You will still need your frying pan to be hot, but at more of a medium heat. There should still be a sizzle when you place your piece of steak down, but it will not be as dramatic. If you pan is too hot, the outside will cook too quickly, or even burn, before the middle has a chance to cook.
Heat a very little oil in a frying pan (it should just barely cover the surface of the pan) until hot and almost smoking. Brown the steaks quickly on one side, then turn the heat down to medium and cook for the required length of time, determined by how you like your steak cooked (see above).
Start in a cold pan (no need to preheat). Flip the steaks every 2 minutes. Start with high heat, and then after a few flips, turn it down to medium. Cook until the exterior is well browned and the interior registers 120 degrees Fahrenheit (for medium-rare).
Steaks should always be cooked on high temperatures to sear the outside and trap the juices and flavor inside. Steaks should almost always be cooked on a grill or in a pan on high heat: all cooking guidelines below are for one-inch thick steaks. Rest your steak for five minutes under aluminum foil before eating.
Allowing the meat to come to room temperature allows for a more even cook all the way through. If your meat is cold when it hits the pan, it can cause the muscle fibres to tense up. Get your steak out ahead of time – about 30-40 minutes is usually ample for a 500g steak.
One of the best methods for steak: start it low, cook it slow, then quickly sear or grill for a beautiful crust.
Cook to Your Desired Level of Doneness
To cook your steak to medium or medium-rare, set the skillet over medium-high heat. To cook the steak to medium or well-done, start at medium-high for the first few minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking to your desired doneness.
Preheat the pan on medium and brush with oil. Using just 1/2 Tbsp oil reduces splatter. Sear steaks – add steaks and sear each side 3-4 minutes until a brown crust has formed then use tongs to turn steaks on their sides and sear edges (1 min per edge).
Place your steak on a plate and drizzle the steak with oil on both sides, massaging in a little to cover all areas. Also, do allow your pan to get hot before frying up that piece of meat!
Rule #1: LET MEAT COME TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.
Maybe you're concerned about food safety (as we all should be), and think the meat should be in the fridge until right at that moment when it's ready to cook. No. That cold steak, pork, or chicken is going to hit that hot pan and immediately start binding to the pan.
Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat (about 500 degrees). Sear steaks for 3 minutes per side. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking with the lid closed until the steaks reach the desired level of doneness (130 degrees F for medium-rare).
Indirect heat means you're cooking the food to the side of the heat source. For steak, you're mainly dealing with direct heat. (Indirect heat is better for slow-cooking foods like ribs.)
You'll want to preheat your pan over high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until very hot. Then, pat your steak dry with paper towels and sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of salt in the bottom of the skillet. Now you're ready to sear!
Cook without moving steaks until a golden brown crust forms, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook 2 minutes more for rare, or 3 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice steaks against the grain; serve with sauce, if desired.
Most chefs regard beef cooked to medium-rare — with an internal temperature of 130-135F (55-57C) — as the best way to bring out flavour and retain moisture in tender cuts such as rib eye and top loin. Unlike rare, medium-rare allows time for the outside to caramelise and develop a sear.
Hot and Fast: Anytime you are planning to use a thinner meat cut like skirt steak, chuck, or flank or even thin sirloin, rump steaks etc., cooking it fast on high heat will yield the best results. With a thin cut, any slow cooking method will overcook the meat and leave it with a chewy, rubbery texture.
Butter is ideal for continually basting a steak and lends itself perfectly to some cuts and for those who like to be there tenderly managing the cooking. Being there and continually basting means the butter is less likely to burn and mar the flavour.
Temperature and Timing for Pan Searing and Cooking Steaks
Sear each surface for 2 minutes at 425°F (218°C), then reduce the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue cooking for the recommended times defined by your steak's thickness and your desired doneness.
Having a hot pan is vital to cooking your food properly. In addition to creating a beautiful sear on your ingredients, having a properly heated pan will also reduce the amount of oil absorbed.
Beginning with a cold pan allows you to better control the temperature, and lets you slowly build layers of flavor, rather than shocking your ingredients.
Like butter, olive oil has a distinct taste and low smoke point. It also offers immense moisture and character depending on what kind of oil you buy. Even modestly priced olive oil can give flavour to a steak and if you like that flavour, this is definitely the way to go.