Summer Grilling Tips: How To Grill a Better Steak

As summer approaches so does the start of grilling season, but grilling a steak can be a somewhat daunting task if you've never done it before. Grilling can be a fun activity; it doesn't have to seem like a chore. Plus a properly grilled steak can really impress your friends and loved ones. Here are some simple and easy tips you can use to improve your grilling experience.

First and foremost, depending on the quality of the steak you've purchased, you may or may not want to marinade your steak. Marinades can not only be used for adding flavor, but also to tenderize your cut of steak. However if you are seeking to tenderize your steak, you will want to marinade your steak for at least 6 hours. If you're only looking to add flavor to your meat, as little as 10-15 minutes will be beneficial, but 30 minutes is a recommended minimum. Though if you have more time to marinade, say 2 hours, you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Once your steak is done marinating, you are ready to begin grilling. Before you start, make sure that you scrub your grill grates with a wire grill brush to get rid of any charred material from previous grilling sessions. This is especially true if you use your grill not only for red meat, but also for seafood as well. Also if you have marinated your steak, be sure to dab off any excess marinade on the steak using paper towels as the marinade will more than likely just cause flare ups which will burn your steak.

Now that your grill is clean, you need to preheat it for 5-10 minutes. Putting a steak onto a cold grill will not give you optimal results. Speaking of cold, you will also want to have your steak near room temperature if possible. This will allow the outside of your steak to sear and caramelize which creates a lot of flavor.

When you are ready and your grill is preheated, place your steaks onto the grill, but once you place them onto the grates do not move them for at least 2-3 minutes. At most you will only want to flip your steak once or twice. While we are on the subject, you should never use any utensil that will pierce the meat to flip your steaks as it will leave you with a very dry piece of meat.

Once your steak is cooked to the degree of doneness you want, you are ready to put it on a plate and eat it. Right? Wrong. When your steak first comes off the grill it's still very hot, and the juices inside have not settled and if you were cut into it at that moment your first bite would be the only good one. You need to let your steak rest, wrapped loosely in aluminum foil for at least 5 minutes to ensure all the juices have settled.

Speaking of doneness, how do you know when your steak is done? The best way for grilling beginners to tell is to use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the steak. If your thermometer is an instant read model, you'll know quickly what temperature you are at. If not, you might have to wait 30-45 seconds, but what temperature should the steak be?

Rare - 140F
Medium Rare - 150F
Medium - 160F
Well Done - 170F

Try not to be discouraged if your first few attempts at grilling do not come out the way you had planned them. As with anything the more you do it, the more experience you gain, and in turn the more proficient you become. Just remember that being outdoors with your friends and family is what makes the whole grilling experience so enjoyable.