Alton Browns Pan Seared Steak Recipes

CAST IRON PAN-SEARED STEAK (OVEN-FINISHED)

Steps:

• Place steaks side by side in large casserole dish. Add orange juice, cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Remove casserole dish from refrigerator. Cover steaks with plastic wrap and let reach room temperature, at least 15 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat.
• Place steaks on a clean work surface and generously rub with steak seasoning and black pepper.
• Cook steaks in the hot skillet until lightly browned on the bottom, 2 1/2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side and red in the center, about 2 minutes more. Place skillet, with steaks, into the oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until steaks are firm and reddish-pink to lightly pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read from 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) to 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Remove steaks from oven; season with salt. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

ELECTION NIGHT SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Coat the steak with 1 tablespoon of the salt and set on a rack inside a rimmed pan and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes. The steak should come up to somewhere between 45 and 50°F. Tear off an 18-inch long piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and have it standing by near the cooktop
• When about 5 minutes of the salting time remains, place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over the highest heat you've got for a full 5 minutes. You will want to crank up your ventilation hood to high and open a window; there's gonna be smoke.
• Evenly sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of salt across the bottom of the hot skillet. Lightly coat both sides of the steak with the oil. Place right in the middle of the pan and don't touch it for 2 minutes. Flip and rotate 90 degrees so that the steak hits fresh pan (and fresh salt) and cook another 2 minutes, uninterrupted.
• Turn the steak up on one long edge and cook for 30 seconds, then turn and cook along the opposite edge for another 30. If you're checking, its internal temperature should be between 70° and 72°F. Transfer to the foil and wrap tightly for 3 minutes. During this time leave the skillet on the heat. (Did I mention there would be smoke?)
• After 3 minutes, unwrap the steak and place it back in the pan for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3. Flip and cook another 2, then flip and cook a final 2 minutes. At this point, the internal temperature should be 120°F. (If you prefer your steak more on the rare side, decrease the final cook times to 2 minutes, 2 minutes, then 1 and 1. Its internal temperature should be between 105 and 110°F.)
• Return the steak to the foil and wrap tightly to rest for 5 minutes. Then unwrap and slice thin on the bias. Serve with any accumulated juices.

PAN-SEARED RIB-EYE

Steps:

• Place a 10-to-12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring the steak to room temperature.
• When the oven reaches temperature, remove the skillet and place on the range over high heat for 5 minutes. Coat the steak lightly with oil and sprinkle both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper.
• Immediately place the steak in the middle of the hot, dry skillet. Cook 30 seconds without moving. Turn with tongs and cook another 30 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 2 minutes. Flip the steak and cook for another 2 minutes. (This time is for medium-rare steak. If you prefer medium, add a minute to both of the oven turns.)
• Remove the steak from the skillet, cover loosely with foil and rest for 2 minutes. Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

PAN SEARED STEAK (FROM ALTON BROWN)

Steps:

• Remove steak(s) from fridge and start bringing them to room temperature.
• After 30 to 45 minutes, place a 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet in oven and heat oven to 500 degrees F.
• When oven reaches temperature, remove the pan and place it on a burner over high heat.
• Coat steak(s) lightly with oil and season both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper to taste.
• Immediately place steak(s) in the middle of the hot, dry pan. Cook 30 to 60 seconds without moving. Turn the steak(s) with tongs and cook another 30 to 60 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Flip steak(s) and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. (The time in the oven depends on how rare you like your steaks. The time given is for medium, but depends on number of steaks, etc. as well.)
• Remove the steak(s) from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 2 minutes.
• Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

STRIP STEAK WITH PEPPER CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
• Sprinkle steaks with kosher salt and crushed black pepper. Heat butter in a 12-inch, heavy bottomed saute pan over medium heat. Once butter is hot, add steaks and cook until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare and 3 minutes per side for medium. Remove steaks from pan and place on a rack set on a sheet pan; place in oven to keep warm.
• Add the stock to the saute pan and whisk until the crispy bits release from bottom of pan. Allow the liquid to reduce for 3 to 4 minutes over medium-high heat. Add cognac, heavy cream, and green peppercorns to the pan. Increase heat to high and cook, whisking continually, until sauce thickens slightly, just enough to coat the back of a spoon; this will take 5 to 7 minutes.
• Season the sauce, to taste, with kosher salt. Place steaks on plates, top with sauce, and serve immediately.

SIRLOIN STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven on broiler setting. Make foil 'snake' out of aluminum foil to use to keep oven door slightly ajar so that broiler won't turn off if it gets too hot. Brush steak with oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Place a piece of foil on the bottom rack as a drip pan. Place another rack in the position above this and put the steak directly on this rack. Cook steak in this position for 5 minutes. Flip steak and cook for another 5 minutes. Move rack with steak to top position in oven, moving rack with foil and drippings just underneath, and cook for 3 minutes. Flip 1 last time and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer steak to wire rack and rest for 3 to 5 minutes. The above times are for medium doneness. Adjust cooking times up or down as desired.

PAN SEARED RIB EYE

Steps:

• Place 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet in oven and heat oven to 500 degrees. Bring steak(s) to room temperature.
• When oven reaches temperature, remove pan and place on range over high heat. Coat steak lightly with oil and season both sides with a generous pinch of salt. Grind on black pepper to taste.
• Immediately place steak in the middle of hot, dry pan. Cook 30 seconds without moving. Turn with tongs and cook another 30 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 2 minutes. Flip steak and cook for another 2 minutes. (This time is for medium rare steaks. If you prefer medium, add a minute to both of the oven turns.)
• Remove steak from pan, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 2 minutes. Serve whole or slice thin and fan onto plate.

REVERSE-SEAR RIBEYE STEAK

Steps:

• Season steak on both sides with the salt and place on a rack set inside a rimmed sheet pan. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or up to 24.
• Heat oven to 200ºF. Insert a probe thermometer horizontally through the side of the steak and roast, still on the rack and sheet pan, until it reaches an internal temperature of 120ºF, about 1 hour. Remove steak from the oven and rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat until it reaches at least 600ºF, at least 10 minutes. (If you don't have an infrared thermometer, you'll know you're close when 1/2 teaspoon water dropped in the middle of the pan has completely evaporated in 5 seconds.
• Brush a very light coat of peanut oil onto both sides of the steak. Transfer to the hot skillet and sear on each side until deeply browned, 45 seconds per side. Use a stopwatch!
• Transfer to a clean rack and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice diagonally against the grain to serve.

SEARED STEAK

Steps:

• If time allows remove steaks from packaging, dry with paper towels, put on a plate and refrigerate a day or two. If not, wrap in paper towels and set on counter about 30 minutes. (If you're really in a hurry, just proceed.)
• Heat oven to 500 degrees (550 if possible), and set a rack in the lowest position, unless skillet can be placed directly on oven floor. Place a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold steaks without crowding over high heat, and heat until smoking. Sprinkle surface of pan with coarse salt, and put steaks in. Smoke will billow up; wearing a thick oven mitt, immediately transfer skillet to oven.
• Roast steaks, turning once, about 4 minutes a side for medium rare, or until browned and cooked to preferred doneness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and let rest 3 to 5 minutes. Slice steaks or cut each into two pieces, and serve.