The Food Lab's Perfect Grilled Steaks Recipe

The only technique you need for exceptional grilled steaks: Let them rest after seasoning, and cook them over a two-zone fire.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated April 20, 2020
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Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt

The ribeye comes with a large, tender eye of meat surrounded by a swath of fat and a cap that comes from the spinalis muscle. This cap is far and away the juiciest, most flavorful piece of meat that you'll find on any steak.

Recipe Details

The Food Lab's Perfect Grilled Steaks Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 90 mins
Serves 3 to 4 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 2 large ribeye or strip steaks, 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick, about 2 pounds (900g) total (see note)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Season steaks liberally with salt. Set on a plate and let rest for at least 40 minutes or up to 4 days. If resting longer than 40 minutes, transfer to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, until ready to cook.

  2. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate. Season steak with pepper and place on cooler side of grill. Cover and cook, with all vents open, flipping and taking temperature every few minutes, until steaks register 105°F (41°C) for medium-rare or 115°F (46°C) for medium on an instant-read thermometer, 10 to 15 minutes total.

  3. Transfer steaks to hot side of grill and cook, flipping frequently, until a deep char has developed and internal temperature registers 125°F (52°C) for medium-rare or 135°F (57°C) for medium, about 2 minutes total. Transfer steaks to a cutting board and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes and up to 10. Carve and serve immediately.

Special equipment

Charcoal grill, instant-read thermometer, wire rack and rimmed baking sheet (optional)

Notes

For best results, use prime, bone-in ribeye steaks. Ask your butcher to cut them at least one and a half inches thick. Each bone-in steak should be about one pound. Boneless steaks can be used as well; they should be about 12 ounces. New York strip, porterhouse, T-bone, or tenderloin steaks can be used in place of ribeye.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
498Calories
32gFat
0gCarbs
50gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories498
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g41%
Saturated Fat 13g67%
Cholesterol 164mg55%
Sodium 412mg18%
Total Carbohydrate 0g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 50g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 25mg2%
Iron 4mg24%
Potassium 520mg11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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