Why Can't I Grill A Decent Steak?

[vailpass]

Grilled steaks last night, they came out ok but not great. Good cuts of meat but they weren't juicy like a restaurant. I only turned them once, used high heat. I like them medium rate.
I have 2 grills, gas and infra red, just can't seem to get the perfect streak.
Anyone have any tips?

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Hah - I can.

NERD!!!!!!!!

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Dayze

NERD!!!!!!!!

Guilty as charged

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by trndobrd

After a couple times with the thermometer, you'll get a good feel for how long it should take and you won't have to use it every time. Also, it should be 135 not 145 for medium rare.

Too high.

If you take it off at 135, it'll climb to 140 pretty easily.

Even 130 is a little too high, IMO.

USDA temps and Chef temps are two very different animals. USDA temps will give you a shoe. Look up a good chef temp guide and use those figures instead.

Like I said - I generally recommend taking off at 125 for steaks and even lower for larger cuts because they'll continue cooking a little longer.

[R8RFAN]

Stick a thermometer in a steak and you are helping make that steak tougher than it should be... Press that steak with your index finger to test. If you touch it and it bounces back quick it is rare, the steak will get harder the more it is cooked.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by R8ers

I can cook a steak in an iron skillet better than most people can cook on a grill anyway

I prefer mine in cast iron too. Sear every side in bit of bacon fat, then throw it in the oven to finish. Makes a crust you won't soon forget.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by sedated

I prefer mine in cast iron too. Sear every side in bit of bacon fat, then throw it in the oven to finish. Makes a crust you won't soon forget.

Most people would rather look cool and manly with the fire and the grill Don't mess it up for these guys.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Most people would rather look cool and manly with the fire and the grill Don't mess it up for these guys.

It's not that. I spend almost all my time outside, never touch the stove. Watch football on the patio, grill is my cooker.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Most people would rather look cool and manly with the fire and the grill Don't mess it up for these guys.

Where's that news gif when we need it?...

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by R8ers

I can cook a steak in an iron skillet better than most people can cook on a grill anyway

Doubtful. You cannot replicate the flavor of cooking over charcoal/wood.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by vailpass

It's not that. I spend almost all my time outside, never touch the stove.

There are so many variations in temps on a charcoal or wood fired grill, Iron skillet is consistent every time. Thats just my .02


Nothing pisses me off more than a high dollar quality piece of meat destroyed on a grill by someone who sucks at grilling.

3 ingredients

Kosher Salt (put on the steak when it is sitting out to get to room temp)
Fresh Cracked Pepper ( while it's cooking)
Clarified butter Brushed on steak after it's finished (let sit for 5 mins)

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by BCD

Doubtful. You cannot replicate the flavor of cooking over charcoal/wood.

Who said anything about trying to replicate it?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by R8ers

There are so many variations in temps on a charcoal or wood fired grill, Iron skillet is consistent every time. Thats just my .02


Nothing pisses me off more than a high dollar quality piece of meat destroyed on a grill by someone who sucks at grilling.

3 ingredients

Kosher Salt (put on the steak when it is sitting out to get to room temp)
Fresh Cracked Pepper ( while it's cooking)
Clarified butter Brushed on steak after it's finished (let sit for 5 mins)

Learn to grill - problem solved.

And frankly, you can suck at grilling and still make a decent steak. Hell, I think good hamburgers are harder to make than a good steak.

Steak's pretty easy to get right if you have any earthly idea what you're doing.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by R8ers

There are so many variations in temps on a charcoal or wood fired grill, Iron skillet is consistent every time. Thats just my .02


Nothing pisses me off more than a high dollar quality piece of meat destroyed on a grill by someone who sucks at grilling.

3 ingredients

Kosher Salt (put on the steak when it is sitting out to get to room temp)
Fresh Cracked Pepper ( while it's cooking)
Clarified butter Brushed on steak after it's finished (let sit for 5 mins)

I have an infra red grill and a gas grill. Too lazy to charcoal. I'm not destroying steaks, just want to tune my cooking. My steaks are good, looking for great.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by trndobrd

Purchase and use a good meat thermometer.

I like to put a little salt, pepper and dash of lowry's on KC strips that are just below room temp. Get the coals nice and glowing red hot, then hit each side for about 2 minutes with the lid up. Then turn again and rotate 90degrees and give it another 4 minutes with the lid down. At that point, there should be red juice showing and I check (only once) the temp, flip the steak over one last time (rotate 90degrees), close the lid and give it about one minute, plus one minute for every five degrees away from 145 center temp. Take off the steaks, give them at least 5 minutes to rest, and enjoy a perfect, juicy, medium-rare steak with beautiful cross-hatched grill marks.

Or just finger test. Poke it with your index finger. If it smoooshes such at your finger pretty much pushes through the steak, , iit's rare. If it is tough, it's well done. Your medium rare should resist a little bit, but still be a little smooshy.

Much prefer the finger test over a thermometer. No messy clean up and helps figure out if certain areas of meat ended up cooking differently than others.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by vailpass

I have an infra red grill and a gas grill. Too lazy to charcoal. I'm not destroying steaks, just want to tune my cooking. My steaks are good, looking for great.

I have an infrared grill too , I liked it alot at first but after a while it's like it has lost it's appeal to me.

oh and the key to making juicy hamburgers is as simple as adding 3-4 tablespoons of plain water to the meat and mix it in before you patty it out. 80-20 meat.. don't buy that lean shit for burgers people.