Charcoal Grilling
Charcoal grills come in all sizes, which is ideal if you only have a small backyard or garden space. Grilling over charcoal gives steak a rich and smoky flavor that you won’t be able to duplicate on a gas barbeque. It also takes a bit more patience to cook over a charcoal grill, but the end result of a moist and juicy steak is well worth it.
Choosing the right cut of steak
It’s really about choosing any cut – any cut of steak tastes delicious cooked over charcoal. Some great options are a New York strip or a rib eye. Look for cuts that have a good marbling of fat to ensure juiciness and a buttery flavor.
Prepping the steak
Remove the steak from the fridge about 20 minutes before grilling. Season well with salt and pepper, giving the seasoning time to set into the meat, enhancing the flavor. If you want additional flavor, season the meat with a summer rub made with paprika, minced onion, minced garlic, and ground coriander.
Heat up the grill
Light up the charcoal, allowing the coals to heat. Once the charcoal is hot and ready to grill, build up the coals to one side of the grill to create a direct hot zone, leaving the other side of the grill as the “cool zone”.
Cooking steak over coals
Place the steaks on the grill over the hot zone – cook for about two to three minutes until the outside of the meat is nicely seared. Flip over and sear the other side for another two to three minutes. Then move the steak to the cool zone of the grill and cook until done. Use a meat thermometer to get the cook you want:
- Rare: 120-125F
- Medium: 125-135F
- Well done: 140F
Serve with a summer salad and grilled corn.
Gas Barbeque Grilling
Cooking on a gas barbeque is fast and easy. Just heat up the grill and start cooking any cut of steak.
Warm up the steak
Steak needs be taken out of the fridge before cooking on a gas grill – otherwise if you put cold steak on a hot grill the outside will burn before the interior is cooked to perfection.
Marinade and season the steak
Summer marinades are a nice way to add extra flavor to steak. It’s also a good way to add tenderness to less choice cuts of meat such as a flank steak or those steaks that don’t have enough marbling. Here’s the perfect summer marinade – 3 tablespoons tequila mixed with olive oil, fresh lime juice, coarsely chopped garlic, and a dash of Tabasco sauce. Spread over the steak and chill for about 15 to 20 minutes, taking the steak out of the fridge to warm up before grilling.
Cooking BBQ steak
Make sure the grill is good and hot before cooking the steak. The high heat is going to quickly sear the steak, sealing in the juices. Then move to a less hot area of the grill and cook until done.
Grilled steak goes well with grilled vegetables and a baked potato.
Take advantage of the summer weather to grill steak outdoors. And when you’re ready to treat yourself to a great steak dinner that someone else has prepared for you, come spend an evening with us at Rib’N Reef.
