Know How to Grill Your Steak on The BBQ Grill

Ready to tackle the best BBQ meat? Grilling steak isn't complicated, but you do need to take the right steps to getting it cooked properly before it gets on your plate.

Bring the Meat to Room Temperature

If you take the steak out of the fridge and place it directly on the grill, it won't cook evenly. The outside of the steak will get overdone while the center may not get cooked enough. Place the steaks on a plate and let them rest for 30 minutes while you get your grill in order. A good steak usually only needs some kosher salt for seasoning.

Clean Your Grill

Start with a clean grill grate. You should coat the grates with a neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable, to prevent the meat from sticking. Put some oil on a paper towel and rub on the grate.

Get Your Fire Hot Enough

To achieve grill marks on the steak, you need a hot fire to sear the steaks. To get the steak cooked through, you need medium heat. If you are using a charcoal grill, you may need to set up two sides to achieve the best results. If you're using a propane grill, just turn the heat down.

Don't Play With the Steaks

Once you put the steaks on the grill, they should sizzle. Don't move them until they release on their own accord. You should only flip the steaks once. Move them from the higher heat to the lower heat and let them cook. Don't poke them with a fork because they'll lose their juices.

Touch for Doneness

Learning to touch steaks for doneness prevents having to stick a thermometer in it. A rare steak is very soft, like the skin at the base of your thumb on your hand. Medium rare isn't quite as soft, while medium meat springs back. Firm meat is usually well-done. With practice you can learn to read doneness by poking the steak with your finger. You can also use a thermometer to get the right temperature. For a 1-inch steak, 4 minutes on each side for medium, 1-minute less on each side for rare and 1-minute more for well-done.

Rest Your Meat

Steaks need to rest for about five to 10 minutes before serving. The meat will continue cooking for a few minutes and even out through the piece of meat. The juices redistribute through the steak. Once you've let the steaks rest, it's time to serve.

You may want to practice to get it right. There are worse ways to spend time this summer.