Best Temperature to Grill Steak
Want to know the best temperature to grill steak? This helpful guide will walk you through grilling the perfect steak at the perfect temperature!
The best temperature to grill steak has a few answers!
I’ve got a handy chart on steak interntal temperatures you can download and print to keep in your cabinet for later below.
But, let’s chat about HOW to grill you steak!
You might find lots of varying temperature suggestions for grilling your steak.
Let’s talk about why that’s wrong.
You need to crank your gas grill up to a medium-high heat around 400˚ to 450˚. I prefer 425˚.
Sounds like a hot temperature, right? It is! But, you have ONE chance to get the steak on the grill and get a good sear on that first side. With the beloved grill marks people want.
It’s all about the thickness of your steaks and the cooking time. Not necessarily the temperature of the grill.
Others suggest grilling at lower temperatures for various cuts of beef. However, the level of doneness doesn’t depend on the temperature of the grill, it depends on the hot grill and a better idea on HOW to cook flavorful steaks.
Pro Tip: if this is your first time cooking a steak on the grill, I highly suggest investing in a meat thermometer like Meater. You’ll plug it into your steak, and then sync it wiht your phone. Yep! It’s bluetooth enabled, and will keep you informed every degree along the way of grilling the perfect medium-rare steak!
A Few Tips Before You Grill:
Get your cut of meat as close to room temperature as possible. While this myth has been debunked, I still prefer to do this. This is especially helpful when you’re dealing with a thicker steak. You want the inside to get a little warm, and not ice cold when you cut into the medium rare steak. No one likes cold steaks!
Make sure your grill grates are clean! You can do this after the grill preheats, but I like to clean the grates after I’ve removed the meat, and it’s resting. Just use some tin foil, and swipe it back and forth over the hot grates. It will release any debris left behind.
Next, you’ll want to preheat your grill for a good 20 minutes. Unlike a charcoal grill, gas grills heat quickly. But, you want to make sure there is an even heat circulating before you start.
Once you’re ready to start grilling, and your steak is in a marinade, blot off the the extra marinade with a paper towel.
First step, start with a good steak.
Type of Steak You Can Grill:
Filet Mignon – this is the most tender, delightful cut of meat! It’s the one you want for a special occasion, and especially if you’re recreating a steakhouse experience.
Ribeye Steak – this cut is super unctuous and it’s juicy steak without effort. You’ll want a good 1-inch steak for the best result.
Sirloin Steaks – these are very tender when cooked properly, and don’t have a high fat content like a ribeye, porterhouse, or strip steak.
New York Strip Steak – This is a great of steak! It’s got a good fat cap on the side to help keep it juicy. You’ll want to purchase a thicker steak for the best results.
Denver Steak – definitely an underrated cut of meat! However, it’s incredibly tender and a great piece of meat. Try this Denver Steak Recipe if you’ve never had one!
Flank Steak – this is a steak that definitely needs proper cooking techniques. But, it’s great to slice a big one up and serve to a crowd.
Porterhouse Steak – this is the bone in steak, that has both a new york strip and filet mignon on either side of the bone.
Tomahawk Steak – This steak recipe is one for the special occasions in your life! If you want to spoil someone with the best of the best, this is the cut of beef to do that with!
Second, season your steak.
You want to have a well-seasoned steak whether by marinating or just using a dry rub of sorts.
I love using this Steak Marinade! Also, just kosher salt and pepper is great to season steaks with. Especially if you’ve got a really nice grass-fed cut of steak.
A good rule of thumb is for every pound of meat you have, use one teaspoon of salt.
Next, let’s chat steak internal temperatures
Here’s a handy chart and explanation for steak temperature and all the different ideal temperature degrees.
The thickness of the steak determines how long you’ll need to grill your ideal steak. The internal temperature of the meat is up to you! This is where the Meater is so handy! You can choose the thickness of the cut of meat, and the grill’s temperature will read on the Meater. How fun is that?! It’s cheating a little… but, really nice to get a correct temperature accurately.
The grill’s temperature should start at a high temperature. And, if and when you need to cook your steak longer for proper temperature you can move it to an indirect heat spot on your grill. If you don’t know if you have an indirect spot on your grill, turn off a couple of flames. After you’ve seared your steak, this will reduce the grill’s temperature and allow you to cook the other side of the steak to your favorite temperature without burning it!
Third, let’s grill the best steak!
Start your steak on 425 degrees f. preheated grill.
You know those amazing grill marks that create that cross-hatch? Those are when the proteins and sugars coagulate, and create a Maillard reaction. How do you achieve that? Don’t close the grill lid!
This goes for any protein you are grilling, or cooking. Don’t cover the first side.
You only have one side to get that perfect crusty cooking process.
For this reason, you’ll place steak directly on the grill grates, and LEAVE THEM BE. Do not touch them.
Set a timer for 3 minutes, and after 3 minutes, rotate the steak by 90 degrees and set a timer for 2 minutes. (This is for a medium-rare steak! If you like medium steak, add one minute.)
Flip to the other side and set a timer for 3 minutes.
Once the timer rings, remove from the grill and let the steak rest.
The ideal resting temperature is the temperature you like according to that chart. Which means you’ll have a 5-8 degree of doneness with carry over cooking. Using a digital instant thermometer, and pulling off the grill before your desired temperature is the best way to enjoy your great steak!
Now, I know what you’re thinking… Don’t different types of steak cook at different temperatures? Yes! They sure do.
That’s why it’s best to keep one side of the grill on a lower temperature, so you can temperature control the thicker steaks.
Grilling steak is definitely an art form, and once you do it a few times, you’ll start getting the hang of it!
In conclusion, the best grill temperature to grill a steak is start at 425 degrees, and reduce it as needed on the second side.
If you’re looking for some amazing steak recipes, give any of these a try!
