Why bring steaks to room temp before grilling
It is standard advice to bring steaks to room temp before grilling. (Actually meat generally, and I absolutely agree w.r.t. roasts etc, but I am talking aout steaks on the grill here). I like a pretty hard sear on the outside and almost rare inside ... well-rare as opposed to medium-rare. I find it easier to do this (without ending up with well-medium) if I start with the steak at a cooler temperature. Is this wrong?
Best Answer
Giving your steak a hard sear in a ripping hot cast iron pan (which usually is heavy enough to hold a lot of heat) probably takes a minute or two on each side. I personally find that throwing steak directly from the fridge into the pan, seasoning before I put it in the pan, will give me a sear no problem, but the interior won't have time to come up to the temperature I want - about 55-57 °C (130 to 135 degrees F)for medium rare, 49-51 °C (120-125 F) for rare. That's why I rest it for about 20-30 min before searing, during which I do my other prep work. If your method gives you the internal temperature you want, no problem.
I think you will get a steak that is cold in the middle though if it's too big, i.e., if it is heavier and thus needs more time to warm up internally, even in a very hot pan.
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Quick Answer about "Why bring steaks to room temp before grilling"
Myth #1: "You should let a thick steak rest at room temperature before you cook it." The Theory: You want your meat to cook evenly from edge to center. Therefore, the closer it is to its final eating temperature, the more evenly it will cook.Should steak be at room temperature before grilling?
Do a warm-up. Take your steak out of the fridge about 20 minutes before grilling to bring it to room temperature. A freezing-cold steak won't cook evenly.Why do you bring steak to room temp before cooking?
Allowing the meat to come to room temperature allows for a more even cook all the way through. If your meat is cold when it hits the pan, it can cause the muscle fibres to tense up. Get your steak out ahead of time \u2013 about 30-40 minutes is usually ample for a 500g steak.Should You Bring Meat to Room Temperature Before Cooking?
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