Tips for cooking the perfect steak

Now the weather is warming up, it’s time to heat up the barbecue.

This is usually my husband’s domain, and my comments on how to cook with it are not always appreciated. It has taken me many, many summers of subtly recommending ideas to achieve the perfect steak.

Now the BBQ season is upon us, I thought I would share my tips with you!

Ideally allow the steaks to come to room temperature before cooking – this helps the steak to cook more evenly. If you don’t have the time, don’t worry.

Rub the steak with oil, salt and pepper. Only salt the meat just as you are about to put the steak on the barbecue. If you salt the meat too early, it will draw the moisture out and make it dry.

Contrary to popular belief, turn the steak often, probably every minute or so. Your steak will cook faster and more evenly by turning it often. Ideally start on the flat hotplate and then finish off on the grill for the last minute or two to get a nice crust.

Now the big question – how long do you cook it for? Well, it all depends on the thickness of the steak!

2½ cm Thick:

Medium-rare cook for 6–7 minutes

Medium cook for 8–9 minutes

Well done cook for 10–12 minutes

3½ cm Thick:

Medium-rare cook for 8–9 minutes

Medium cook for 10–11 minutes

Well done cook for 12–14 minutes

4½ cm Thick:

Medium-rare cook for 10–12 minutes

Medium cook for 14–16 minutes

Well done cook for 18–20 minutes

These are total cooking times, not for each side, and are based on our gas barbecue. Times may vary slightly depending on the type of grill you have and whether you use wood, charcoal or gas.

If you are using a rib eye on the bone or a T-bone, for example, you may need to cook for 1-2 minutes longer than the times suggested above.

Our favourite salads with steak and sausages are Tomato Salad and Beetroot Salad (Summer TABLE pages 99 and 109).

Why not cook an extra couple of steaks and be ready to whip up a Thai Beef Salad later in the week (in less than 10 minutes) click here.

Grab a copy of Summer TABLE for more fast, delicious and healthy recipes more information here.

Main image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

71 Comments

- - Lovesthecuddles said
  - 23 Jan 2021
    3:02 pm
I agree the thickness makes a huge difference and I set a timer so as to not overcook.

- - mummabear said
  - 23 Jan 2021
    4:06 am
Yasss any excuse for steak now that I’m not pregnant and can go back to medium rare!

- - mom101628 said
  - 04 Jan 2017
    11:49 pm
Great idea – and a wonderful meal later in the week. Thanks for sharing.

- - Melissa89 said
  - 27 Jul 2016
    1:01 pm
Really great tips. I am not the best with this

- - rachelvk said
  - 19 Feb 2016
    10:00 am
A great guide. I always seem to muck up steak cooking so will need to refer to this guide in future!

- - mom103920 said
  - 18 Feb 2016
    11:07 am
Yes, a hot pan is the key. I tend not to season the meat before I cook but hubby does.

- - aprilb1 said
  - 17 Feb 2016
    9:15 pm
I’m hopeless at cooking steak, i’ll have to try this

- - VernaB said
  - 17 Feb 2016
    9:04 pm
Ooh some good tips in this.

- - Summer TABLE said
  - 09 Dec 2015
    3:17 pm
This shows just how easy it is!

- - mom109229 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    9:48 pm
This was an interesting mini article. Thanks for posting!

- - mom81879 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    8:12 am
Hubby and I both know how to cook a perfect steak in the kitchen. He seems to lose his skill when on the barbecue though

- - christial said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    10:28 pm
I need a tipi for cooking those thin supermarket steaks! The ones that are about 1.5 cm thick max!
- Summer TABLE replied
  
  09 Dec 2015 , 3:09 pm
  I call those Minute Steaks, and guess how long they take to cook? I make them into a steak sandwich. If they are too thick, I put them between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with the flat side of a meat mallet until they are about 5 mm thick. I then marinate steaks in a bowl with oyster sauce while the barbecue heats. When hotplate is very hot, cook the steaks for 1 minute each side.
- - mom108638 said
  - 01 Jun 2015
    8:14 pm
great guidelines for steak cooking; thank you

- - grayza said
  - 06 May 2015
    11:53 pm
Very helpful ideas – love a good steak and salads.

- - Mum of 5 darlings :) said
  - 26 Apr 2015
    10:47 pm
A great article and it all looks so delicious !!

- - smiles said
  - 25 Apr 2015
    11:28 am
Thanks for this. I have copied to print out a chart so I can get perfect steaks!

- - dannsbuild said
  - 20 Apr 2015
    7:01 pm
Brilliant! I’ve needed a bit of a hand in getting the perfect steak. It does depend on the cut and thickness of the steak that takes different times to cook. I love a good BBQ.

- - mom57522 said
  - 09 Apr 2015
    10:52 pm
How to cook the perfect steak? Get hubby to do it!

- - curlytops said
  - 27 Mar 2015
    10:00 pm
good idea of yours to cook extra for a salad the next day.

- - Tcm said
  - 05 Mar 2015
    11:14 pm
Thanks for sharing, will show hubby, hope he is not overlook my steak anymore lol