How to Cook a Better Steak for Less

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As I was thinking about this weekend, I thought it might be nice to cook up a nice steak for Mrs. PT and I.  I did some searching for how to cook steak, and discovered a method of cooking steak that can be less expensive and possibly make a better steak. The good thing is, if you’ve got a basic cast-iron skillet and an oven, you don’t need to spend a dime, beyond the steaks of course, to make this work.

Broiling: A Cheaper, Cleaner, (Better?) Way to Cook Steak

I’m not going to argue whether grilled or broiled is better. But what I do know is that broiling can be less expensive than firing up the grill. It’s definitely less of a hassle and less of a mess. No fancy grill needed. I honestly like both methods of cooking steak.

If you’re going to do either method, it’s important to do it right. What I discovered in my searching is that I haven’t been broiling properly. When I broil, I use the wrong kind of dish and I don’t place the steaks in the right place in the oven.

Here’s how you should cook your steak if broiling:

• Place a Cast-Iron Skillet in the Oven
• Pre-Heat the Oven to 550 Degrees
• Turn on the Broiler
• Place the Steak(s) on the Skillet 2-4 Inches from the Broiler*
• Wait 8 Minutes for Medium Rare
• Remove (no flip needed)

*Adjustments may be needed depending on the power of your broiler. But basic ovens need to be this close.

The added benefit to broiling right now is that you don’t have to go outside (too cold) and you get to warm up your kitchen using the oven.

How to Prepare Your Steak to Cook

I’m a steak purist. I like nice, quality cuts of meat. No marinades. No sauce. I only do this (cook steak) and few times a year, so I make sure I get quality meat. If you’re going to spend a little money, spend it on the steak itself. Rib-eyes and sirloins are great for broiling. I also like Filets. Look for a nice bright red cut with the fat marbled consistently throughout the meat. Rub some salt on the steak, wrap it in plastic wrap or a zip-lock bag, and place in the fridge for at least a few hours. Never do salt right before you cook. It will draw out the juices.

When you’re an hour away from cooking, pull the steak out of the fridge, dry it, and let it sit. When it’s room temperature, you’re ready to cook.

I’m going to try it out this weekend and see if I can cook a steak that tastes great and doesn’t break the bank to prepare. Let me hear from you if you’ve ever tried this broiling method. Or please share your steak cooking tips in the comment section below. Enjoy!

Here’s a photo of how our steaks turned out. We used the directions above and results were excellent. These are $7 organic filets from Sprouts. Just salt. 8 minutes. Broiled. Turned only after removed from the oven. Results were medium well to well done.

Have you ever tried OmahaSteaks.com? Now may be a good time to see how their steaks taste. You can currently save up to 65% on your order, plus choose a FREE gift. These 6 (6 oz.) Bacon Wrapped Filets look incredibly tasty. See more Omaha Steak Coupons. Get FREE Standard Shipping on every shipment in your order!

Check it out…someone has made a nice video of their method. They sear first, then use the oven (not broiling). One day I’ll show you my method of using the broiler by video.

Photo by Michael Berch

Related Posts:

• Big Steak Roundup
• Copy-Cat Recipe Blogs: For the Food Lover in All Of Us

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