Every once in a while, your body may crave a delicious, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. It could be the comforting flavors, the tenderness, or the high levels of iron it contains, but whatever the cause of the hunger, it can feel quite satisfying to give in to a steak craving when it hits. Some people may head straight to their favorite steakhouse when this happens, while others may choose to prepare a steak at home. If you go the at-home route, you have multiple cooking methods to choose from, such as grilling, cooking on the stovetop, or even cooking a steak in the oven.
For those who want to cook a steak in their oven, the list of things needed is quite short. You’ll want to have your preferred cut of steak, some salt and pepper, a meat thermometer, and either a cast iron skillet or an oven-safe skillet. Preparing your steak this way is an easy process once you know what to do, but making sure you have the knowledge and tools you need will save you time, energy and money.
To make sure you know everything you need to know about this process, we spoke to Dennis Litleyotherwise known as Boss Dennis, who is a classic chef with over 40 years of experience in the kitchen. Here are some of his top tips on how to effectively cook a perfect steak in the oven. And for even more help with cooking steak, check out 14 tips for tenderizing steak, according to chefs.
1. Choose the best steak.
Before taking any other steps in the process, you need to decide how much of the steak you are going to cook in the oven.
“The best cuts of steak to cook in the oven are those that are thick, like ribeye, sirloin or filet mignon,” says Chef Dennis. “These cuts will hold up well to the high heat of the oven and form a nice crust on the outside while remaining juicy and tender on the inside.”
If you are someone who pays attention to the health value of the steak you are about to prepare, you can also choose based on the total amount of fat and saturated fat in a piece of steak. For example, ribeye, sirloin, and filet mignon are all great cuts to cook in the oven, but they have different nutritional values. Ribeye will be high in saturated fat, about 10 grams per serving, while sirloin will be much less, at just 3 grams per serving. Filet mignon is right in the middle with about 7 grams of saturated fat.
2. Let your steak sit while the oven preheats.
Something that many people don’t realize, especially if you’re new to steak cooking, is that it’s best to let your steak rest before cooking.
“Before you cook the steak, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes,” says Chef Dennis. “This will allow the steak to cook more evenly throughout.”
While it’s sitting out, you can preheat the oven and prepare for the rest of the process. When cooking a steak in the oven, it’s best to do it at a high temperature. According to Chef Dennis, the best temperature is 450 degrees. Once you’ve preheated your oven to your desired temperature, you can decide whether to use a cast iron pan or an oven-safe pan. Chef Dennis adds that whatever you choose to use, you’ll want to put the pan in the oven to heat up before adding your steak.
3. Sear your steak for a few minutes before placing it in the oven.
Now that the steak has rested and your oven, along with your skillet or griddle, are preheated, you can season your meat.
“Season the steak liberally with salt and pepper on both sides,” says Chef Dennis. “You can also add other spices like garlic powder, paprika or dried herbs for extra flavor.”
Next, you’ll want to sear the steak before placing it in the oven to roast. “Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and place it on the stove over high heat,” says Chef Dennis. “Add a tablespoon of oil or butter to the pan and swirl it to coat the bottom. Add the steak to the pan and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned.’
4. Transfer your steak to the oven.
According to Chef Dennis, “once the steak is done, transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the steak and desired doneness.” This is where a meat thermometer might come in handy just to be sure , that your steak is cooked just the way you like it. Chef Dennis adds that your steak should be around “120°F for rare, 130°F for medium, 140°F for medium, 150°F for medium well, and 160°F for well done.”
5. After removing your steak, let it rest.
While you’ll probably want to cut straight into your steak and start chewing as soon as it’s done cooking, you don’t want to skip the important step of letting your steak rest. “Once the steak is cooked to your desired doneness, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes,” says Chef Dennis. “This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, making it more tender and juicy.”