We all wish to host the perfect steak night. So let’s discuss five essential elements you need to cook a delicious steak and enjoy it with your family and friends.
Being invited to a steak night is something we all wish for after a busy week’s schedule. However, hosting a steak night is another story. Generally, people assume there are many things that can go wrong with a steak. Well, that’s true and can be said for any other recipe as well. The trick to a great steak night is to carefully plan your basics. Take care of these five essential elements for a delicious steak night.
CHOOSE YOUR MEAT
The first rule of a great steak is getting good beef. Now, how do you choose good beef if you’re new to the steak world? The answer is simple! Choose fresh red beef, evenly cut, with lots of visible fat (marbling). If the meat has more marbling, it has a more robust and intense flavor than lean meat. If you’re looking for the most tender steak possible, choose one cut from the animal’s loin. In fact, you can obtain plenty of information and resources about meat from Carnivore Style that will help you be better informed and well-equipped.
Now, how much meat do you need? There’s nothing wrong with having leftovers; you can always improvise and mix the leftovers, but too many leftovers can be bothersome and wasteful. The general rule is to multiply a half-pound per person. You don’t have to worry about the most expensive or the cheapest. Remember, a well-cooked steak is better than an expensive steak poorly cooked. Instead, you want it to look effortless, taste delicious, and not cost a penny more than necessary.
GOOD EQUIPMENT
There is a ton of fancy equipment you will find online, each claiming to be better. But you don’t need all that if you’re neither a chef nor a restaurateur. So let’s keep things simple here too. Here are some everyday kitchen equipment items you need; and most of the equipment may already be available in our kitchen.
Knives: You need to have a good pair of sharp knives. A good steak knife is a versatile knife that can be used for all sorts of culinary preparations: cubing cheese, splitting cherry tomatoes, slicing a sandwich in half, coring an apple, trimming meat fat, and much more. Moreover, if you’ve ever visited a kitchenware store near you, you’ll find a variety of steak boning knives at a cheap price. Boning knives measure 5 to 8 inches in length with ultra-thin blades that simplify meat deboning and filleting. Make sure to get one!
In addition to knives, you’ll need a sharpening steel or a whetstone to keep your knives sharp. There’s nothing worse than trying to cut meat with a dull knife. It will ruin your meat. So avoid using a dull knife to prepare a steak.
Meat Thermometer: All your efforts can be ruined by dry and overcooked meat. Additionally, everyone has a preference on how their steak should be. If you’re used to cooking a well-done steak, it can be a daunting task when one of your guests requests their steak be cooked medium-rare. With a cooking thermometer, you can easily take care of these issues! When cooked to the right temperature, the meat will remain juicy and tender for you to enjoy.
Heavy Wooden Cutting Board: A heavy wooden cutting board is an investment you need to make for your kitchen. Nothing can replace the utility it provides when preparing a meal indoors or outdoors. When you’re preparing food, especially raw meat, you want a solid and reliable surface. This is also important to avoid injuries.
GRILL
Grill cooking takes up space and effort compared to a cast iron skillet. But there are logical reasons why a grill is included as a requirement for a steak night. There are a variety of grills available in the market, including a pellet grill that you can get to cook a great steak. When you grill, you consume less fat, as evidenced by open cooking, as the excess fats are filtered out. Additionally, when you throw a piece of meat on the fire, it preserves more riboflavin and thiamine. These two nutrients play an essential role in a healthy diet. Finally, wrapping your vegetables in aluminum foil or simply placing them on top of your grill to cook is nutritionally advantageous compared to boiling or frying them.
RED WINE
A juicy steak with a glass of red wine is indeed a perfect pair! Make sure to get a good bottle of red wine that will pair well with the steak. It will enhance the flavor of your steak and also control bad cholesterol and reduce the amount that enters your bloodstream. Most red wines contain tannic acid which helps cleanse your palate after consuming fatty parts of a rare or medium-rare beef steak. Furthermore, a grape-based red wine allows the meat’s flavor to stand out.
