Types of steak and how to grill them – a comprehensive guide 

Do you love a good barbecue? If so, then you most probably like a good grilled steak. However, you will need some basic knowledge on the topic. Find out about the types of steaks and the degrees of doneness in order to easily prepare the perfect steak for your loved ones or restaurant guests. 

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By Aleksandra Mojka

October 9, 2023

7 min read

Do you love a good barbecue? If so, then you most probably like a good grilled steak. However, you will need some basic knowledge on the topic. Find out about the types of steaks and the degrees of doneness in order to easily prepare the perfect steak for your loved ones or restaurant guests. 

What should you pay attention to when choosing meat for steaks? 

Have you had enough of grilled skewers? Are grilled burgers a frequent choice, and you are after something new? If so then it’s time for a delicious grilled steak! The choice of meat for your steak is the first important thing too bear in mind. First of all, preparing the perfect steak requires high-quality meat from proven sources – remember that steaks are most popular served rare or medium rare, so the meat should be thoroughly inspected and properly stored. Ideally you should aim for beef straight from the butcher, which will certainly be of better quality than most meat offered at local supermarkets. 

When buying fresh meat for steaks, pay attention to the structure (it should be firm), smell (delicate) and surface – it should be slippery! However, the absolutely best option would be seasoned steaks, which acquire even more flavour as they mature – the best beef varieties are those from Argentina, Spain or the USA. There are also many different types of steak available. Find out what your options in this regard. 

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Various types of steak 

The wide range of different types of steak means everyone should manage to choose the ideal steak for themselves. However, you should always check the fattiness of the meat beforehand – it should have delicate, marbled patterns, guaranteeing a juicy and tender grilled steak. What are the most popular types of steak? 

Rib Eye

Ribe Eye is one of the most popular options for grilled steak. It is cut from the lightly worked upper rib cage area of the cow. Its marbling of fat makes it very good for fast and hot cooking. 

Tomahawk

This type of steak gets its name from the shape, and it is essentially a ribeye beef steak specifically cut with at least five inches of rib bone left intact. The meat is beautifully marbled, and the addition of the bone adds a wonderful meaty flavour to the steak 

Filet mignon

Filet mignon is a cut of meat taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin, and is very delicate and also relatively expensive. This tender and delicious, yet very lean meat is obtained from the thinner end of the tenderloin, so you will get fewer steaks from one cow, which explains the higher price. 

Strip steak 

This type is also sometimes called New York Strip or club steak. It is a cut from the short loin and is not as tender as Rib Eye or filet mignon. Despite this, it is an all-time favourite of many steak lovers. 

Porterhouse and T-Bone steak 

Porterhouse and T-Bone are more examples of very popular types of steak. The difference between a T-bone and Porterhouse is size, specifically on the tenderloin side. They are cut from the short loin, and actually have two different steaks attached to the bone – the strip and the tenderloin, which in both cases are separated by a T-shaped bone – so the difference is not always immediately visible for everyone. 

Sirloin steak 

Sirloin steak comes from the rear portion of the cow It is less popular because, despite a nice marbled structure, it has a less distinct taste than the other types of steak. Therefore, Sirloin is best bought cured. 

Marinating and seasoning steak 

If you usually prepare pork neck or bacon for your barbecue, then you most likely use a marinade with seasoning. However, beef steak should be prepared in a different way. This meat is so distinctive in flavour that it does not require as much seasoning, just salt, pepper, a sprig or two of rosemary and butter for serving will be more than enough to achieve the best results! 

Degrees of steak doneness 

The type of steak is important in this case. For many people, the more rare the better, while others feel safer with a well done steak. In order to properly prepare steak according to the preferences of your guests you should first get to better understand the terminology. 

Blue

This degree of doneness is appreciated by connoisseurs, but for the average palate it may turn out to be a bit too extravagant. Basically speaking, it is a very rare, hardly fried steak, that was grilled on each side for just 30 seconds. It is crunchy on the outside and raw, although warm, on the inside. You may be wondering where the name comes from? If you press it with your finger just after removing it from the pan, the meat should turn slightly blue for a moment. 

Rare

This too, as the name suggests, is a steak that is hardly cooked at all, with a raw middle surrounded by approx. 5mm of fried meat. To prepare a rare steak, fry it for about 90 seconds on each side. 

Medium rare

This time the degree of doneness is between medium and rare, so we refer to it as medium rare. To achieve this effect fry the steak for approx. 2.5 minutes on each side. 

Medium

This is probably the most popular way to prepare steak. It offers a balance between a well-grilled outside and a slightly raw middle, letting you enjoy the taste of juicy, tender grilled meat. The grilling time in this case is approx. 3 minutes on each side. 

Medium well

If you are not a fan of raw meat, medium well will be the perfect choice for you. Just a hint of pale pink inside this steak will be mostly grey-brown throughout — ideal if you want a slightly juicy steak without any blood 

Well done

Well-done steaks are normally charred on the outside and are greyish-brown all through with no sign of pink – they’re cooked on a slow heat to keep from toughening. However, steak lovers rarely choose this degree of doneness, finding it too hard and lacking distinct flavour. 

Catering equipment for grilling steaks 

Preparing the perfect steak is a work of art, so not everyone feels comfortable trying it at home. But no worries, there are many restaurants specialising in serving delicious juicy and tender steaks for even the most demanding guests. However, in order to do so, professional catering equipment is necessary. In order to serve perfect steaks every time, you will need a professional catering grill.  

You will find many different models on the market, from those with gas hobs to electric contact grills, but in this case your best bet would be gas grills specially designed for preparing steak, which can reach very high temperatures – even 800°C! 

How to grill steak – summary 

Preparing the perfect steak is possible, as long as you properly prepare yourself for the job. The grilling or seasoning itself is not complicated, but without practical knowledge you can easily make simple mistakes that will ruin the final result. However, stick to our tops and you should be able to prepare the perfect steak every time – and according to the desired degree of doneness.