This calculator will help you estimate the grilling (gas and charcoal) or oven broiling time needed to cook a perfect steak, based on the steak’s thickness and your preferred steak doneness. It will provide you with cooking times and temperatures for 3/4″, 1″, and 1 1/2″ steaks, as well as the best cooking time for each side.
Read more about how to get that perfectly cooked steak, or just skip to the bottom for the calculator.
Steak Temperature Chart
If you are trying to figure out how many total minutes to cook a steak to medium, refer to the steak’s thickness as a guide
You can also just select your options in the calculator below for the answer which will automatically break down cooking time per side of steak.
How To Break Down Total Cooking Time Per Side
To determine how many minutes per side, a good rule of thumb is to allot 1/3 of the cooking time to the first side (at least 3-4 minutes minimum on the first side), and the remainder to the other. Why? The goal is to sear one side just enough to seal in juices, then focus on doneness and creating a buttery, brown caramelized surface on the other.
The following chart shows the total number of minutes you will need to cook a steak to your preferred doneness, based on thickness.
Tips For Cooking The Perfect Steak
- Let the steaks reach room temperature for a minimum of 30-45 minutes before cooking. Otherwise they’ll take longer and won’t cook evenly.
- Marinate the cuts that are known to be less tender, such as flank, skirt, round and chuck. Use an acidic marinade that contains vinegar or white wine. Avoid thick marinades which tend to just coat the steak and mask its flavor. Avoid marinades that containing excess sugar, which will leave a slight charred flavor when seared. Dr. Pepper is a secret marinade at a few restaurants for tougher cuts.
- Dry them thoroughly (even if they were marinated) and season with salt and pepper. Brush lightly with melted butter. Removing excess moisture from the steak results in a nicer, caramelized seared crust.
- Cover and allow your steaks to rest for at least 5 minutes after cooking (10 is probably better). This resting time allows the steak fibers to relax and redistribute the juices. You want the juices that provide a moist, tender consistency inside your steak; not running on your plate.
- If you want perfection, confirm your grill’s surface is at the right grilling temperature for the thickness of your steak and use a meat thermometer. The listed cooking times are merely recommendations based on how long it should take a steak (based on thickness) to reach the ideal temperature for preferred doneness. A thermometer takes out the guesswork.
Proper Location of Meat Thermometer In A Steak
Insert a meat thermometer through the side cut of the steak, inserting the probe at least 1 inch. Use a thermometer that has an extended wire probe, which allows you to monitor your steak’s temperature while the top of the grill is closed.
Some Restaurant And Steakhouses Secrets For Perfect Steaks
- Always fresh; never frozen.
- They use 1 inch minimum steak cuts.
- They marinate less-tender cuts like flank, skirt, round and chuck steaks before cooking.
- They always dry their steaks and season with a lot of salt before cooking.
- Steaks are always rested.
- They add a big pat of butter on top of the steak while its resting.
If You Are Grilling Outside
The Ideal Temperature
You won’t have access to special 1000 degree infrared broilers or specialized high-heat grills that restaurants use to get that perfect sear in a matter of mere minutes. But there are plenty of ways to to work towards cooking the perfect steak at home.
The ideal temperature for grilling steaks at home is between 400 to 450 degrees. The preferred temperature depends on the thickness of the steak. Thinner steaks need a slightly higher temperature in a shorter period of time so that you get the perfect outside sear without over cooking.
Keep in mind that as gas grills can get up to 550 degrees if preheated for 10-15 minutes. And charcoal grills can get as hot as 600 degrees or more. If your cooking temperature is higher, the overall cooking time will need to be adjusted (reduced).
Factors That Influence Outdoor Grilling
- Clean grates and burners – Dirty grates reduce the overall contact temperature and clogged burners won’t put out as much heat
- Wind, rain, sleet and snow – Outdoor conditions or temperatures can drastically lower the temperature of your grill every time you lift the lid.
If you would like to estimate how many steaks you’ll need for your gathering, visit our Meat Per Person calculator.
References
- https://www.kansascitysteaks.com/all-about-steaks/cook-and-grill-steaks-and-roasts/how-to-cook-ribeye-steak
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-cook-perfect-steak
- https://www.omahasteaks.com/steakcookingchart
- https://www.today.com/food/how-cook-steak-perfect-steak-temps-every-time-t172152
- https://www.recipes.co.nz/learn/how-to-cook-the-perfect-steak
- https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/steakhouse-secrets-gallery/slide-3
