Grilling Great Steaks on Your Backyard Grill

Grill your steak when you cook outdoors. Grilling is a dry heat cooking method ideal for thick, tender steaks such as a T-bone or N.Y. strip steak. Soak steaks from tougher cuts of meat such as a flank or skirt steak in a tenderizing marinade for six to 24 hours before grilling. A tenderizing marinade uses acidic liquids like fruit juice or wine to tenderize the meat.

Prep: Trim all visible fat from the steak to reduce the fat content and prevent flare-ups on the grill. Season the steaks using a dry rub or marinade. Lay the steaks on the cooking rack of your preheated grill. Allow the surface of the steaks to brown completely before turning to prevent it from sticking to the cooking rack.

Grill Times: Grill your steak the amount of time appropriate for the cut of meat you have. As a general guideline, grill a ¾-inch-thick ribeye boneless or bone-in steak for six to eight minutes. Grill a 1-inch-thick T-bone, Porterhouse or top loin strip steak for 14 to 16 minutes. Grill a 1-inch-thick tenderloin or ¾-inch-thick top sirloin steak for 13 to 15 minutes.

Tips for a Gas or Electric Grill: Ignite your gas or electric grill according to the owner's manual or directions on the grill itself. Preheat and grill your steak at medium heat with the lid down - unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Keep the lid up for grilling steaks.

Charcoal Grill: Take the lid off your charcoal grill, open all the air vents and remove the cooking rack. Mound high-quality charcoal briquettes made from hardwoods into a pyramid in the center of the grill according to the instruction manual - typically 40 to 50 pieces. Apply an approved fire starter and light the coals. Let the flaming charcoal extinguish itself. Let the coals sit until you see the coals covered with a coating of light grey ash. Anticipate preparing the charcoal for grilling will take 20 to 30 minutes. Spread the glowing coals evenly on the bottom of the grill to cook with direct heat and replace the cooking rack.

Tips: Use a spatuala to turn your steaks over and keep all the flavorful juices inside. Create your own grill at a campfire by setting grilling rack on stones and cooking over glowing embers from your campfire. For recipes that require indirect heat, place the glowing coals evenly on one side of the grill.

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Reference: Texas Beef Council - Grilling