Introduction
Marinating steak is a great way to add flavor and tenderize the meat. But, if you want to get the absolute best results, you need to know the right techniques. That’s why we asked a professional chef to share his top tips for marinating steak. In this article, you’ll learn the best way to marinate steak, including the best ingredients to use, the ideal marinating time, and more. So, if you want to make the most flavorful and tender steak, read on to learn the chef’s secrets.
The Absolute Best Way to Marinate Steak, According to a Chef
If you’re looking for the best way to marinate steak, you’ve come to the right place. We asked a professional chef to share his top tips for marinating steak, and he had some great advice. Here’s what he had to say:
1. Start with a Good Cut of Steak
The first step to marinating steak is to start with a good cut of steak. Look for a steak that is well-marbled and has a good fat content. This will help the steak absorb the marinade and give it a great flavor.
2. Choose the Right Marinade
The next step is to choose the right marinade. You can use a store-bought marinade or make your own. If you’re making your own, use a combination of oil, acid (such as vinegar or citrus juice), herbs, and spices. This will help the steak absorb the marinade and give it a great flavor.
3. Marinate for the Right Amount of Time
Once you’ve chosen the right marinade, it’s important to marinate the steak for the right amount of time. Generally, you should marinate the steak for at least two hours, but no more than 24 hours. This will help the steak absorb the marinade and give it a great flavor.
4. Cook the Steak to Perfection
Once the steak has been marinated, it’s time to cook it. Make sure to cook the steak to the desired doneness. This will help the steak absorb the marinade and give it a great flavor.
5. Enjoy!
Once the steak is cooked to perfection, it’s time to enjoy! Serve the steak with your favorite sides and enjoy the delicious flavor that comes from marinating steak.
Cooking a steak might seem as simple as putting it on a flaming grill or in a sizzling pan, but there is a lot more prep work that goes into making the perfect steak meal than you may think.
First, you have to select the right cut of meat, then you have to determine how you want to cook it, what you want it to be served with, and what level of doneness you want the steak to reach when it’s finished. Another crucial step is deciding on the marinade you’ll have for the steak, but it isn’t as simple as just placing the meat into some sauce.
“Marinating a steak is done for many reasons, but the two main reasons people will marinate their steaks are for flavor and texture,” says Stephen Bukoff, Executive Chef at The Langham, Boston. “Once the marinade contacts the meat, it starts to break down the tissue, making the meat tender.”
So what is this chef’s favorite way to marinate meat? Read on to learn about Bukoff’s suggested recipe and method for marinating the perfect steak.
Selecting a marinade is subjective and dependent upon the preferred flavor profiles of whoever will be eating the steak, but Bukoff says one of his favorite marinade recipes combines red wine vinegar, soy sauce, olive oil, fresh garlic clove, shallot, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
“You would combine the liquids in a bowl, and then smash the garlic clove and julienne the white onion,” Bukoff says. “Add those to the bowl with the fresh herbs (stem and all), as well as the salt and pepper.”
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Once the marinade has been put together, you can place the steak in a Ziploc bag and pour the marinade into the bag with the steak. After the marinade is added to the bag, seal it and place it in the refrigerator for no more than two hours, according to Bukoff, who prefers to leave it in the refrigerator for just one hour.
According to Bukoff, if the meat is left to marinate in the refrigerator for more than two hours, it will be too saturated with the flavor of the marinade, which will take away from the natural flavor of the steak.
“Marinades are a fun way to play with flavors. You can go tropical with fruits, umami with soy, or herbaceous with fresh herbs and oil,” Bukoff says. “Overall, you can achieve a deeper flavor and tenderness when you use marinades.”
He adds that once the meat is done marinating, the steak can be cooked in whichever way you want, although Bukoff prefers to use a grill.
“You can cook it really any way you want, but typically I would use a grill as I like the high temperature and charcoal crust,” Bukoff says. “But you can sear and roast as well.”