Perhaps you have mastered the art of pan-frying a steak, but grilling is kind of a ‘next level’ experience for you. Well, you have landed in the right place! We are going to go over the best way to marinade a steak before you take it outside and grill it. In addition, this incredible steak marinade works for almost every cut, and it tenderizes your steak to make it juicy and flavorful with every bite. Let’s take a closer look at the best way to marinade your steak – a recipe you’ll never forget to remember! Every good steak deserves an equally good steak marinade.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Does Marinating Do?
The process of marinating any kind of meat, simply put, brings a steak’s flavor to the best possible outcome. But what does marinating actually do? The proper steak marinade not only tenderizes the meat, but it also adds a punch of soft flavoring to really bring out the steak’s quality. You can marinade any cut of meat. Marinades are made from enzyme or acidic components like lemon juice, wine, vinegar, or any combination of all three. These acids work to change the consistency of the meat – making it much more tender. To flavor the meat, most marinades have bold flavors and contain salt and herbs. And the best part of all? Steak marinades create that caramelization that we all adore so much. Steak University has you covered when it comes to your cut of meat – all you have to do is prep the right marinade.
When I Grill Steaks, They Come Out Tough…Why?
Let’s rewind a little bit – you probably missed adding an acidic touch to your marinade recipe. Muscle fibers within your steak need to be broken down, as well as the proteins turned into gelatin in order to make your steak tender. Over high heat and with more tender cuts of steak like filet mignon, this happens very easily. But for tougher cuts of meat, you need to grill it slowly and continue to keep it covered in marinade.
How Long Do I Marinade My Steak?
When your marinade is ready to go, add your steaks to the mix and let it marinade for 2 hours or even overnight! The marinade will immediately start working to tenderize your meat, and the longer you wait, the more tender and flavor-packed your steak will be before grilling. The right kind of steak marinade shouldn’t take much effort at all, as it’s usually only a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
The Perfect Steak Temperatures For Your Taste – Pro Tips
The most sure-fire way to gauge when your steak is done is by using a digital thermometer. This way, you will know for sure that your steak is cooked to your fancy, and if you are entertaining guests, it means you won’t mess things up. You insert your thermometer into the thickest part of the steak to check its level of doneness. Our first pro tip – don’t cook our steaks over 150 degrees F, or your cut may come out feeling dry and tough. Also, please remember to let your steaks rest! This is so important for keeping flavor and maintaining tenderness. Let your steaks rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting into them. Here are a few tips to ensure your steak is done at the right temperature:
- Rare: Should have an internal temp of 130 degrees F
- Medium Rare: Should have an internal temp of 135 degrees F
- Medium: Should have an internal temp of 145 degrees F
- Medium Well: Should have an internal temp of 150 degrees F
- Well Done: Should have an internal temp of 160 degrees F
Remember, not all steaks are created equal. At Steak University, we suggest that you keep your steaks below medium well in order to have the most tender and juicy cuts of meat.
What’s The Recipe?
Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. If you are ready to get grilling, read on for the best steak marinade for grilling – period. Here’s what you will need:
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- 1 clove of minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme (or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme)
Simple Instructions:
All you need to do is combine the ingredients together in a bowl or a freezer back. Add roughly 2lbs of steak and marinade for at least two hours for best results. You will remove your steaks, and discard any leftovers. Then the fun part…grilling! Make sure you toss some butter on top of your steak while you are grilling – the same way you would do if you were pan frying your meat. This only tenderizes your steak more, adds a boost of flavor, and helps promote great caramelization.
Notes:
This entire steak marinade recipe can last in your fridge in a mason jar for two weeks. In addition, you can also freeze the marinade for a few months before use!
Final Thoughts on Steak Marinade
We don’t start out as grilling pros, but we all have to start somewhere! This steak marinade works great on our luxurious cuts, and we are happy to share that this marinade hasn’t disappointed anyone yet. Over time, you will probably want to tweak this recipe to suit your liking a little better, and that is totally fine! However, these tips and tricks will last you a lifetime – tweaked or not. Check out our excellent cuts of meat today here, and get to cooking!