Grilling Steak: What’s the Best Temperature?

If thick steaks are your absolute favorite, there’s no doubt you want to know the secret of how to get the perfect medium rare steak. What if we told you that all you need is high-quality meat along with using the proper temperature? In this article, we discuss all you need to know about the best temperature for grilling steak and how you can cook porterhouse steaks just like they do at your favorite restaurant! 

How to Cook the Perfect Steak 

A perfectly cooked medium-rare steak can only be achieved by determining the right heat of the grill, but you don’t have to be a meat scientist to pull this off! However, a perfectly cooked steak will mean something different for everyone and will be based on the level of doneness everyone prefers. Luckily, most people can agree that a good T-bone steak will have nice grill marks and will be cooked to our desired temperature. 

Choosing the Right Steak

There are different steak cuts for you to choose from; this is the first step in ensuring that you get the ideal steak after you cook. Below, we outline a few of the best steak cuts that are great for grilling; we’ve also listed them in order from the least expensive to the most expensive cuts. It’s also worth noting that they will come in different sizes and shapes, so they will have varying cook times — in general, a 1-inch steak will need 4-5 minutes on both sides to get a medium-rare finish. 

• Flank Steak: This leaner cut is more flavorful since it comes from the cow’s abdominal muscles; it’s the ideal cut for marinades and grilling at high heat. You can use a flat iron steak as a substitute but remember that with this steak, you’ll need to cut against the grain. 
• Sirloin Steak: Is a versatile cut of steak that’s more affordable compared to premium cuts. It provides a great balance between tenderness and flavor; it’s also available in variations such as tri-tip and top sirloin.
• Porterhouse and T-Bone: These are bigger cuts of beef that include a T-shaped bone which separates the striploin from the tenderloin. As such, they offer the best of both worlds, providing both flavor and tenderness in one cut.
• Ribeye steak: Ribeye steaks are known for their rich marbling, giving off plenty of juiciness and flavor. This is evenly distributed around the meat, which contributes to the overall taste and tenderness. 
• New York Strip Steak: Also known as a striploin, this cut offers both flavor and tenderness but has a firmer texture compared to the ribeye. Leaner meats like this are worth the money since they also offer good marbling.
• Tenderloin: Also known as filet mignon, this is one of the most tender steak cuts since it’s taken from a frequently used area of the cow. People love this cut for its soft and buttery texture.       

Grilling Your Steak

While there’s nothing wrong with searing a steak on the stove, there’s something irresistible about a perfectly grilled steak; the smoke and char you get from a hot grill completely elevates the meal. If you’re firing up your grill for the first time, the whole process can be intimidating, but lucky for you, we’re sharing everything we know about how to grill steak at different temperatures. 

Best Grill Temperature to Grill Steaks

Before you get started, make sure to preheat your grill to a high temperature which should be between 450°F and 500°F. This will work for both a gas grill and a charcoal grill — you might be wondering why your grill needs to be this hot; this is because you need to create the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction refers to the browning of the exterior that produces the flavorful crust we all love while keeping the interior of the meat tender and juicy. 

This cooking process is also responsible for developing the complex flavors we appreciate, and the high temperatures literally transform the texture and flavor of the meat. Moreover, the crispy crust works to lock in the juices as the meat cooks. When placed inside lower temperatures, and even medium heat at 400°F and below won’t give you the same results. 

Note: Make sure to give your steak some time to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking it. This will help to reduce the meat’s chill — placing ice-cold steak inside a hot grill will reduce the temperature inside and minimize the Maillard reaction. 

Tip: To get the best results, create two zones inside your grill for thicker steaks; one side of the grill should be set to high while the other side should be set to a lower temperature. If your steak is getting too dark before it’s cooked through, move it over to indirect heat during the last minutes. 

Times and Temperatures for Cooking Steaks

Below is a simple and straightforward guide that can help you determine beef doneness which is specifically made for steaks. To help ensure that you’ve reached the target temperature you’re after, make sure to insert a digital meat thermometer into the thickest part of the steak to get an accurate reading. 

Before you cut up your steak, let it rest for a minimum of 5 minutes or a maximum of 15 minutes. This will help to lock in all the juices while allowing the steak to finish cooking; because of this, you’ll need to pull your steak out of the grill around 5 to 10 degrees before reaching your target temperature.

How Long Should You Grill Steak? 

If you’re looking to cook your steak at 450°F you’ll need to consider the type of steak you’re using, the thickness of the steak, and your preferred temperature. In general, you’ll want to grill a 1-inch ribeye continuously for 4 to 5 minutes on each side for a total of 8 to 10 minutes to get a medium-rare steak. You will need to add another 30 seconds on each side for a total of 1 minute for every ¼ inch after the first inch. 

So if your steak is 1 ½ inches, you’ll need to add one minute on both sides, which will make your total between 9 to 11 minutes inside the grill. Keep in mind that cooking steak using a pellet grill can speed things up by as much as 20% due to the convection fan it uses. To keep up with the right temperature, make sure to check your steak by the 6-minute mark.   

The Best Way to Grill Steak 

Here’s an easier set of instructions that you can follow without all the technical jargon in the steps above. 

Ingredients

• Any kind of 1-inch steak 

Instructions 

1. Take out your steak from the fridge and allow your steak to sit in room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Brush your grill grates to ensure they’re clean; use a brush or paper towel to wipe them down using some olive oil.
3. Pat your steak dry with the paper towel and season it with a simple mix of black pepper and kosher salt (you can add your favorite spices as well). If you’re looking to grill a lean piece of steak such as a flank steak, marinade it inside your fridge for a minimum of 1 hour. 
4. Preheat your grill to a high heat between 450°F-500°F. 
5. Place your steak directly onto your grill and close the lid; there will be a slight dip in temperature but it will come back quickly. 
6. Grill your steak for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 135°F to get a medium-rare steak. As it rests, it should come up to a final temperature of 145°F then carefully transfer the meat on a clean cutting board and let it rest for 5 to 15 minutes. 

More Tips on Grilling Steak 

• Make your steak as dry as possible; pat it dry with a paper towel or leave it uncovered in your fridge overnight before grilling.
• Don’t touch and move your steak around so much until it’s time to do so; try not to check for the internal temperature too early.
• Always preheat your grill to get a nice sear and to lock in juices.
• Never skip the use of an instant-read thermometer to help you determine when your meat is done. 
• Give your steak time to rest for 5 to 15 minutes before serving to finish cooking and lock in the juices. 

Conclusion

Now that you know the best way to cook a great steak, you’ll never have to second-guess whether you have a well-done steak or one that’s still medium rare. Remember that the best temp for grilling steaks will depend on factors such as your desired doneness, and the cut of steak you have. To ensure that you get the right temperature each time, place a thermometer at the center of your steak or the thickest part of your meat.

Sources 

• Whatmollymade.com
• Whitneybond.com
• Mychicagosteak.com