How to Cook Strip Steak in the Oven

Strip steak is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable cuts of beef by name. Most restaurants that offer steak carry it, and it’s a common one to find at the grocery store. 

In this guide, we’re going to explain how to cook strip steak in the oven at home to get a golden-brown sear on the outside and a juicy, tender steak on the inside. While this guide is meant for boneless steaks, you can also apply this to bone-in strip steaks.

Preparing Strip Steak for the Oven

To get your steak ready to cook in the oven, gather everything you’ll need: a cutting board or plate, tongs, a meat thermometer, a cast-iron skillet, salt, pepper, and oil or butter. Move an oven rack to the middle position. 

Remove the steak from the refrigerator, salt it generously on both sides, and leave it at room temperature for 45 minutes. When you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and the cast-iron skillet with oil or butter over high heat.

Oven-Cooked Strip Steak Cooking Time

Expect strip steak to take about 25 minutes from the start of the cooking time to the end of the resting period if cooking to medium-rare. Steaks cooked to higher levels of doneness will need more time in the oven, as will thicker steaks. Remember to set aside 45 minutes before cooking to hold the steak at room temperature. 

Final Temperature

Your steak’s final temperature should align with the doneness level you prefer, like medium-rare or medium-well. We’ve created the chart below to help you determine when to pull your steak from the oven. It moves up slightly in temperature as it rests, bringing it to the final temperature in the chart below.

Doneness	Temperature to Remove from Oven	Final Temperature
Medium-rare	120-125℉	130-135℉
Medium	130-135℉	140-145℉
Medium-well	140-145℉	150-155℉
Well-done	150-155℉	160-165℉

Medium Rare Strip Steak

The ideal doneness level for strip steak is medium-rare, which leaves a pink, juicy middle. To cook your steak to medium-rare, sear it for 2-3 minutes on each side in the cast-iron skillet. Then, transfer the skillet into the preheated oven on the middle rack. Cook for 4-8 minutes, depending on the steak’s thickness. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the thickest part according to the chart above. Remove from the oven and place the steak on a clean cutting board or plate tented with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes.

Oven Cooking Tips for Strip Steak

Here are a few tips to help you learn how to cook strip steak in the oven:  

Sear in a Cast-Iron Skillet

A cast-iron skillet is one of our favorite tools when it comes to cooking steak. That’s because it can go right from the stovetop to the oven seamlessly. When you’re done searing strip steak, move the whole skillet into the oven to finish off the cook. If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, that’s okay! Simply use a regular skillet and transfer the steak to a rimmed baking sheet before cooking.

Use Butter When Searing

Although oil is perfectly acceptable to sear strip steak in, consider swapping it with a little butter. When searing, spoon the butter over the steak. It not only adds a little extra flavor, but it helps crisp up the outer edges while keeping the inside nice and moist. The steak will also continue soaking up the butter when in the oven.

Make Sure It’s Done

Never skip using a thermometer to make sure your strip steak gets cooked to your liking. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat, give it a few seconds to read the temperature, and compare that reading with the temperature chart above. For medium-rare strip steak, remove it from the oven when it reaches between 120-125℉. 

Choosing the Right Cut

Not sure what type of strip steak to choose at the store or butcher? Here’s a quick guide:

• Wet or dry-aged: The aging process gives enzymes time to break through tough steak fibers, resulting in a tender, flavorful steak. Dry-aging takes longer, which is why it’s usually the more expensive option.
• Wagyu: Wagyu steaks are some of the best your money can buy in the United States. They’re the cream of the crop with the best texture, flavor, and marbling.
• USDA Prime: A step down from Wagyu, USDA Prime strip steak is still an A+ option and is easier to find than Wagyu beef. It has excellent marbling, coloring, and texture.
• Premium Angus: Premium Angus is right below USDA Prime, still falling within the top percentage of beef in terms of quality. 

Oven Cooking Strip Steak Instructions

Learn how to cook strip steak in the oven with these easy-to-follow instructions. 

Step 1: Prepare Strip Steak

Remove your New York strip steak from the refrigerator 45 minutes before you’re ready to cook. Salt it generously on both sides, using your fingertips to rub the salt into the meat. Set the steak aside. About 5 minutes before cooking, heat a cast-iron skillet with oil or butter and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Step 2: Sear the Steaks

Add black pepper to both sides of the steak. Move the steaks into the prepared skillet carefully. Let sear on the bottom side for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned. Use tongs to flip the steaks to the other side, searing for another 2-3 minutes. 

Step 3: Cook Strip Steaks in the Oven

Transfer the skillet to the oven on the middle rack. Cook for 4-8 minutes (this cooking time will vary based on your oven, your preferred doneness, and the steak’s thickness). Use a digital meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the steak. Remove steaks from the oven when the internal temperature reaches the range for your desired doneness level based on the chart above. 

Step 4: Give Them Time to Rest

Place steaks on a clean plate loosely tented with foil, and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. If desired, top with a sprinkle of thyme, salt, or pepper, or a pat of butter. 

Oven-Cooked Strip Steak Recipe

Serves: 2

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 10-ounce boneless strip steaks
• Salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• Ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Season steaks generously with salt on both sides. Leave them at room temperature for 45 minutes. About 5 minutes before cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and a cast-iron skillet to high heat with olive oil or butter. 
• Sprinkle black pepper on steaks. Sear strip steaks on each side for 2-3 minutes. Flip only once using tongs.
• Transfer the pan to the middle oven rack. Cook steaks for 4-8 minutes, depending on your desired doneness level. Use a digital thermometer to check the temperature of the thickest part of the meat.
• Move steaks to a cutting board or plate. Tent with foil. Rest for 5-10 minutes.

Other Ways to Cook Strip Steak

We love a simple oven-cooked strip steak, but these cooking methods are also excellent ways to cook this tasty cut of beef:

• Grilled strip steak
• Skewered strip steak
• Sous vide strip steak
• Reverse seared strip steak
• Pan-seared strip steak
• Slow-cooked strip steak

Your Guide to Cooking Strip Steak in the Oven

Try our boneless or bone-in strip steaks! We also offer a Wagyu beef sirloin aged 4-6 weeks for ideal tenderness and flavor in every bite. Order online and receive your hand-selected, hand-cut steaks at your door in just a few days. They arrive flash-frozen to preserve their freshness so that you can enjoy the quality you expect.