Perfect Pan Seared Steak Recipes

PAN-SEARED STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Heat oil in a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet (not a nonstick) over medium-high until it begins to smoke. Pat steak dry with paper towels. Season each side with 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon cracked pepper.
• Cook steak in skillet over medium-high heat until a dark crust has formed, 5 to 7 minutes per side (reduce heat if meat is browning too quickly). Holding steak with tongs, quickly brown all edges, turning as necessary; lay steak flat in skillet.
• Transfer skillet to oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of steak registers desired doneness, 5 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate; spread with 1 tablespoon Steak Butter. Cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes (temperature will then rise another 5 to 10 degrees). Slice across the grain; serve with remaining Steak Butter. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers, up to 2 days.

PERFECT PAN-SEARED STEAK

Steps:

• Place steak on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb some of the liquid and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Using half the amount of salt and pepper season one side of the steak.
• Heat your seasoned cast iron skillet to smoking hot (have hood fan on high). Add oil and swirl around to coat. (Normally olive oil would burn at such a high heat but when mixed with butter on the next step, it will not burn and adds flavor). Add steak seasoned-side down (place it in pan away from you so you don't get splattered), and then salt and pepper the other side of the steak. At this point do not touch it for two minutes. Using tongs (never pierce the meat with a fork), flip the steak and add butter, garlic and parsley to the pan next to the steak. Allow the steak to cook for 2 more minutes.
• Right after you flip the steak for the first time, with a spoon or small ladle, keep basting the melted butter over the steak. Baste continually for the full two minutes (tilt pan a little if you have to, to get the butter onto the spoon).
• After two minutes on each side, keep flipping and basting the steak each time, leaving the steak for 30 seconds before turning again. Test the steak with the poke test (see note below) and remove at medium rare at about the five to six minute mark of total cooking time. Cook a minute or two longer for medium to well. A thicker steak (such as a sirloin) may take longer.
• If you are not comfortable with the poke test and want to use a probe thermometer, hold the steak sideways with tongs and insert the probe from the side. Turn burner off at 110 degrees F and let the steak sit in the pan for five minutes. The carry over heat will continue to cook the steak (be careful if your steak is thin, this step may take less than five minutes). Baste one more time and remove to a platter and loosely cover with foil for five more minutes to allow juices to work back into the meat.
• Remove to a cutting board and either cut the steak in half for each serving or for a nicer presentation, slice on the bias and serve slices.
• Discard the pan drippings or if desired, deglaze the pan with a little wine, then add stock and simmer for a few minutes to reduce the drippings. Add a tablespoon or two of butter to thicken for a nice pan sauce .

PAN-SEARED STEAK WITH GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Thoroughly pat steak dry with paper towels. Just before cooking, generously season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper
• Heat the cast iron pan until hot then add 1/2 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat. Once the oil is very hot, add steaks to the skillet. Sear the steaks on the first side for 4 minutes until a brown crust has formed then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the steak on its sides to render the white fat and sear the edges (1-minute per edge).
• Reduce heat to medium and immediately add 2 Tbsp butter, quartered garlic cloves and rosemary to the pan. Spoon the butter sauce over the steak, tilting the pan to get butter on your spoon. Continue spooning the sauce over the steak for a minute or until the steak is about 5-10 degrees from your desired doneness (the temperature will continue to rise another 5-10 degrees while steaks rest).
• Transfer steak to a cutting board, loosely cover and rest 10 minutes before slicing into 1/2" strips to serve. Spoon extra butter sauce over sliced steak to serve.

PAN SEARED T-BONE STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. A half-hour before cooking, remove steak from refrigerator.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Pat steak dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Add oil to hot skillet and when it begins to smoke add steak. Reduce heat slightly and cook steak until browned, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer skillet to the oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted sideways into the steak registers 120 degrees F for medium-rare, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes. Cut steak from the bone and carve meat across the grain.