water will evaporate and allow the char you're looking for without letting the heat migrate to the inside of the steak too much.

If your grill isn't hot enough, then the heat has time to work its way to the inside of the steak before it can char the surface, giving you a more done center.

Some have tried using cast iron pans on their grill, and letting it get really hot. Cook the steak on the grill until you reach the internal doneness you desire, then move it to the hot skillet to provide the outside sear. I've not tried it but I have seen it recommended several times.

https://fieldcompany.com/blogs/journal/grilled-and-reverse-seared-cast-iron-skillet-steak


58 posted on 04/24/2024 1:34:44 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: Yo-Yo; painter

I’ve increased the output from my propane tank to the burners by changing the regulator. I took advantage of the hotter output with indirect cooking methods for roasts and fish. I didn’t want to blast the steaks with a direct burn. I was not confident doing it that way. From your information I can sear and have that rare interior with a blistering hot burn. I can hardly wait to try it. Thanks a million!

By the way, I use that regulator to fire off a burner used for my wok. It takes minutes to make a nice Cashew Chicken.

God help us if the CO2 police take our propane away.


83 posted on 04/24/2024 6:45:23 PM PDT by jonrick46 (Leftniks chase illusions of motherships at the end of the pier.)
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