There are many different ways to enjoy a steak. You can cook them rare or medium, with lots of seasoning or none at all.
Everyone has a preference and that’s without even considering different sauces and foods to accompany the meat. With lots of variation in beef cuts and the size of the filets, lots of people will start to season their steaks before cooking them.
Salt and pepper are easily one of the more frequent combinations seen on top of a steak, but some people will place salt on their steak an hour before cooking.
This isn’t random and there is a reason that these steak lovers will add a sprinkle to their meat before placing it on the grill.
Follow the rest of our guide to find out why people do this and find out whether it’s something you’d like to try in the future.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Steak?
There are lots of different kinds of steak, with the rump being one of the most frequently seen cuts of beef found in the wide world of steak. However, it’s not the only cut that exists, with many people preferring other variations of the beef.
Rump Steak
Rump is commonly used for ground chuck, which comes from the bottom round of the cow. If you like your steak cooked long and slow then you’ll love the flavor and tenderness that comes from this cut of meat. If you like to have lots of juices flowing and enjoy a thick bit of fat featuring, then this is the cut for you.
Tenderloin Steak
Tenderloins come from the loin area of the cow. These aren’t as popular as some other types of steak, but those who eat them appreciate how lean and flavorful they can be when prepared properly. Some people also use this cut of meat for filet mignon.
Sirloin Steak
This cut of beef is known for its rich flavor. It’s also quite lean, making it easy to cook quickly without drying out too much over time. Sirloin also tends to be a thinner cut than a lot of other steak forms, with a thin lining of fat around the outside.
Ribeye Steak
People often choose between rib eye, sirloin, and filet mignon for a richer cut of steak. All three of those cuts of meat are excellent when cooked properly, however, they are also very different from each other.
For instance, if you want to go for sirloin, then you need to make sure you don’t overcook it as it tends to dry out quickly. Ribeye is another good option, as its fat content makes it ideal for grilling.
Common Ways To Season When Cooking Steak
Before cooking a juicy steak, some people find it very important to season your meat before placing it over the flame. Many will add a few herbs to the steak to give it a new twist and to ensure that there is no limit to the number of flavors available.
However, the most common way to season a steak is to add salt and pepper on top of your prime beef. Usually, steak lovers will add black pepper and some salt crystals to the top of their meat to ensure that they complement each other.
However, it’s important to add the right amount of salt and black pepper to make sure that you don’t overpower the steak’s natural flavors. Otherwise, you risk losing the initial flavors that made us fall in love with the perfect steak in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
When adding salt to a steak, there are two main things to consider: the type of salt you’re using and how much you add.
If you want to avoid any potential health issues, then you should stick to table salt or standard coarse salt. This is because it doesn’t contain additives and preservatives which could affect your body negatively.
If you prefer to use sea salt instead, then you’ll need to take into account the amount of salt that you add to your steak.
Sea salt is usually sold in smaller quantities and is best used sparingly. Too much salt can cause dehydration and make your steak tough and chewy. Nobody wants that!
The easiest way to salt your steak before cooking is to peel back the packaging or whatever cover the meat has over it and get your salt shaker.
The best thing to do, rather than apply the salt straight onto the steak, is to pour the salt onto the palm of your hand. Make sure you’ve washed your hands thoroughly before doing this to avoid the spreading of bacteria and germs.
Then, take your fingers and pinch the salt between your thumb, your index finger, and your middle finger, This allows you to have more control over the amount of salt being applied to your steak.
It also prevents too much salt from being applied to your steak, especially if the lid falls off and too much salt pours out! This can also be repeated for ground pepper.
After letting the steak rest for about an hour, apply some cooking oil to the top of the steak or the pan that you’re using just to make sure the steak doesn’t stick to the cooking appliance.
Letting the steak rest is important to make sure the salt and pepper have time to sink their flavors into the meat. Just remember not to use too much salt per pound of steak!
Many people believe that the magic number for letting your steak rest is around an hour. This is because it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. However, this isn’t always true.
Some steaks require less resting time than others. For example, flank steak needs only 30 minutes while porterhouse requires at least 45 minutes. The rule of thumb is to let your steak rest longer if it has been marinated for more than 24 hours.
Of course, lots of people love to use a meat thermometer when looking to make sure their delicious steak is cooked all the way through.
When using a hot grill, it can be hard to make sure that the steak is cooked evenly without burning the meat. Individual steaks will take longer to cook depending on how thick it is, with some taking a lot longer than thinner variations.
Sometimes the best thing to do is to undercook your steak slightly and cut it into the meat. You can then judge the level of cooking depending on the color of the meat inside.
We recommend undercooking slightly because you can always put the steak back onto the grill to cook more, but you can’t uncook your food!
How To Cook A Steak?
There are many ways to cook a steak, depending on how thick it is, what cut it is, and whether you’re looking for medium-rare or well done. Here are a few options:
Grilled Steak
If you’re grilling your steak, you might be interested in learning how to barbecue your steak. Grilling is a great option for anyone who likes to cook outdoors. It’s simple, quick, and healthy.
There’s no need to worry about messy charcoal fires when you’re grilling. Plus, you don’t have to clean up too much afterward, either. All you need is a good pair of tongs and a plate.
Smoked Steak
For those who love smoked foods, there’s nothing better than a smoked steak. You’ll find that these types of steaks come with a lot of flavors.
They’re usually served with a side dish of mashed potatoes or other vegetables. If you’d prefer, you can serve these steaks with a salad as well.
Pan-Fried Steak
This is one of the more popular methods for preparing a steak. Pan-frying is a great option for those who want to reduce fat and calories but still enjoy having a delicious meal.
You won’t need any special equipment to prepare pan-fried steak. Simply place a skillet or saute pan over high heat and watch the meat start to sizzle with flavor!
Conclusion
So there you have it, the ins and outs of salting your steak and the reasons for letting it sit for an hour. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and might prefer other ways to prepare their beef, however, this method can be extremely effective.
Always make sure that you use clean tools and utensils, on top of having clean and freshly washed hands. At the end of the day, you need to keep yourself safe and avoid any potential illnesses that you might pick up along the way. If you can do all this and follow the steps in our guide, then you’ll be enjoying a wonderfully tasty steak in no time!
