How to grill the perfect steak for the ultimate summer barbecue
Summer’s here so it’s officially time to up your grilling game, because there’s nothing worse — to eat, or for your ego — than over-cooking steak and burgers for your backyard get-together with friends and fam.
We know it may have been a while since you’ve fired up the grill and invited over the gang. To help you with your beef selection and cooking skills, here’s how to grill the perfect steak for the ultimate barbecue, complete with recipes, cut recommendations, and Florida Beef expert grilling tips to satisfy and impress.
Selecting the right cut of beef
No matter how you prep it — in an appetizer, on a salad, as the perfect medium to medium rare entree —beef is always the center of an epic summer barbecue. But how to pick the right barbecue-worthy cut? Florida Beef has an interactive page that shows you their favorite cuts for grilling, as well as suggestions on how you can prep each cut if you’re looking for some dish variations.
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Delicious and nutritious
We know we don’t need to convince you that beef is what you need at a barbecue — after all, what else in the world could possibly be as satisfying, tasty, and crowd-pleasing as an epic steak hot off the grill in the backyard on a sunny day with buddies?
But to add to your mental rolodex of reasons why steak is always the best idea, it’s great to know that calorie-for-calorie, Florida Beef is one of the most naturally nutrient-rich foods, packed with protein, zinc, iron, vitamin B12 and B6 and ten total essential nutrients. ‘Nough said. Chow down with both peace of mind and belly.
Grilling your steaks to perfection
Let’s be honest: there’s no point in trying to host a perfect summer barbecue if you don’t know how to grill the perfect steak. Florida Beef has compiled some of their favorite cooking videos to show you how to grill an Old South burger, simple and flavorful grilled steak, tequila-marinated steak, and top sirloin fillet for a variety of recipes appealing to any flavor palate.
If you’re a self-proclaimed grill master already, here are five key reminder do’s and don’ts on cooking beef in general for the maximum results:
- Do slice beef when slightly frozen: put beef in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until just firm, to make the meat firm and easier to cut into strips before grilling.
- Don’t salt beef before grilling: add it on after. Salting before cooking can draw the moisture and juices out of the meat.
- Don’t turn beef with a fork: use a spatula or tongs instead. If you use a fork, it will pierce the beef and release flavorful juices. When flipping burgers, you can also use a spatula, but don’t use it to press down on the beef, or you’ll lose the juices that make your burger moist.
- Do consider marinades and rubs: marinades and rubs not only add excitement and flavor to many cuts of beef, but with the right ingredients, marinades can also be used to make some cuts more tender.
- Don’t over-mix: if you’re making something like burgers this is important, because ground beef recipes will be more tender if you handle the meat as little as possible as you add seasonings and other ingredients. If you over-mix it, you’ll end up with a firm, compact texture after cooking.