Steak is life. Grill is life. The quest to master the grill, to be a master griller, is a worthy pursuit.
Luckily, grilling the perfect steak isn’t complicated – anyone can do it, regardless of chef skills. Impress your friends and family by using our eight secrets for the grilling the perfect steak. Follow these grilling tips for steakhouse-worthy results at home.
Start with the best steak
It’s important to start with the best steaks you can find… not all steaks are created equal. Obviously, we’re partial to Omaha Steaks, and with good reason. Every Omaha Steak is hand selected for quality and marbling, aged 28+ days for maximum tenderness, hand-carved by master butchers and flash frozen to preserve flavor and texture of your steak until the moment you’re ready to grill. Our beef is better… 100% guaranteed.
Grilling tips for the perfect steak
1. Climatize the steaks
Climatizing your steak simply means “bringing the steak up to room temperature,” and is the easiest thing to do for more even cooking results. Simply set your steaks on a plate, outside of the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour before grilling.
2. Season steaks in advance
Season your steak at least 30 minutes before grilling – this is the secret to big flavor through a better crust. Basically, the salt or seasoning get inside the steak, adding flavor and drying out the surface of the steak. Season simply with kosher salt or use a complete steak seasoning (we love Omaha Steaks Seasoning). Make sure to season the top and bottom. For even better results inside and out, consider using a simple dry brine.
3. Oil the grill grates
Oil the grill, not the steak! Keep steaks from sticking to a hot grill applying a bit of oil just before grilling. You can oil your grates using tongs and a rolled-up paper towel dipped in vegetable oil. Grill spray works too, but you may get flareups.
4. Proper grill temperature
The most important tip for grilling a perfect steak is a HOT grill. Use indirect and direct heat on either a charcoal or gas grill for the best results. Sear the first side of your steak on the hot side of the grill and finish in indirect heat after flipping. Make sure to space your steaks about 1 inch apart to allow each steak to cook thoroughly.
5. Use the 60/40 rule
When and how often to flip a steak is a subject of great debate and strong opinions. And nobody is wrong. Basically, you need to make sure each side is exposed to direct heat long enough to sear. And you want to make sure that it cooks evenly towards the center. The easiest way to achieve that is to flip it once.
The 60/40 rule is a simple guideline for making that single flip. That means 60% of the cook time should be on the first side of the steak and 40% of the cook time on the other side, after the flip.
6. Nail the temperature
The most accurate way to measure the temperature of your steak is with a meat thermometer. Use the Omaha Steaks cooking chart included in every Omaha Steaks steak box, the Omaha Steaks mobile app or our guide to steak doneness and temperature charts. Here is a general guideline for temperature and steak doneness:
- Rare:120F
- Medium-Rare: 130F
- Medium: 140F
- Medium-Well: 150F
- Well: 160+F
7. Keep the Lid Closed
It’s tempting to ogle your steak while it’s cooking, but it’s best to keep the lid closed to ensure an even cook. This also helps control flareups by not adding more oxygen to your fire or burners, keeping you safe while grilling. Our steak cooking charts and app timer are based on keeping the lid closed.
8. Rest the Steaks
The most important step to a perfect steak is to let it rest after cooking. Monitor your steak temperature on the grill, and take it off the heat when it’s 5 – 10 degrees below your target temperature. Let it rest for just 5-10 minutes, and it will come up to temperature and the juices will redistribute to make every bite more delicious. The juicy, tender results are worth the wait. Top your steak with a compound butter for added flavor and serve with a signature Omaha Steakhouse side dish for a perfect grilled steak dinner.