How to Cook Steak in a Frying Pan

Tap to Read ➤ Rimlee Bhuyan

Steak is the perfect dish for any occasion. You can jazz up your simple dinner for two, or an elegant party by cooking a pan fried steak. This write-up tells you how you can cook this piece of succulent meat in a frying pan.

Everybody loves a juicy piece of steak and there are a number of ways of preparing one. You can grill, braise, roast, deep-fry, broil, slow cook, or pan fry the steak. The fastest and the easiest way to cook a piece of steak is by pan frying.

Choosing the correct cut and grade of meat is very important, if you want to cook a great steak. Meat that has enough fat makes the steak more flavorful, tender, and juicy, because heat melts the fat giving it a distinctive taste. The thickness should not be less than one inch, as meat with less thickness will simply produce a dry, "rubbery" textured steak.

On the other hand avoid cooking a very thick steak, as it would become difficult to cook. Cuts such as chicken breasts, pork tenderloin, and fish fillets are good for pan frying; tougher cuts like brisket or pork shoulder are best reserved for slow cooking over low heat.

● Defrost the meat two hours before you start cooking. Do not try to thaw the meat by putting it in a bowl of hot water, let it naturally come to room temperature.

Cooking meat, which is at a room temperature, will retain all the flavors and also help significantly cut back time required for cooking. Trim excess fat, if any, from the steak.

● Season the meat with good quality sea salt and freshly ground pepper. You can also use table salt, though sea salt gives a better flavor. Rub the salt and pepper over the steak, so that it penetrates the meat.

● Use a steak frying pan to cook the meat over medium heat. Add two tablespoons of butter with a bit of vegetable oil. Adding vegetable oil with butter prevents it from burning. Now place the steak at the center of the sizzling pan.

Let it cook on one side for four to five minutes and make sure that you don't move it. Adjust the flame of the burner to avoid overcooking the meat or it will turn out to be dry and charred. See to it that the underside has been seared uniformly.

● Once it is well seared on one side, flip it over and cook on the other side. Add some extra butter and bast the meat by spooning some butter on the pan over the meat, at regular intervals. Remove from the flame, after the meat is done to your liking.

● Cover the steak with an aluminum foil, and let the steak rest for some time before serving. Resting the meat is essential, as it allows the residual heat to further cook the steak and make it more tender and succulent. You can slice the steak into 1 centimeter small slices to serve.

Tips to Pan Fry Steak

The best way of pan frying steak is by following the tips given here: Once it is on the pan, avoid tossing and turning the steak too often. Four to five minutes on each side is enough to sear the steak and get a crusty exterior.

Rest the steak for at least 10 minutes, as this would allow it to develop its full flavor and become tender. The steak should be cooked in moderately-high heat so that it is browned evenly and is cooked through.

Do not put too many pieces of steak at once in the pan. Sear one piece at a time to get the perfect pan-fried steak. Always use oil, which has a high smoking point like canola oil and peanut oil. Avoid using extra virgin olive oil, as it will alter the flavor of the meat.

Pan Fried Steak Recipes

Here are two recipes of pan-fried steak.

Pan-fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients Sirloin steak, 2 (fat trimmed) Black pepper, 1 tbsp. (freshly ground) Sea salt, to taste Olive oil, 2 dashes Red wine, 1 cup Shallot, 1 (finely diced) Rosemary, 1 sprig Rocket leaves, a handful Unsalted butter, 2 tbsp. Parmesan, ⅓ cup (grated) Potatoes, 250 g.

Method Season the steaks with salt and freshly ground pepper, and pan fry one after the other in little butter. Sear both sides of the steak for about five minutes and then remove from flame. Allow the meat to rest for eight to ten minutes. In the same frying pan heat a little butter and add the diced shallots and rosemary.

After the shallots turn golden, add wine and simmer until it is reduced to half. For the mashed potatoes, boil the potatoes in salted water until they are tender. Drain the potatoes and mash them, add seasonings and Parmesan cheese. Place a generous quantity of mashed potatoes on a plate.

Serve by slicing the steak and arranging it on top of the mashed potatoes. Pour some wine sauce over the steak and garnish with baby spinach.

Sesame Coated Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients Medium pork tenderloin, 2 Sesame seeds, 4 tbsp. Crushed coriander seeds, 1 tbsp. Breadcrumbs, ½ cup Lightly beaten egg whites, 2 Peanut oil for frying Butter, 2 tbsp. Sea salt and pepper to taste

Method In a medium bowl, mix sesame seeds, crushed coriander, and bread crumbs. In another shallow dish, place the lightly beaten egg whites. Season the pork with salt and pepper. First dip the steak in egg whites and then into the breadcrumb mixture.

Fry the steak on medium heat in peanut oil and add butter when it's cooked half way. Remove from flame and let it rest for five minutes before cutting it into ¼ inch thick slices.

Steak can be cooked in a number of ways, but pan-fried steak is most easily prepared at home. So the next time you are throwing a dinner party, impress your guest by serving steak, and be acclaimed as a good hostess.