Steak · Reverse-Seared
Reverse-Seared Thick-Cut Steak
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Before you start
Gather your ingredients
Weights from USDA FoodData Central cup weights; counted things stay as counts.
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for vegetable oil
Instead of vegetable oil
- Another neutral oil: The same amount. No difference.
- Melted butter: The same amount. Richer, buttery flavor; cakes are a little less moist and firmer once cool.
- Light olive oil: The same amount. "Light" olive oil tastes mild.
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Step 1 of 11
Season (how to season to taste)
Season to taste Add salt (and pepper or acid) bit by bit, tasting as you go, until the food tastes fully of itself. 1. Season meat and vegetables before cooking, holding the salt high so it falls evenly.2. Taste the dish near the end with a clean spoon.3. If it tastes flat, add a pinch of salt, stir and taste again.4. If it tastes heavy or dull, a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar brightens it.5. Stop when another pinch wouldn't make it better. Done when: The flavors are clear and bright, not flat and not salty. Safety: Don't taste dishes that hold raw meat, poultry or eggs; season them by the recipe's amounts and adjust after cooking.How to season to taste: mistakes to avoidStep 2 of 11
Heat the oven to 250°F with a rack in the middle.
250°F
Step 3 of 11
Pat the steaks dry and them with the pepper. Keep them on the rack in the sheet pan.
season (how to season to taste)
Season to taste Add salt (and pepper or acid) bit by bit, tasting as you go, until the food tastes fully of itself. 1. Season meat and vegetables before cooking, holding the salt high so it falls evenly.2. Taste the dish near the end with a clean spoon.3. If it tastes flat, add a pinch of salt, stir and taste again.4. If it tastes heavy or dull, a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar brightens it.5. Stop when another pinch wouldn't make it better. Done when: The flavors are clear and bright, not flat and not salty. Safety: Don't taste dishes that hold raw meat, poultry or eggs; season them by the recipe's amounts and adjust after cooking.How to season to taste: mistakes to avoidStep 4 of 11
Bake until the center of each steak reads 125°F (52°C). Start checking at 35 minutes.
250°F
Step 5 of 11
Take the steaks out of the oven. They'll look gray; the fixes that.
sear (how to sear)
Sear Brown the outside of meat or fish fast in a very hot pan for a deep, flavorful crust. 1. Pat the meat dry with paper towels and salt it.2. Heat a heavy pan over medium-high to high heat until very hot, then add a thin layer of oil.3. Lay the meat in, away from you, and leave it alone.4. Turn it once it releases easily and is deep brown, then brown the other side.5. Sear in batches so the pieces don't touch. Done when: There is a deep brown crust and the meat lets go of the pan on its own. Searing doesn't cook it through; finish to a safe temperature. Safety: Hot oil spatters: dry the food first, lay it in the pan moving away from you, and keep a lid nearby. Never put water on an oil fire; slide the lid over it and turn off the heat. Turn on the fan; a hot pan smokes.How to sear meat and fish: mistakes to avoidStep 6 of 11
Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat until it smokes. Turn on your vent fan.
Step 7 of 11
Sear (how to sear)
Sear Brown the outside of meat or fish fast in a very hot pan for a deep, flavorful crust. 1. Pat the meat dry with paper towels and salt it.2. Heat a heavy pan over medium-high to high heat until very hot, then add a thin layer of oil.3. Lay the meat in, away from you, and leave it alone.4. Turn it once it releases easily and is deep brown, then brown the other side.5. Sear in batches so the pieces don't touch. Done when: There is a deep brown crust and the meat lets go of the pan on its own. Searing doesn't cook it through; finish to a safe temperature. Safety: Hot oil spatters: dry the food first, lay it in the pan moving away from you, and keep a lid nearby. Never put water on an oil fire; slide the lid over it and turn off the heat. Turn on the fan; a hot pan smokes.How to sear meat and fish: mistakes to avoidStep 8 of 11
Flip, add the butter (if using) and the second side.
sear (how to sear)
Sear Brown the outside of meat or fish fast in a very hot pan for a deep, flavorful crust. 1. Pat the meat dry with paper towels and salt it.2. Heat a heavy pan over medium-high to high heat until very hot, then add a thin layer of oil.3. Lay the meat in, away from you, and leave it alone.4. Turn it once it releases easily and is deep brown, then brown the other side.5. Sear in batches so the pieces don't touch. Done when: There is a deep brown crust and the meat lets go of the pan on its own. Searing doesn't cook it through; finish to a safe temperature. Safety: Hot oil spatters: dry the food first, lay it in the pan moving away from you, and keep a lid nearby. Never put water on an oil fire; slide the lid over it and turn off the heat. Turn on the fan; a hot pan smokes.How to sear meat and fish: mistakes to avoidStep 9 of 11
Stand the steaks on their edges with tongs and the fat edges. They should now read 145°F (63°C); if not, keep searing and turning.
sear (how to sear)
Sear Brown the outside of meat or fish fast in a very hot pan for a deep, flavorful crust. 1. Pat the meat dry with paper towels and salt it.2. Heat a heavy pan over medium-high to high heat until very hot, then add a thin layer of oil.3. Lay the meat in, away from you, and leave it alone.4. Turn it once it releases easily and is deep brown, then brown the other side.5. Sear in batches so the pieces don't touch. Done when: There is a deep brown crust and the meat lets go of the pan on its own. Searing doesn't cook it through; finish to a safe temperature. Safety: Hot oil spatters: dry the food first, lay it in the pan moving away from you, and keep a lid nearby. Never put water on an oil fire; slide the lid over it and turn off the heat. Turn on the fan; a hot pan smokes.How to sear meat and fish: mistakes to avoid145°F
Step 10 of 11
Rest (how to rest)
Rest Leave cooked meat, baked goods or dough alone for a while before you cut, slice or shape it. 1. Move meat to a board or plate as soon as it is done (a few degrees shy of target for big roasts; it keeps rising).2. Tent it loosely with foil if the kitchen is cool.3. Rest steaks and chops 5 minutes, roasts 15 to 20, a turkey 30.4. For dough, cover it so it doesn't dry out while it relaxes. Done when: Meat juices stay in when you slice; dough rolls out without springing back. Safety: Rest at room temperature for under an hour, then refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.How to rest meat and dough: mistakes to avoidStep 11 of 11
Cut the meat off the bone and it across the grain to serve.
slice (how to slice)
Slice Cut food into flat pieces of the same thickness. 1. Give round food a flat side to sit on.2. Hold it with your fingertips curled under.3. Cut with long strokes, pushing the knife forward and down rather than straight down.4. Move your guiding hand back the same distance each time so every slice matches. Done when: The slices are even. For meat, slicing across the grain (across the lines of muscle) gives the tenderest bite. Safety: Keep the fingertips of your guiding hand curled under, knuckles toward the blade, and set the board on a damp towel so it can't slide. Slice hot roasts on a board with a groove for the juices.How to slice evenly: mistakes to avoidAll done
Enjoy!
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